Naturalisation - Change of gemeinde

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi Everyone,

Does someone know the rules about changing of gemindes and naturalization? I know that if you change cantons, that there is a waiting period before you can start the process. What about changing gemeindes? like if i'm in zurich and move from one kreis to the other, does it have any impact?

Thanks!

2
Moving Kreis is not moving Gemeinde, you will still be Gemeinde City of Zurich.

3
If you move from one Kreis of the commune of Zurich, to another Kreis of the commune of Zurich you are moving within the commune of Zurich and thus, very obviously, not change commune. (You really should know that if you want to get naturalized).

Otherwise, the general answer: Look into the citcenship law of your canton. In canton Zurich you must have spend two years in the same commune to be eligible for citcenship in the commune (and thus citcenship of the canton, and ultimately Swiss citcenship).

Remember:

4

Per federal law, you can submit your application in one Gemeinde and have it continue to process there even after changing cantons but only once the original Gemeinde has enough information to determine whether or not to grant you citizenship.

Art. 18 Abs. 2 BüG
https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2016/404/de#art_18

5
I think you are not "allowed" to change the Gemeinde till you get a formal confirmation that you can. This is the communication from the Kanton post the SEM approval. Changing the Gemeinde before that can reset the clock and put the ongoing process on hold.

6

No precisely you are allowed to move without jeopardizing your application as soon as the Gemeinde and/or canton (which exact authority is determinant depends on cantonal citizenship law) have done all their checks, which is always pre SEM stage as only favorable applications are sent by cantons to SEM for federal authorization requests.

Art. 13 Abs. 2 BüG

https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2016/404/de#art_13

7

Hello!
I am going through the naturalisation process and i have the same problem.
How long does it take until you get the confirmation that you can change Gemeinde? I am in Gemeinde Zürich.
Thank you!

8

I didn’t expect it was possible to move before the entire process is completed. So what does canton Zurich citizenship law say about that? Do they require gemeinde or canton approval before changing gemeinde?

9

Here’s the Kt Zurich website in “simple language”, with a blue box about moving (after the numbered steps):

As I read it, a person can move after step 3.

10

Canton Zurich:

procedure

You send the application to the municipal office of the Canton of Zurich. Your application goes through the following steps:

  1. Preliminary examination by the municipal office (canton)
  2. Examination by your municipality of residence and preservation of municipal citizenship
  3. Re-examination by the municipal office and receipt of cantonal citizenship
  4. Examination by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM, Federal Government) and granting of naturalization permit
  5. Final examination by the municipal office and granting of Swiss citizenship

We will inform you every time a step is completed.

Ordinary naturalization takes approximately 2 years.

Do you want to move?

If you are moving during naturalization, you must consider the following points:

Once your municipality has completed the investigation, you can move within the canton of Zurich and throughout Switzerland. Naturalization will continue.

If you move and your municipality has not yet completed the assessment, naturalization is currently no longer possible. Naturalization will not continue. You can submit a new application again in the canton of Zurich if you have lived in the new municipality for 2 years.

Are you under 25 years old?

If you were under 25 at the time of the application, there is one exception: you can move within the canton of Zurich throughout your naturalization. Their naturalization will continue.