Can you claim Swiss citizenship through a parent?
Citizen by descent (Art. 1)
A child of a Swiss parent is Swiss from birth. Born abroad with another nationality, you keep it past 25 by being registered with a Swiss representation, or telling one in writing that you wish to keep it, before then.
What would settle itWhether your parents were married at your birth or paternity was established while you were a minor.
- Swiss from birth is the child of married parents one of whom is Swiss, or of an unmarried Swiss mother; the child of an unmarried Swiss father becomes Swiss, as from birth, once the parent-child relationship is established while a minor. Swiss Citizenship Act (Bürgerrechtsgesetz, BüG), SR 141.0, in force 1 January 2018, Art. 1
- A child born abroad to a Swiss parent who also holds another nationality forfeits Swiss citizenship at 25 unless, by then, they have been reported to or have reported to a Swiss authority at home or abroad, or declared in writing that they wish to keep it; a parent’s or relative’s notice for the registers, matriculation or identity papers is enough, and the person’s own children forfeit with them. Swiss Citizenship Act (Bürgerrechtsgesetz, BüG), SR 141.0, in force 1 January 2018, Art. 7
- The State Secretariat for Migration confirms the forfeiture at 25 for those born abroad with another nationality, the notice or written declaration that prevents it, and reinstatement for those who lost it. State Secretariat for Migration: loss of Swiss citizenship (forfeiture at 25, reinstatement)
- Dual nationality has been recognised without restriction since 1 January 1992, so keeping Swiss citizenship does not cost you your other one. State Secretariat for Migration: dual nationality (recognised without restriction since 1 January 1992)
What changes the answer
- POSSIBLEIf someone in your family became a citizen of another country before the next person in your family was born
Switzerland does not strip citizenship from a Swiss who takes another nationality, so your parent’s naturalization abroad did not by itself stop citizenship passing down. What matters is whether they were formally released, or forfeited it at 25 for want of registration.
- POSSIBLEIf you were born before 2002Citizen by descent (Art. 1) or facilitated naturalisation (Art. 51)
Born before 2006 to a Swiss father, you were Swiss from birth if your parents were married; if not, the transitional law lets you apply for facilitated naturalisation with proven paternity and close ties to Switzerland, without living there.
- POSSIBLEIf you were born between 2002 and 2005Citizen by descent (Art. 1) or facilitated naturalisation (Art. 51)
Born before 2006 to a Swiss father, you were Swiss from birth if your parents were married; if not, the transitional law lets you apply for facilitated naturalisation with proven paternity and close ties to Switzerland, without living there.
- POSSIBLEIf the parent is your mother and you were born before 2002Citizen by descent (Art. 1) or facilitated naturalisation (Art. 51)
Born to a Swiss mother, you were Swiss from birth if she was unmarried, or married under the current rule. If the older law skipped you, the transitional provision lets a child of a Swiss mother married to a foreigner apply for facilitated naturalisation with close ties to Switzerland.
- POSSIBLEIf the parent is your mother and you were born between 2002 and 2005Citizen by descent (Art. 1) or facilitated naturalisation (Art. 51)
Born to a Swiss mother, you were Swiss from birth if she was unmarried, or married under the current rule. If the older law skipped you, the transitional provision lets a child of a Swiss mother married to a foreigner apply for facilitated naturalisation with close ties to Switzerland.