Facilitated naturalisation in Geneva: for spouses, children of Swiss parents and third generation
Spouse of a Swiss national at the time of marriage, child of a Swiss parent, or third-generation foreign national? Facilitated naturalisation is made for you. Easy Naturalisation guides you in Geneva.
Facilitated naturalisation is aimed at three specific profiles: people married to a Swiss citizen (provided the spouse was Swiss at the time of the marriage), children of a Swiss father or mother, and third-generation foreign nationals born in Switzerland. This procedure is lighter than ordinary naturalisation, but it remains governed by strict conditions.
Facilitated does not mean automatic. Each case must be documented precisely and the file remains subject to review by the federal authorities. We help you check from the very first interview whether you meet the exact conditions.
The three cases eligible for facilitated naturalisation
Spouse of a Swiss citizen
People married to a Swiss citizen may be eligible for facilitated naturalisation.
The following may apply for facilitated naturalisation:
Spouse living in Switzerland
Wives and husbands of Swiss citizens. The person must have lived in Switzerland for a total of five years, including the year before the application, and have been in a marital union with their Swiss spouse for three years.
Spouse living abroad
Wives and husbands of Swiss citizens living abroad. The person must have been in a marital union with their Swiss spouse for six years and have close ties with Switzerland.
Child of a Swiss citizen
Foreign children of Swiss citizens may, in certain cases, be eligible for facilitated naturalisation. The procedure differs depending on whether the family lives in Switzerland or abroad.
1. Child of a naturalised parent
A foreign child who was not included in a parent's naturalisation may apply if they meet the following conditions:
- they were a minor when one of their parents applied for naturalisation;
- they are not yet 22 years old;
- they have lived in Switzerland for at least five years in total, including the three years before the application.
2. Child of a Swiss mother
A foreign child born of the marriage between a Swiss woman and a foreign man, whose mother held Swiss nationality before or at the time of birth, may apply if their integration in Switzerland is successful. These are cases where the mother, as the wife of a foreign national, could not pass on her Swiss nationality to her child, regardless of how she acquired it.
3. Child of a Swiss father
A foreign child born to a Swiss father before 1 January 2006 may apply if they meet the conditions of art. 1 para. 2 of the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA) and their integration in Switzerland is successful. The father must have held Swiss nationality at the time of birth, not be married to the mother, and have recognised the child before they came of age.
Third-generation foreign nationals
A young third-generation foreign national whose grandparents immigrated to Switzerland may be eligible for facilitated naturalisation if they meet the following conditions:
- at least one grandparent was born in Switzerland, or it can be credibly shown that they acquired a right of residence in Switzerland;
- at least one parent holds a settlement permit, has lived in Switzerland for at least 10 years and completed at least 5 years of compulsory schooling there;
- they were born in Switzerland and hold a settlement permit;
- they completed at least 5 years of compulsory schooling in Switzerland;
- their integration is successful;
- they apply before their 25th birthday.
Our support
Analysis of your situation
We determine whether you meet the conditions for facilitated naturalisation, taking into account your personal situation (marriage, parentage, length of residence).
Building your file
We prepare all your documents and support you through every administrative step with the Swiss authorities.
Preparation for the interview
As with ordinary naturalisation, an interview may be required. We prepare you to approach it with confidence.
Follow-up until the decision
We remain available until the final decision on your application.
Frequently asked questions
Are you more in the situation of an ordinary naturalisation? See this page
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