Naturalization in July

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello

The naturalization office has confirmed to me that im eligible to apply end of July 2023.

Is it too early if I submit my application now?

I think they would anyway in all cases need 2-3 months to open my application so that would Be already May-June.

Could they reject my application for applying a month or two earlier?

2
Why would you apply now if you are eligible to apply in July? Can't you just wait until July?

3
If it were me, I would wander down to the local office responsible for this and ask them about the timing. I’m sure you will find them very helpful.

4
Wait till April before you apply. It will take them 2-3 months to digest the application. By the time they do, you will be eligible.

It happened to me too and they ‘froze’ the application for a month and then immediately processed it.

Good luck

5
I’ve heard that people who sent their application too early, were just told to send it again when they are actually eligible. Wait until July.

6
I've heard the same as Island Monkey - applications returned until eligible.

7
I would suggest that you collect all the relevant documents and be prepared to submit on the day you are finally eligible. Note that the Civil Register extract is the one which is most challenging in terms of time. They normally dont accept the application before you are eligible.

8

I agree. Adding here that if you've had any life events in Switzerland - marriage, birth of a child - you might already be in their civil register and it will take no time at all. For the rest of us, depending on the countries where we were born/married etc, it might take a long time.

9
Same. When i applied they checked first that i was eligible and then they sent the documents.

10
Lots of time if you are non-EU or if you have multiple existing citizenships.... ;-)

11
For any Swiss documents required for the naturalisation process eg debt register, tax office, social help et al they have different validity dates - some good for 3 months and others for 6 months. So you risk collating everything & then finding they’ve expired by the time you submit if you start now. It took us a week to get all the paperwork needed from the relevant Swiss authorities from 2 cantons.

12

According to Winterthur’s flowchart the civil register entry is its own distinct process before the request for naturalisation is even submitted.

Is this correct (aren’t the two usually submitted jointly?), and doesn’t that mean that OP could start this process before July?

This appears to me to be a cantonal thing. Canton Zürich has an online form where residents can enquire whether they’re already in the registry, as well as a form to get entered .

13
Dialogue is a wonderful tool, go to your commune and ASK, they have all be highly trained not to bite

14
OP, if you're Non-EU like me, your bottle-neck will most likely be the Civil Registry Extract. I suggest you apply now for this extract, so you get an idea if it's a short or long road for you. If I remember correctly, the extract document had no expiration, so you can submit that later when you apply for Naturalization. The other docs (Betriebung, Sozialamt) are easy available in 1-2 weeks.

15
Indeed, it was the bottleneck for us.

We actually delayed applying because of this as some of our documents were very difficult to source during Covid, so we decided to have our teen go ahead, as her registration was simple (born in a EU country which sent the birth certificate within a week). We finally collected all our documents and managed to get registered early this year, two and a half years after we initially considered it (but in reality it was about 10 months of various steps after the initial complete roadblock). We almost gave up on the idea of applying altogether because this was a headache.

Depending on your canton, you might or might not be able to get entered into the civil registry system before your 10 years are complete if you are getting entered for the purpose of naturalization (they have very strict rules of when a foreigner is allowed to get registered in their system, you can't just decide to do it).

In my canton, BS, the extract of the civil register is valid for 3 months for naturalization, so you might need to pay additional money to get a new extract if you apply before you meet the requirements and need to reapply. Urs Max gave you some great resources, take a good look.

16
Hi all

Many thanks for your inputs and info.

Just to highlight some points:

I am already registered in the civil registry, i started with this in 2019, it took some months and it didn't go smoothly.

Last week I filled out this online form and the next day I had already my extract for 30 CHF, and should be valid for 6 months for the naturalisation.

Last year I did submit a naturalisation application, because I thought all my years would count but apparently my L-permit years didn't count.

They didn't refuse my application but they gave me 2 options. Either withdraw or challenge the decision. I did challenge the decision and the outcome was a rejection and 200 CHF admin. fees. The overall process with the justification and post took around 3 months.

Now it takes even longer as far as I have seen, the initial check would take 6 months but I think in reality it would be a bit quicker.

I am thinking of submitting the application soon, if the worst would be that they will freeze it till July then it don't mind at all. I just don't want to be refused once again and start the whole application again.

17
OP, if I were you, I would avoid a 2nd refusal or rejection. As a Swiss you will be expected to follow the rules to the dot, so submit your docs in July when you are eligible.

18
Lol right as if Swiss people follow rules to the dot

19
LoL.....so cute.....

The comment was absolutely spot on.

Remember that the OP is NOT yet Swiss. So the expectations of what Swiss Do or Dont, does NOT apply to him yet.

Once he/she is Swiss, he probably can be as you say....

20
If you’ve been rejected once (and appealed ) for applying early. You’d be absolutely nuts to send your application in even a day early this time - it can only go against you.