In Geneva, your file starts its journey in your commune. A large part of your naturalisation timeline is decided there.
The communal opinion
The ordinary naturalisation procedure is mainly governed by cantonal law but requires the involvement of the commune, the canton and the Confederation. It generally takes between 18 and 36 months, with wide variations depending on the commune and canton.
In Geneva, the Geneva Citizenship Act (LDCG) provides that the period between submission and the communal opinion must not exceed 12 months, subject to special cases. Once the cantonal department has received the file, the competent commune must submit its opinion within 3 months and inform the applicant in writing.
In practice, small communes that receive few applications generally issue their opinion faster than large, heavily solicited ones. The procedure nevertheless varies from case to case: your commune of residence is not a strategic choice, but it does explain part of the differences in timescales observed.
What shortens the procedure
- Submit a complete file the first time: if documents are missing, additional time is granted to complete them
- Order documents at the right moment: some may expire before the end of the procedure if requested too early
- Delegate the administrative handling for a considerable saving of time
Professional support avoids lengthening the procedure
We build your file, order the documents and deal with the Swiss authorities: a complete file the first time means several months saved.
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