You should check this again, as I know a German family who just got their Swiss citizenship (by naturalization) and kept their German citizenship. They would not have applied otherwise.
We were in a similar situation with our kid (a dual EU/non-EU citizen from birth). We realized that, were she to leave Switzerland for schooling, she would need to be careful about timings and possibly having to ask to freeze the C permit. Also, she very clearly met integration requirements and felt Swiss anyway, it was a no-brainer in her situation.
She was naturalized at 13, absolutely no regrets, and kept her other two citizenships.
Well there is an EU exception - Google it. Also looks like they are changing the law entirely, to allow dual citizenship. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germ…ty-law/2974563
Following an amendment to the Nationality Act which came into force on 28 August 2007, a German citizen does not lose their German citizenship if they acquire citizenship of an EU member state or of Switzerland after that date. https://uk.diplo.de/uk-en/02/citizen…%20that%20date .
How else could you arrive at an informed decision?
Only zealots and ideologues have a problem with questions and open discussions.
Your impression is mostly correct, only the paper/plastic evidence requires renewal, not the right it's evidence of. It's comparable to a passport, the paper evience lapses but not the citicenship it's evidence of. However there are a few circumstances than can lead to demoting to a B permit.
Our son was in exactly the same position a few years ago and we had exactly the same arguments.
His initial thoughts were no due to the obligatory military service but he came home from school one day and said he wanted to do it as he realised that if he ever left for work or study it wouldn’t necessarily be as easy to just come back to live here despite us living here. This was before Brexit raised its ugly head, it would be even more problematic now.
Although he is British he was born in Belgium and spent the first ten years of his life there before we moved here so he has never lived in the UK and aside from family he has no real affinity for the UK.
He went ahead and got the citizenship, finished his studies, got himself a great job and will start his military service in January. He doesn’t regret it at all.
One thing to consider is the timing of the military service in relation to studies.
Some people think it’s best to get the basic training done sooner rather than later and to take a break in studies to do it all in one go rather than waiting until after studies to do it.
Our son didn’t have that option as he had already started his university course before his naturalisation became official (it took longer than normal due to Covid).
The right to vote as soon as he's 18 could be important to him.
That may make a difference whether you decide to do it later as a family (which is less multiples of bureaucracy).
Also what if he wants to do a gap year or study abroad, much less hassle with a passport vs a permit.
Also things change internationally - we did one child as early as possible because Brexit made a mess of their EU rights coming up to age 16, otherwise we would probably have done the whole thing together.
The 'things change' is the most compelling argument for doing this sooner for junior rather than wait and do it later as a family.
In terms of the process, are there any differences whether one does it individually as a minor, individually as an adult, or as a family?
That's brilliant, thanks.
The obvious answer for any interaction with Swiss authorities - $$$
If he's done Swiss school etc, less chance of it getting blocked - if you do it as a family it's down to the weakest link. But I think ZG is like SG - you have to try fairly hard to make them say no.
SO applying for Citizenship in Zurich or SG should be fairly straightforward (as long as fulfilment of all requirements is in place)
That would be over simplifying. The process is still quite involved and takes a long time.
One of the criteria would be knowing that ZG is Zug not Zürich.
Our kids came to Switzerland at age 4 and 6. Getting Swiss citizenship was a formality. (OK, Swiss mother which may make a difference). Our familys discourse with the authorities has only been complicated by my father having changed his Christian names by deed poll - just make sure you have all the relevant documentation.
We've gone thru the German citizenship route, so assuming process, waiting and formalities are the same or slightly more detailed in terms of local knowledge - ok, all learnable.
Good thing, since we have German passports, we don't need thet German language tests for the Swiss one ;-)
You’re only just moving here so you’ve got plenty of time to figure it all out.
They might even have changed the criteria by the time you’re eligible to apply.
I hope so ;-) ! thank you
Like all children born to a Swiss parent or two, they're Swiss from birth.
There is no "getting Swiss citizenship" for them.
True, but
"A child born abroad who has another citizenship and at least one of whose parents is Swiss loses their Swiss citizenship upon reaching the age of 25 unless a Swiss authority abroad or in Switzerland is notified of their birth by their 25th birthday or if they have declared in writing that they wish to retain Swiss citizenship."
Is it 25 or 22?
Either way, can attest to the above.
Some years ago a young man I know, born abroad to a (married) Swiss father and an American mother found out he was no longer eligible for Swiss citizenship because the father never registered the birth, and he missed the deadline to declare.
(He might have just slipped by if it was 25, but IIRC he was told it was 22, and he had missed the boat.)
It’s not the same situation as the OP, but this thread from today illustrates how things can change:
It enables one to renounce American citizenship (if one has that). One of the core requirements of renouncing is having a 2nd citizenship. You are not allowed to become stateless.