Facilitated naturalisation for spouses of Swiss citizens

Requirements

Who qualifies

Spouse living in Switzerland

A foreign spouse of a Swiss citizen may apply for facilitated naturalisation after three years of marital union and five years' residence in Switzerland, one immediately before filing; SEM decides.
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Spouse living abroad

A foreign spouse living or having lived abroad may apply after six years of marital union if closely connected with Switzerland, filing at the Swiss representation.
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When the spouse route applies

The spouse route also applies where the Swiss spouse became Swiss after the marriage through reintegration or descent-based facilitated naturalisation; SEM states it does not apply where the spouse naturalised after marriage by ordinary or third-generation naturalisation.
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Registered partners

A registered partner of a Swiss citizen applies by ordinary naturalisation with five years' residence (one immediately before) and three years of registered partnership, and needs a C permit.
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In practice

Marital union, costs and decision time

Marital union

A marital union requires a formal marriage and an actual, stable shared life with an intact will to continue it, existing both at filing and at naturalisation.
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Financial record

In facilitated spouse cases, unpaid and uncontested debt enforcements above CHF 1500 block naturalisation, register entries older than five years are ignored, and tax arrears in the last five years exclude naturalisation.
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Cost, spouse in Switzerland

SEM states that facilitated naturalisation for spouses of Swiss citizens living in Switzerland costs CHF 900, paid in advance and not refunded on refusal.
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Cost, spouse abroad

SEM states that facilitated naturalisation for spouses living abroad costs CHF 600, plus the Swiss representation's own time-based fees and possible civil-status fees.
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Federal decision time, facilitated routes

SEM decides on facilitated naturalisation or reintegration as a rule within twelve months of receiving the cantonal or embassy report.
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Annulment

Annulment after naturalisation

Grounds for annulment

A naturalisation may be annulled if it was obtained by false statements or by concealing material facts; SEM annuls facilitated and reintegration cases, the canton ordinary ones.
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Deadline after discovery

Annulment must occur within two years of SEM learning the relevant facts, and each investigative step notified to the person restarts a new two-year period.
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Absolute deadline

Annulment is possible at the latest within eight years of acquiring Swiss citizenship.
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Effect on children

Annulment extends to children whose citizenship rests on the annulled naturalisation, except those aged 16 or over who qualify independently, or who would become stateless.
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New application after annulment

After a final annulment a new application can be filed only after two years; this waiting period does not apply to the included children.
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More guides

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Questions

Spouses of Swiss citizens: common questions