I am of Swiss ancestry. How can I claim Swiss citizenship?
If you had Swiss citizenship at birth in addition to a foreign nationality, you must register your desire to keep this citizenship before you are 22. If you have missed this deadline, you may apply to have your Swiss citizenship restored, but must do this within 10 years.
To recover Swiss citizenship, you must prove a close connection with Switzerland.
Can I pass my Swiss citizenship on to my children?
Children with one Swiss parent are automatically born Swiss if the parents are married. They are also automatically Swiss if their mother is Swiss, even if she is not married to the father.
Since January 1st 2006, the child of a Swiss father who is not married to the mother can become Swiss if the father recognises him/her before the age of majority, or if a paternity suit has been recognised.
In other cases the child may make an application for naturalisation up until his/her 22nd birthday. It is necessary to prove close ties with Switzerland, including lengthy periods of residence.
After the age of 22, he/she is treated no differently from any other foreigner applying for naturalisation.
Am I eligible for Swiss nationality?
If you have been resident in Switzerland for 12 years you may apply for naturalisation. Years spent in Switzerland between the ages of 10 and 20 count as double.
Foreigners married to Swiss citizens can apply for facilitated naturalisation. You must have been in a stable marriage for at least three years, and have lived in Switzerland for a total of five years. The last 12 months must have been spent entirely in Switzerland. Like all applicants, foreign spouses must show that they are well integrated into the Swiss way of life.
The initial application is examined by the Federal Office for Migration, but both the canton and commune of residence have their own requirements. The fee payable also varies according to the place of residence.
The final decision is taken by the commune in which you are resident. In some places this decision is taken by a panel, in others by a popular vote of all citizens of the commune.
obtaining Swiss nationality
studying in Switzerland
How can I study in Switzerland?
If you plan to study in Switzerland, you will need to know the details of all the Swiss institutions of higher learning to decide where to apply.
Don't forget that English is not one of Switzerland's national languages, so only a restricted number of courses are taught in it. If you don't speak German, French or Italian, you should be sure to ask about the language of instruction.
If you want to study at a private college, you should check its credentials before paying any money. If in doubt, enquire at your local Swiss emabssy or consulate.
You are not allowed to finance your studies through work, although you can normally work to earn extra money. There are restrictions on the number of hours you are allowed to do this; the precise rules depend on the canton.
How can my children study in Switzerland?
There are a number of private schools in Switzerland. The umbrella organisation has all the details on its website.
If you are taking up residence in Switzerland, your children can attend their local public (state) school.
working in Switzerland
How can I find a job in Switzerland?
Before planning to work in Switzerland, please look at the section "How can I immigrate to Switzerland?" There are strict regulations about work permits.
Do not forget that English is not one of the Swiss national languages. Depending on your profession, you may find it extremely difficult to perform your job if you do not speak (at least) one of the Swiss languages. In the German speaking parts of the country, you may find it more or less essential to know not only High German but also Swiss German.
What are salaries and conditions like?
It is impossible to give precise salary levels, but the links below will give you some idea of what you may expect.
Remember that salaries in Geneva and Zurich are likely to be higher than in most other places in Switzerland.
Remember too that the cost of living in Switzerland is high
living in Switzerland
How can I immigrate to Switzerland?
The rules on immigration are very strict. Your nationality is important: citizens of the 15 pre-2004 EU member states and of EFTA countries face fewer restrictions than citizens from the rest of the world.It is almost impossible for non-EU nationals to find work in Switzerland: they need to be highly qualified and able to perform a job that no Swiss person can do. Without a job arranged in advance, you cannot take up residence.
How can I buy property - real estate - in Switzerland?
The purchase of real estate in Switzerland by foreigners is strictly regulated. Non-residents can buy vacation properties in tourist areas. EU citizens who are Swiss residents can buy without restriction, while other foreign residents can buy one property for their own use. Special restrictions apply for the purchase of large areas of land.
The Federal Office of Justice has issued official guidelines for foreigners wishing to purchase real estate.
The details of the purchase process vary from canton to canton.
You can find property advertisements on swissinfo's swisslinks.
How can I open a bank account in Switzerland?
The Swiss Bankers' Association has an FAQ on opening a bank account.Its site also contains more general information about banks, including an overall introduction to the subject.There are many private organisations which will help you open an account; the best way to find them is probably by looking in google. You will probably find some useful information on their pages even if you do not use their services.
How can I find legal advice?
Your first port of call could be an advice bureau: these are known by different names in different cantons: "Rechtsauskunftsstelle" "Permanence Avocats" "Permanence juridique" etc. In Basel contact the "Advokatenkammer Basel - Kontaktstelle", and for Ticino you may call the "Ordine degli avvocati" in Chiasso. You can find the addresses on the site of the Swiss Bar Association.
The Bar Association also provides a search service to help you find a lawyer specialising in the area you need.
Swiss notaries also have their own umbrella site.
What's the best time of year to visit Switzerland?
Switzerland offers a wide variety of things to do and see, whatever the season. Summer lasts roughly from June until September, and offers the most pleasant climate for outdoor activities.If you visit during the spring (April to May) or the autumn (September to October), you're likely to find fewer tourists and special deals in hotels and resorts.Winter sports venues begin operating in late November and close down when the snow begins to melt in spring.The website of the Swiss tourist organisation provides an idea of average temperatures. However, the weather can vary considerably from year to year. Furthermore, because of the mountains Switzerland is a country of micro-climates: in particular the weather can be quite different north and south of the Alps.
Transportation
travel round Switzerland?
Public transport is well-known for its reliability. The train and regional bus services are timetabled to provide the best possible connections with each other.
The Swiss Federal Railways have an excellent on-line timetable which covers not only trains, but also buses and boats. It also has details of deals available for foreign visitors to Switzerland, which will almost certainly save you a lot of money.
If you plan to travel by car, there is an efficient motorway network. You will need a "vignette": a sticker which must be fixed to the windscreen of your car. It costs 40 francs, and is valid from January to January. You can buy this before you arrive from a Swiss tourist office or from many motoring organisations. Otherwise they are sold at the border, in post offices and service stations.
Please note that if you are driving in winter, using winter tyres is highly recommended for insurance reasons. For some roads you will even need chains. Many of the passes are closed for several months because of snow.
If you want to cycle, there is a clearly marked network of cycle tracks for standard bicycles and for mountain bikes.
You should obtain a bicycle insurance sticker (vignette), which you can buy for about five francs at a post office, railway station etc. This is not obligatory for foreign cyclists making occasional visits, but it is highly recommended.
visiting Switzerland
Do I need a visa?
This depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. An overview of visa provisions is available on the web, as is a downloadable visa form in several world languages.
A Schengen visa is not valid for Switzerland. No date for the coming into force of the Schengen treaty has yet been set, but it is unlikely to occur before the autumn of 2008.
Please note that you should submit your visa application to the embassy or consulate covering your place of residence. It may be turned down if you submit it elsewhere.
