- Legislative framework and bodies dealing with issues of citizenship
- How to obtain Swiss citizenship or how to become the owner of the coveted passport
- Other ways of obtaining citizenship
It is good to live in Western Europe, it is very difficult to become a full citizen of this or that European power. That is why it will not be possible to answer the question of how to obtain Swiss citizenship right away. Moreover, 2016 is a turning point for the country in the field of migration policy, many important positions are changing.
Therefore, in the material we will outline the main points related to obtaining Swiss citizenship that are in force at the moment. We must warn you right away that 20% of the population of a small European country are not citizens in the full sense of the word. It seems that not of their own free will, rather, because of the complex procedure and because of the increased requirements for potential candidates.
Legislative framework and bodies dealing with issues of citizenship
Lawyers argue that it is impossible to find another state in the world like Switzerland, where the procedure for obtaining citizenship is so complicated. It is based on the Federal Law adopted in 1952, and on the laws that operate at the level of individual Swiss cantons. There are two bodies in the country that decide questions about citizenship, so very often there are insoluble contradictions between them, representatives of the Swiss National Council and the Council of Cantons could not reach a consensus.
An easier way to become a Swiss citizen is through marriage, in which the other spouse has a priori citizenship. Another type of relationship - registered partnership - also has a simplified procedure.
How to obtain Swiss citizenship or how to become the owner of the coveted passport
Consider the procedure for obtaining citizenship in the case of the usual procedure, in fact, a potential candidate will need to go through three levels: municipality or community; Canton; confederation. The main secret is that only the person who can overcome all three levels will receive a citizen's passport. If at least at one level he receives a refusal, this means that the procedure will have to be postponed until better times (amendments to legislation, for example).
The process of acquiring citizenship involves a person's application for naturalization, but first it is necessary to clarify whether he has the right to do so. There are six conditions, the observance of which gives a chance to receive the coveted document:
- residence on the territory of the republic for 12 years;
- 3 years of permanent residence (the period in the last five years is taken into account);
- high level of integration by all criteria;
- unquestioning observance of the country's legislation;
- knowledge of traditions, foundations, orders;
- the absence of a criminal past, threats to the security of the state.
But even if all the positions of the list are fulfilled, a person can get a refusal, however, the answer must have a justification. It should also be remembered that these are the conditions set forth by the Confederation, and local authorities (Canton and the municipality) have a "habit" of complicating the procedure for acquiring citizenship even more. For example, they establish their terms of continuous residence in the territory of the municipality in which the application is submitted.
The second unpleasant surprise may await the applicant in terms of knowledge of the state language, because it is known that 4 languages are official in Switzerland. To date, an agreement has been concluded between the Confederation and the local authorities on the language issue. It has been established that knowledge of at least one national language will be sufficient for a potential citizen, and a person must be able to express himself orally and in writing.
Other ways of obtaining citizenship
Naturalization is the most difficult, but the most popular way to acquire a Swiss passport (read - citizenship) with all the ensuing pleasant consequences for the owner. There are other opportunities in the country to become a full member of the Swiss society.
Citizenship can be acquired by kinship, for example, a child born into a family where both parents have citizenship is a priori considered a Swiss citizen. The same rights are enjoyed by the kid who has at least one of the parents holding a Swiss passport.
If the child was born in a family where the marriage was not registered between the parents, then the decision on the nationality of the newborn depends entirely on the mother. If she is Swiss, then the baby is lucky - he will grow up and receive his cherished red and white passport. If the mother is not a citizen of this country, then her heir in the future will have to go through a difficult procedure for acquiring citizenship. If it is possible to prove that the father, who is not married to the mother, is a full member of Swiss society, then the child should wait until the age of majority (comes at the age of 18), and he receives the citizenship of the country.
