Hi there, I was born before July 1, 1985 to a Swiss mother who registered me, however females were unable to pass citizenship at that time. We missed the transition where I apparently could have walked in to get it, but unfortunately my mother was unaware of the law change till it was too late.
I visited Switzerland a few years ago and absolutely love it and would like to move there eventually. I had put getting citizenship out of my mind as I looked into it 6-7 years ago and I don't satisfy the 4 requirements to get it while living abroad since I have no family left there and don't visit often (although I'd like to!). I am a part of my local swiss society however...but unfortunately my German is very poor.
I've been told that if I move there before I'm 33 (is it 32 and under, or under 32?) I can apply and get my citizenship/passport immediately. I always thought this was overstated and would take time.
I met a fellow last night who was in the same situation as me. He decided to travel through Europe and stopped in Switzerland. He got a temporary job at a hostel and went and applied for his passport. Apparently he got it 1.5 weeks later. Is it really this easy? If so I'm more than willing to move there for a month in order to get my citizenship. My company actually has a branch there so I'm sure I could switch there for a month.
Is this a good way to go or is there an easier way for me to get my citizenship? I'd dearly like to to get it to facilitate moving there eventually, as well as the EU benefits one gets despite Switzerland's current EU status.
Thank you for any help you are able to give. I've wanted to get my Swiss passport all my life so this would be fantastic if I can make it happen.
I am an American who recieved citizenship through my mother when I was 5 (1985). I have never heard of such a law that females could not pass citizenship. As far as I know, as long as you can prove that you have Swiss blood (although I am unaware of the percentage you must have), you can get citizenship.
I know very little about the actual process, since I was 5-years-old at the time, but when I was 18 I was given the option of dropping my citizenship or retaining it independently of my mother. Of course, I chose to keep it.
You mention that all of your Swiss relatives are deceased. Do you know your mother's father's town of origin? This should be where all family records are kept. If you contact the Records Office in that village or town, you may be able to prove that you have Swiss blood. When your mother registered you, this is where the record was sent.
I'm sorry to hear that you are having trouble getting your citizenship in order, but I'm sure if you find a way to navigate the German-speaking system, you will be able to receive your citizenship. Have you visited your closest Consulate?
Thanks for the links, although none of those article points seem to cover my case, unless there is something I've missed...?
I've read those or equivalents in doing my research and they don't really answer the question of how immediately I can apply if I move there...although maybe they do sinc e I don't know my exact status......
It's sort of frustrating that because I was born before 1985 to a female I have to jump through hoops to get what someone born after 1985 gets automatically. It's curious why they didn't extend the grace period longer than they did when the changeover happened.
That fellow that got his citizenship in < 2 weeks doesn't seem to be covered in there either.
The info there confuses me even more. I was registered at birth, I just couldn't get my passport then. So did I actually "lose" anything when I turned 22? My local swiss embassy doesn't really answer any of these questions which is extremely frustrating. All that I know for sure is that I don't fall under any work quotas since my mother is Swiss...so I have some sort of status apparently.
I've contemplated trying to find a lawyer who is conversant in Swiss immigration law to try to sort all of this out for me. Consequently I basically gave up, until I met this fellow who got his basically immediately and he was in the same situation as myself.
hi Earthquake, definitely find out where your mother's and her dad's town of origin is. This is referred to as Heimatort in German. My parents were in a similar situation - both Swiss but I was born and raised in the US - and registered me in Switerland when I was born. I was given the same option when I turned 18, and went the same route as Heidi in taking the Swiss citizenship in addition to U.S.
I realize this my situation is somewhat different because both my parents were from here originally, but I would get in touch with the records office first and go from there.
Before 1985 females could not pass citizenship. That was changed in 1985 and apparently there was a short grace period where affected people could go and get it immediately. You probably took advantage of that. We had moved and my mother was not on the consulate mailing list anymore hence we weren't notified. She has forever felt guilty for that since all three of her children are in the same situation and she'd dearly like for us to be able to have our Swiss citizenship.
I know the Canton that my Mother's citizenship is registered in. I've talked with my local consulate but they just say "fill out these forms, satisfy these 4 requirements (family there, visit often, speak 1 of the 4 languages, part of local swiss society), pay a bunch of money, no guarantees". That way just won't work for me for the above stated reasons and unfortunately they say they can't give me any information about getting it if I actually move to Switzerland and work there. I had given up on it until meeting the fellow I talked about above. He said it was trivial to get while travelling through europe, he simply got a job then went and applied.
I have that info (it's in my mother's passport). So far it hasn't been of much use to me when talking to my local consulate. Any suggestions on what I can/should do with that information? Maybe contacting them directly is the best way?
If, for excusable reasons, the Swiss born abroad has forgotten to communicate that he/she wished to maintain Swiss citizenship, he/she can do so before the age of 32. One example of an excusable reason is ignorance the law. On the other hand, not having sufficient financial resources to complete the application at the age of 22 is not viewed as a valid reason.
However, if the individual returns to live in Switzerland, he/she has the right to submit another request for Swiss citizenship no matter how much time has passed.
So I'm not sure if I fall under this or not. I was registered when I was born...but didn't actually HAVE citizenship so there was nothing to maintain...I think. I believe the consulate did tell my mother that not knowing about the 1985 grace period does fall under "ignorance of the law". But I don't have that anywhere written.
What I'm wondering is does this mean I can go live in Switzerland and submit a request no matter how old I am?
you mentioned before you know the canton. Do you have the specific town or city as well? If you do, I would try them. If you indeed were registered by you mother, they will have you on record and - presumably - know where to take it from there.
More conflicting/confusing information below. This seems to insinuate that if I move there before the age of 32 then I can get it immediately. Question is what if I AM 32. One place below says "before reaching the age of 32" and the other says "more than 32".
Child born before 1 July 1985 whose mother is Swiss (Art. 58a)
A child with foreign nationality who was born before 1 July 1985 and whose mother has acquired Swiss nationality by descent, adoption or naturalisation can submit an application for simplified naturalisation before reaching the age of 32 if he/she lives in Switzerland. If the child is more than 32 years old he/she can submit an application for simplified naturalisation if he/she has lived in Switzerland for a total of three years and has been living there for one year at the time of application.
I was also a female born before July 1, 1985, but I was able to get my Swiss citizenship (through my father) by applying BEFORE I turned 22 yrs old.
I used the Atlanta, Georgia consulate for my initial paperwork, and they sent it to my canton of origin. Then I got my temporary passport in Switzerland (simply because I happened to be there at the time) and later received my permanent passport and identity card. However, I'm certain I could have done this all from the States.
I think the only thing hampering you is the age deadline..22. Still, take advantage of a local consulate and give it a go... Good luck!!
I'm male. The whole problem is that my MOTHER is Swiss, not my father. Until 1985 mothers could not pass citizenship to their children, unlike fathers which could. If it was my father I'd be fine and have it now...and if we'd known that the law change happened when it did I'd be fine. Unfortunately we did not
I've talked with them by phone 5-6 years ago and basically what they said was "fill out a form, give us $800, we'll see". They didn't sound optimistic.
I'm going to try to arrange to go talk to someone in person this week.
Whoa..I NEVER paid any amount like that nor heard of paying an amount like that.
My temporary passport was 100 CHF and then my permanent documents were around $100 or so. I can't remember the exact amount..it's on the consulate website, though.
Facilitated naturalisation costs CHF 750 but you don't have to send that amount in with the application if you do it here. Presumably they ask for it later.