I just wanted to know how long the Swiss nationality process lasts after we have applied, so, I've been living here 12 years, speak French, all that seems to be in order, but how would I have to wait after I've applied in order to gain nationality?
Hello,
Where do you apply? If you speak French, not German, and apply in St Gallen, the waiting time is 274 years.
French is a fine language but to apply for Swiss citizenship in Canton St. Gallen under the ordinary process applicants need to be able to speak German at least at level B1:
'Here' is Switzerland? Canton St. Gallen? A specific town/village/city in canton St. Gallen?
You need a Heimatort. And unless things have changed when I wasn't looking, not only Switzerland and the Canton have to give their okay but the commune too has to say yes or no. (and sometimes the citizens there have a say in the matter and can indeed turn the application down!)
Yeah, I forgot to change, I'm moving to canton Geneve, how long would it take if I apply from there?
You'll have to live in your new Canton and Gemeinde for the time they specify before you can apply. Not sure on Geneva's time scale, think 2 or 3 years.
Did you read the link Mullhollander gave you?
I hardly think that the St.Gallen folk will look kindly on you wanting to get citizenship through them if you no longer live there. And for Geneva you start again with the cantonal requirements.
Yeah, so, in total, I have completed the basic requirements, I have lived in canton Geneve for 4 years, then I moved to Canton Vaud, where I have lived for 4 years as well. I have just completed university (in St. Gallen) and am currently living in Geneve. What are the further requirements of the process, and how long will it take to complete?
Why don't you look it up yourself? Is this too much an effort for your Swiss passport?
How long have you been registered for in Geneva since returning from Vaud/St Gallen?
I think the residency requirements are continual before application, I don't think years in the past count. However if you speak French, give them a call and ask.
As it is raining in New York so I cannot watch the tennis- the St. Galler say you have to have lived there for the past four years to apply ... and I bet the other cantons say much the same. Years spent in a canton previously count for time in Switzerland but not as 'now'.
Okay, guys listen, all my main requirements are ready and finished, that part you need not discuss, I'm not asking about how to everything, I'm asking how long is the process, after you have applied with filling the requirements.
From what I understand from my geminde as I'm going through the process is that it will take at least one year.
An interview comes about 5 months after papers are submitted.
It may be a slightly different process if you are married to a Swiss or have Swiss children. Estimate around 1year start to finish.
OK, my turn:
Imho at Geneva it's not a bad strategy to be prepared for a 3-years-timelace, if we are talking ordinary procedure.
If I got it right from a bunch of posts with regard to that topic, it's one of the slowest Cantons in that matter. Much unlike Zurich, e.g.
It varies from canton to canton (and community to community within cantons). Ct. Zurich seems to take about one year from reports on EF. On the other hand, Ct. Geneva, as just mentioned and also reported elsewhere on EF, can take years.
Rumor has it Geneva is Taking up to 4 years.they are really backed up. But in normal circumstances ordinary naturalization takes about 18-24 months, facilitated 12-18 months.
This text is copied from the relevant PDF (procedure-naturalisation-bien-se-preparer) to be found in the Geneva Naturalisation Rulings
"D'avoir résidé d’une manière effective en Suisse avec un titre de
séjour valable pendant 12 ans, 2 ans dans le canton de Genève,
dont les 12 mois précédant l’introduction de la demande. Dans le
calcul des douze ans de résidence, le temps passé en Suisse entre
dix et vingt ans révolus compte double".
My french is rusty but it seems that, even if all other requirements are fulfilled, you cannot apply for Naturlisation in Geneva unless you have lived in the Canton of Geneva for the preceeding twelve months.
It might not be new information for the OP but since the Thread title is not too specific it is worth noting this ruling for others who may be interested.
Yes that's about the size of it. He needs to have lived for at least 2 out of the 12 years as a Swiss resident in the canton of Geneva which can have been at any time but he needs to have lived in Geneva for a minimum of 12 months At the time of making the application.
Took us about 18 months in Fribourg, from filing of the original request to granting of citizenship. This was for a family of 4.
It differs vastly, from person to person, here in the grisons anyway. I have asked many people this very question and it ranged from a few months to a couple of years. So OP has a valid question.