Becoming Swiss

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Foreigners can obtain Swiss nationality by naturalisation. If you do not meet the criteria to benefit from the facilitated naturalisation process, you must opt for ordinary naturalisation.

Facilitated naturalisation

Facilitated naturalisation is possible in a number of different scenarios, described on the Facilitated naturalisation page of the state of Geneva’s website. 

Unlike in the case of a marriage, a registered partnership does not give the foreign partner of a Swiss national the right to facilitated naturalisation. However, in the case of a conversion of a partnership into a marriage, the duration of the registered partnership before the conversion is taken into account when calculating the duration of the marriage with a view to facilitated naturalisation.

Facilitated naturalisations and reintegration procedures fall under the exclusive auspices of the Swiss Confederation.

Ordinary naturalisation

If you are not eligible for facilitated naturalisation, you must follow the ordinary naturalisation process.

In Geneva, the Cantonal Office of Population and Migrations – naturalisations sector is the institution tasked with processing requests for ordinary naturalisation. 

The relevant cantonal authority (OCPM) will ask you to obtain an extract from the civil register, which you must request from the civil registry office in your district of residence.

After having contacted the OCPM, you can obtain this extract by completing the form entitled “Request with a view to obtaining an extract from the civil register”, available for download below. You can send this by letter or by e-mail (@email) with a copy of your identity document and a copy of the first page of the duly completed cantonal form for requesting Swiss naturalisation (yellow form).

The Civil Registry Office will send you the list of documents to be provided.

The original documents are sent by letter or handed over at the counter on the 1st floor.

If the documents are valid and after payment of all necessary fees, you will receive the extract from the civil register with a view to obtaining citizenship.

Place of origin and right of citizenship

Naturalisation enables you to acquire the determined right of citizenship, which specifies your affiliation to a Swiss municipality and canton. Your political rights and duties as a Swiss citizen are dependent on this right of citizenship.