Eligibility for naturalization due to interruption

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi

I am a non EU, I was doing my PHD btw 2006-2010 at ETH under a B permit, and left to work in Singapore for two years, returned back to Swiss on 2014 and as of this year i will be finishing 8 years and currently holding C permit.

My question, will they count the 4 years from my previous time as Phd student to reach the required 10 years in country? or do i have to wait for another 2 years?

Your support here is much appreciated.

Many thanks

P

2
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...er-werden.html

"Ordinary naturalisation is the option for foreign citizens who have lived for at least 10 years in Switzerland, three of which must be in the five years before they file their application for citizenship "

Seems to say that 10 years total are counted, and then the bolded bit is a requirement before you apply.

3
Just a hint if you want to get naturalized. Learn the name of the Country. It is Switzerland , not Swiss.

Swiss is/means: The people from Switzerland The adjective form, as in Swiss Cheese, Swiss Army Knife, the Swiss Flag (which is square!) An airline

4
You already meet the federal requirements since two years ago.

But then you need to check your cantonal requirements. I think in Bern these are low, you have to have been in the canton and in the same Gemeinde for the last 2 years.

5
Yes those years do count towards the total as I can say from personal experience.

6
I’m in a similar situation but just bit earlier in the process - PhD for 4.5 years (done in 2019), left Switzerland but only for 9 months then and came back for two years already now. Only issue for me could be the L permit that I got when I came back even with a two year contract which is now permanent.

Btw, I’m also from a third country (ie non EU).

My plan was to apply for the C permit through the speed up process in three years but wondered if I could qualify for the naturalisation right away after that... (my doubts are mostly due to the L permit counting for the naturalisation plus in combination with the interruption it might be just too complicated...)

Any similar experiences? Thanks!

7
Permit L does not count for naturalization. Your citicenship is also not of importance for naturalization.

8
10 years in Switzerland plus Kantonal Stay (varies by Kanton) plus Gemeinde stay (varies by Gemeinde) plus C Permit plus no Social Help plus no Betreibungs Claims plus no Criminal Record plus Motivation and Integration....Existing nationality does not matter.... easy peasy

9
Yeah, I was thinking that about the L permit... But then if it it’s counted as blank would it fall with the interrupted period? 🙃 In that case it seems to me that I could still apply right after (presumably) getting the C permit.. the issue would be how long can the interrupted period be - in my case it would be 9 months + 2 years L permit...

10
An so what? I do not see an issue as you still need around 5 more years on B or C before you can apply for citizenship.

You will need permit C.

You will need a total of 10 years on permit B or C. This can be interrupted.

You will need at least 3 uninterrupted years on B or C within the last 5 years before applying (Federal rule).

You will need at least 2 - 5 years of continuous uninterrupted years of stay on B or C in your commune or canton when you apply (depends on local regulation).

As long as you do not move to another commune or interrupt your stay in the future you should be good even in canton Uri.

11
Why are L permits not counted? It mentions that you must be a resident, and L permit is a residence permit. I have pasted the link below, I could be wrong though.

https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2016/404/en

I stand corrected, it is written here that L is not counted.

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...rdentlich.html

12
It is a kind of residence permit but not the residence permit.

L = Short term residence permit. Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung.

B = Residence permit. Aufenthaltsbewilligung.

C = Settlement permit. Niederlassungsbewilligung.

13
That's what I misunderstood then. I figured it's 10 years from first entry to Switzerland (in my case since 2014), while plus obviously having C permit and all the other requirements (same canton/commune for the number of years) satisfied.

Ie. in my case, for C permit it would be:

-2 years L permit (2020, 2021) + 3 years B permit (2022-2024); as to what I understood L for this counts.

and for naturalization:

-4.5 years on PhD student-based B permit (2014-2019)

-2.75 years of interruption (0.75 of actual interruption and 2 years on L permit)

-3 years of B permit while getting the C permit (2022-2024).

That would be 10 years total, and a C permit at the end and, let's say I don't move anywhere, 3 out of last 5 years in the same commune...

But it seems that I need to add 2.5 years on that (presumable) C permit (2025-2027) before submitting application for naturalization... Update on the process to the forum in 2028 with hopes to get in in 2029!

14
As you had a limited contract and your canton is Valais: Do not count on it.

15
ah that wasn't updated it's BS actually. so maybe some hopes...

but the L permit strategy of the cantons for multi-year contracts (2 in my case) is really ridiculous... and I'd question its legality.

16

You need 10 years of actually living here on permits B and C (some other permits count half, L does not count); they can be interrupted. Until 2024 you will have 7.5 years. As previous posters have said, communal and cantonal time varies, but if you don't move until 2027, you will be eligible then.