https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed There are a number of ads on the internet from law firms offering their assistance in obtaining a work permit, or even citizenship, in Switzerland. Do you really need a legal specialist to help you do that? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231025/do-you-need-a-lawyer-to-help-get-a-swiss-work-permit-or-citizenship Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:37:59 +0200 do-you-need-a-lawyer-to-help-get-a-swiss-work-permit-or-citizenship Most foreigners who wed Swiss nationals are granted citizenship through a simplified naturalisation process. However there are cases where this doesn't happen. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260407/why-marrying-a-swiss-person-doesnt-guarantee-you-citizenship Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:31:34 +0200 why-marrying-a-swiss-person-doesnt-guarantee-you-citizenship A recent analysis offers an interesting perspective on immigration – and particularly on how naturalisation changes Switzerland’s population landscape. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/how-naturalisation-has-shifted-switzerlands-population-balance Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:44:06 +0200 how-naturalisation-has-shifted-switzerlands-population-balance Some 41,000 foreigners became Swiss in 2025, but where are they all from and which parts of Switzerland hand out most new passports? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260408/where-are-switzerlands-newly-naturalised-citizens-from Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:44:36 +0200 where-are-switzerlands-newly-naturalised-citizens-from The price of becoming a Swiss citizen in Basel-City will drop significantly - from 1,750 to 900 francs – on July 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/basel-to-slash-cost-of-swiss-naturalisation-fee-from-this-summer Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:20:45 +0200 basel-to-slash-cost-of-swiss-naturalisation-fee-from-this-summer Australian Hugh Chaffey-Millar came to Switzerland in 2013 and finally became a Swiss citizen last year. Here he shares tips with The Local to help foreigners in their long, and often bumpy, quest for integration and naturalisation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/learn-about-your-community-what-you-need-to-go-through-to-become-a-swiss-citizen Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:43:53 +0200 learn-about-your-community-what-you-need-to-go-through-to-become-a-swiss-citizen There are many reasons why an application for Swiss naturalisation could be refused — and some of them might be hard to believe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240404/the-bizarre-reasons-people-have-been-denied-swiss-citizenship Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:50:18 +0200 the-bizarre-reasons-people-have-been-denied-swiss-citizenship A fifth of he country’s residents are foreigners who obtained Swiss citizenship while still maintaining the nationality of their place of origin. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260130/how-many-dual-nationals-live-in-switzerland-and-where-are-they-all Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:41:35 +0100 how-many-dual-nationals-live-in-switzerland-and-where-are-they-all The strict criteria for obtaining a Swiss passport means that as many as one fifth of applications to become Swiss are rejected. Here’s what you should know about increasing your chances of being naturalised. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220202/why-your-swiss-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected-and-how-to-avoid-it Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:14:37 +0100 why-your-swiss-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected-and-how-to-avoid-it A Swiss passport comes with many rules attached to it, but is good income one of the conditions for naturalisation in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240607/do-i-need-to-earn-a-good-wage-to-qualify-for-swiss-citizenship Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:22:09 +0200 do-i-need-to-earn-a-good-wage-to-qualify-for-swiss-citizenship A man had his Swiss citizenship revoked in February 2026 for lying on his naturalisation test. What else could prompt authorities to take such a drastic step? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220325/explained-can-swiss-citizenship-be-revoked-and-how-can-you-get-it-back Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:41:33 +0100 explained-can-swiss-citizenship-be-revoked-and-how-can-you-get-it-back Basel-Country could follow the example of its sister canton, Basel-City, in scrapping the fees for foreigners under the age of 25 who apply for Swiss citizenship. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260216/swiss-canton-looks-to-scrap-naturalisation-fees-for-young-people Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:59:49 +0100 swiss-canton-looks-to-scrap-naturalisation-fees-for-young-people Geneva has Switzerland’s highest naturalisation rate, but not everyone who applies makes the cut. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260219/how-many-foreigners-are-refused-swiss-citizenship-in-geneva-and-why Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:36:52 +0100 how-many-foreigners-are-refused-swiss-citizenship-in-geneva-and-why A Swiss court has upheld a woman’s appeal against a naturalisation refusal which saw her bid to become Swiss turned down because of a door-ringing and egg-throwing incident in her youth. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260210/court-backs-woman-denied-swiss-citizenship-over-doorbell-pranks Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:44:45 +0100 court-backs-woman-denied-swiss-citizenship-over-doorbell-pranks Lawmakers in Switzerland have voted not to back a plan that demands cutting the period of residency required to qualify for Swiss citizenship. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260126/swiss-mps-reject-plan-to-shorten-wait-period-for-citizenship Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:31:44 +0100 swiss-mps-reject-plan-to-shorten-wait-period-for-citizenship An applicant for Swiss citizenship has won his court battle against his commune’s refusal of naturalisation after judges ruled many of the questions he was asked were "inadmissible". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260119/swiss-court-rules-man-denied-citizenship-over-inadmissible-test-questions Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:45:06 +0100 swiss-court-rules-man-denied-citizenship-over-inadmissible-test-questions New data has revealed that Zurich has the second-highest naturalisation rate in Switzerland after Geneva, but disparities in numbers exist between richer and less well off communities. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251230/how-residents-in-wealthy-zurich-areas-are-more-likely-to-seek-naturalisation Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:30:31 +0100 how-residents-in-wealthy-zurich-areas-are-more-likely-to-seek-naturalisation Switzerland already enforces strict language requirements for Swiss citizenship applicants, but could they soon become tougher? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251229/new-move-in-switzerland-to-introduce-stricter-language-rules-for-naturalisation Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:50:05 +0100 new-move-in-switzerland-to-introduce-stricter-language-rules-for-naturalisation A Swiss lawmaker has proposed that foreign entrepreneurs based in the country should benefit from a more streamlined naturalisation process. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251219/new-push-for-foreign-entrepreneurs-to-get-easier-route-to-swiss-citizenship Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:02:29 +0100 new-push-for-foreign-entrepreneurs-to-get-easier-route-to-swiss-citizenship Naturalisation fees in Switzerland vary from canton to canton – and sometimes by municipality within that canton - and some are cheaper (or more expensive) than others. So how much can you expect to pay in 2025? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250909/how-much-does-it-cost-to-become-a-swiss-citizen-in-2025 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:21:01 +0200 how-much-does-it-cost-to-become-a-swiss-citizen-in-2025