Swiss passport: the requirements

You want to become Swiss? Here you see the basic rules for ordinary naturalisation.

Naturalisation (Einbürgerung) makes you a Swiss citizen. The normal way is called ordinary naturalisation (ordentliche Einbürgerung). It has several requirements.

Basic requirements

  • You have lived in Switzerland for 10 years. Years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double.
  • You have the permit C (Niederlassungsbewilligung).
  • You are well integrated and know life in Switzerland.
  • You speak German at level B1 and write at level A2.

The canton and the municipality can ask for additional years of residence. They can also ask for more language skills. The language rule above is the rule of the federal government (SEM).

This is how it works in Kanton Luzern

You hand in the application at your municipality (Gemeindekanzlei). The municipality checks you first. Then the canton and the federal government check.

After the yes from the municipality it takes 4 to 6 months. Naturalisation costs fees. Ask your municipality for the amount.

What you can do now

  1. Check: Do you have permit C and 10 years in Switzerland?
  2. Ask your municipality about the rules and the costs.
  3. Get a language certificate, for example the fide test.
  4. Unsure? Ask FABIA or the Amt für Migration. This app is not legal advice.

Kanton Luzern, Abteilung Gemeinden: Ordentliche Einbürgerung (2026-09-21)

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