My children are interested in applying for Swiss citizenship. I understand that with a Permit C, someone with a US passport can can apply after 5 - 6 years of living continuously in the country and in the same canton (in our case, Vaud). Does it matter how old is the child? One of my kids would only be 16 at that time. Thank you all in advance for your insight.
Hello,
I thought it was 10 years for US citizens, with a certain age range counting as double years for children.
Hope it works out for you and your children 🌸
Sky is correct on 10 years. First, your children will need C permits. Do they have those yet? Since a law change a few years ago, one must first have a permanent residence permit before applying for naturalization.
The years between ages 8-18 count as "double" years. Let's take your 16-year old as an example, assuming the child already has the C permit.
If he/she has been here 5 years and is currently 16, that means arrival in CH around age 11. Those 5 years count double, so the child meets the 10-year requirement (edit - I think LT's post below is right about 6 years total even with double counting). There are other requirements though.
Talk to your commune. In Switzerland, one is first a citizen of a municipality, then a canton, then the Confederation. Each municipality has its own rules on how long one has to live there, etc. and so that's where to start.
10 years, including 2 in Vaud. Years between age 8 and 18 count double, but there must be a minimum of 6 years. Years with L permit don't count, and must have C when applying. Language requirements are A2 written, B1 oral. Stringent test on the knowledge of Switzerland.
I certainly wouldn't characterise it as such. Since the new law it all comes from the scripted prepatory book. There really is no challenge unless illiterate.
Ah! Wasn't aware it had changed, the people I know who took citizenship tests did it a number of years ago and said it was brutal. Glad to hear it's easier now!
Thank you all for your response. Yes, she would have been here between the age 8 - 18 and would have lived in Vaud for more than 8 years. Someone mentioned that she has to wait until she is 18 before she can apply. Has anyone heard of that? I could not find any requirement that stipulates "a minimum age."
Différent cantons have different requirements with regards to the minimum age for naturalisation.
In Neuchâtel it is 9, I believe it is 14 in Vaud if the children are applying independently of the parents.
Here you go. As long as they have done at least 5 years of their obligatory schooling in a Swiss school young adults aged between 14 and 25 benefit from a form of facilitated naturalisation in Vaud. The minimum age to apply is 14.