Swiss move to ease citizenship path for young foreigners

Swiss-born foreign children may find it easier to become citizens Keystone Archive

The Swiss government wants to facilitate access to citizenship for young second and third generation foreign residents.

Children born in Switzerland to immigrant parents – the so-called second generation – who have a residency permit and who have gone to school in Switzerland for at least five years should benefit from simplified procedures, according to the authorities.

Under the proposals, presented by the justice ministry on Wednesday, these young foreigners must have lived for two years in the community where they make their request. Their demand should also be made between the ages of 15 and 24.

For third-generation youngsters – children of Swiss-born foreigners – citizenship will be granted at birth if one of the parents spent at least five years in Swiss schools. The parent will also have to have a residence permit for the last five years at the time of birth.

Streamline procedure

The government has also decided that parental consent will not be required for citizenship to be granted to a youngster, something that the Christian Democratic Party had suggested during the consultation procedure.

The government also wants to reduce to eight years the time a non-Swiss has to have spent in the country before applying for a Swiss passport.

Further measures include setting a maximum fee for naturalisations and a right to appeal if a request for citizenship is rejected. In addition, the government wants to streamline the complex procedure among federal, cantonal and local authorities.

The government said the proposals are in line with efforts to promote the integration of foreigners into society. Foreigners currently make up nearly 20 per cent of Switzerland’s population, and up to 5,000 people could benefit from these measures.

Controversial issue

Swiss voters rejected previous proposals aimed at easing citizenship for young foreigners in 1994.

Last year a decision by voters in several Swiss towns to turn down requests for Swiss citizenship by people mainly from the Balkan region caused a public outcry.

The latest proposals are expected to meet opposition by conservative parties in parliament, notably the right-wing People’s Party, which has voiced reservations.

The Constitution would have to be modified to introduce these new measures. The Swiss people will therefore vote on the issue of easing the country’s citizenship laws.

swissinfo with agencies