Hello,

I see there are many knowleagable members on the forum so I ask your help.

I arrived to Switzerland on Aug. 1996 with an Student B permit in Geneva. I made my post-degree and got a Job on 1999 where this permit changed to an standad B, I had to move to Zurich to take the job. So I had my canton change and was registered and living in the Zurich Canton ( Gemeinde Richterswil ) until 2002 where I could go back to Geneva.

I lived and worked in Geneva, still at the same company from 2002 to March 2007, where after request from the company I moved back to Zürich.

During those 5 years I have been coming and going every week or twice a month from Geneva to Zürich.

I had been informed that I had to wait until I had 11 years of residing in Switzerland to start the procedure to obtain the Swiss Nationality, a process that takes 2 years aproximately.

The bad news it that I learned now that a new law specifies longer periods of time residing in the same canton or gemeinde to be able to start this procedure.

Particularly it requires 5 consecutive years of residence in the City of Zürich to be able to do it.

This changes all for me. If I knew that I would have stayed in Geneva and do the procedure there, before moving to Zürich or maybe just didn't change my place of work and residence.

As the Canton change has been already done, I'd have now to change canton back to Geneva and then again I'd not have the 5 consecutive years.

Do somebody know if it is possible to request for an exception of this rule and if this request could have success ?

As information, I am an engineer, live for 11 years in Switzerland, have participated in several projects that benefit swiss organisations like the police, fire brigades, airports, REGA, speak fluent french, high german, italian and understand swiss dialect. have never had legal problems and have allways payed my taxes.

Do you think this profile could help in this procedure ?

I'm pretty sure Zürich and Geneva have a one-year residency requirement.

It definitely helps for the interview process. But beforehand you need to fullfill the requirements. You are right there is a Gemeinde or Communal rule that requires 5 years in the same city. I agree that it is completely stupid. Nowadays you cannot expect anyone to live 5 years in the same city. However, good news is that it's not the case in all cities. You now live in Zurich where it might be the case (I believe you have checked). I would recommend to you to check if it's different in surrounding cities in canton Zurich. If you have family or friends elsewhere you may also consider moving your official residence there if that helps (you'll pay tax there as well). A friend of mine did move to a "commune" where there was no requirement watsoever.

I hope it helps. Don't hesitate to ask in Zurich as well, they might get flexible given your 11 years here.

These requirements are set by the canton for all communities under their jurisdiction. Here is the relevant table of residence requirements:

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/de/home/...tzfristen.html

I obviously meant two years

and an unbroken two years at that. Exactly what you said wasn't it? 1-0 (for today)

wooo, didn't know such a table existed.... It's ridiculous.... I feel bad for the foreigners that want to get the Swiss passport... it should be much easier...

I knew that table. but this is the old one.. according to what I have been told at the immigrations office here in Zürich, the new law have changed that table and now is 5 years for the city of Zürich

If you find that ridiculous, wait to see the grin on your neighbours' faces when they vote yay or nay towards granting your nationality.

Ok, it's something on the verge of disappearance, but still.

Looks like I'd have to move to Canton Schwyz...

Ask them to provide you with a written copy of said law.

I have it on my hands and it is worse... 6 consecutive years

http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/internet...k/ausland.html

No the table is correct as published. There is just one small caveat. Although the state specidies 12 years in total and 3 from the last five the cantons can then specify their limitations. Thereafter the communities normally accept that of the canton but some cantons have the nice little caveat, communities can request longer limits... As far as I am aware and I could be wrong, but I don't think I am, the community limits are negotiable. Canton and State are not unless you are an exceptional person. As in wildly exceptional.

and now in Canton Schwyz is also 5 years

http://www.sz.ch/zivilstandswesen/or...uergerung.html


...


I feel like running towards a moving goal. The whole idea of those periods is that Switzerland makes sure you are a good prospect adequately integrated with the swiss environment and customs. So that I understand right. You have to live here a number of years, understand the language, the customs the history, not have and legal or taxes problems, so you can prove that you are identified enough with the swiss people to get the nationality... that seems right to me.

but if ater 11 years waiting, zas! now you have to wait 6 more... and what then, when I have the 17 years it'll be not 6 but 10 ?

I think they are with measures like this, just discouraging the immigration of the good people here.

Well look at the table and pick your canton based on those with a short waiting time. Go live there for 2 years and then you have it done in 13 years... Not too bad is it And anyway Geneva is only two years... As are most of the high tax places, or you can go and live in Neerach, ZH - they were two years last time I looked.

Ah yes, that was here in Emmen, I believe this system has been stopped though, I think as being unconstitutional.

But it was bad
http://iht.com/articles/2000/03/13/swiss.2.t.php

Ah more info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmen,_Switzerland

I always found extremely ridiculous the fact that in more than one instance one can apply for the nationality before even qualifying for the C permit.

You'd think it should be the other way around.

That is particularly true when you have two non-EU citizens applying as a couple with only one meeting the full 12 year requirement.

Anyway I don't understand what all the fuss is about. The whole thing takes so long to be not worth the effort. If they want to come and give me citizenship and ask me to sign on the line I will do it but I will not even consider applying for it.

Well at least the application process is a lot speedier now (am obviously talking about the civilised cantons, not the central terra incognita....).

About six months in Geneva.

easy Tiger
Kanton Bern (at least my bit of it) is two years in the same Gemeinde - 5 years residence in Switzerland cumulative. I qualify in April 2009.