https://www.ch.ch/en/regular-naturalisation/

Just a quick update in case other people get stuck with the "Zivilstand certificate" for the Naturalisation procedure.

I had to order a new copy of my birth certificate with official authentication (Beglaubigung)
This certificate I handed in at the "Zivilstandsamt" (together with a request paper and a copy of my passport) and they issued it right away (took less than 10 min). It can take up to 2 weeks though as they said. They charged CHF 105.- for the paper and the registration.

This was for EU citizens in the City of Zurich. The process might differ country by country and again for non-EU and certainly canton by canton.

I went for my first interview today to go through the process with my youngest. Both of us are required to take the official (adult) test in German (FIDE). This is now required for anyone (my child speaks fluent German) with less than 5 years of obligatory school and no, kindergarten does not count. Oddly, I was given a sheet where it states that both myself and my primary aged child must each have individual certificates to say we have not received social help. I have been told that although last year documents were ok in English (for other members of my family), this year they must be translated by a notary into German or French (to be read by the same people who could read them in English last year).

The new rules are supposed to make it more difficult to become Swiss. It is certainly going to be much more expensive. The FIDE test seems to be around 250 chf upwards. I hate to think what the translation costs will be. The can only be translated by a company that will notarise them. Yes, I am looking for such a company. The commune have told me this is not possible in Wallis as there are no such firms.

I had to get a certificate/letter that I had not been on social help, but it was already in German. The municipality gave me the address of the local office that handles social help. I wrote a letter (in German) asking for the certificate. They sent it back (in German) with a bill for it. Maybe you can request it in German from the start, since I'm reasonably sure it's an official office that handles social help?

Yes, that will be in German. The odd part is that a child has to produce one. Legally I am not sure a primary aged child can independently ask for social help. Surely, only the parent does that - it's money isn't it?

The translation refers to our birth certificates and my marriage certificate. The funny thing there is that last year English was ok, this year it is not.

Since this site helped me a lot when preparing my documents, wanted to give back by sharing my applicant diary:

Aug 2016: submitted application
Sep 2016: invitation to submit fees
Nov 2016: cantonal interview
Feb 2017: federal approval
April 2017: commune interview
June 2017: communal approval
Sep 2017: cantonal approval
Oct 2017: invitation to pay serment fee
Jan 2018: serment
March 2018: passport expected

1y6months in total. The fact that I can live here forever is incredible. but it still feels unreal and hasn't sunk in properly yet

I suppose it's possible that a child receives social help but I agree it would probably be paid to the parent on behalf of the child. In any case, I presume you can write one letter to request certificates for both of you.

Thanks for clarifying about the translations for birth certificate and marriage certificate. That does seem to be a new requirement.

Congratulations genf. I'm assuming that you are in Geneva. Sounds like it went very quickly and smoothly for you. You didn't mention Federal approval, sounds like it happened within a month after Cantonal approval, is that correct? For me it is 3 years and counting - hopefully at the last stage now.

Cheers.

Congratulations Mr. Fribourgeois. The Fondue will now taste better :-D

After 17 years of living here, I finally made the first move today towards citizenship. I'm a UK citizen and my son was born here and is Swiss. I realise things have become tighter around permits and citizenship and would hate to be caught in a position down the line where I have to leave my son and possible future grandkids!

I called the Canton Amt für Migration and was directed towards my Gemeinde.

I've sent an e-mail asking for an appointment. Although I'm pretty OK with my German I learned it all via being on playgrounds or in the workplace (in other words, not formally) so bit nervous about that and the tests!!

I'm divorced (Swiss ex husband) with a Swiss son and full time employment so I figure it's finally time to do it! Kind of nervous...but here goes.

Good luck to you. Sounds like you'll do great. The length of the process tests your patience though, so be prepared and keep us updated. Cheers.

Have a package coming on Monday which is COD (115chf). Coming from 3070 Ostermundigen LZB Annahme.

Could this be from Bern relating to my application?

If not have no idea what it could be.

Guess I was right?

I realise this post is a little older, but would like to add something about translations in Switzerland.

The translation is not provided by a notary.
Anyone is allowed to translate anything.

To get a translation notarised, the translator must visit a notary, and before her make a declaration that he has translated document A in English into German/French, and that to the best of his ability and knowledge, this is a true and accurate translation rendering it equivalent to document A.

The notary charges a fee for letting the translator so declare, and they both put their stamps and signatures on the documents.

Any professional translator (or anyone at all who has done a translation) can go to the notary for this declaration. Some translators elect not to get their translations notarised because they find it too time-consuming to travel to the notary's office and wait for the stamp.

I would be surprised if a canton would not accept the stamp of a notary from outside of their canton, but within Switzerland. You might like to check that before you get a translation notarised in a different canton.

Hi Sam,
Thanks a lot for a very detailed overview. Just wanted to make sure, did you really receive the final certificate 11 days after sending the confirmation/receipts? It's been 3 weeks already in our case and I am thinking of phoning the Gemeindeamt to see if all ok. Thanks a lot

OK, so this was the federal approval (COD letter for 115chf).

But the post person just left it in the post box, did not ask for the 115chf. I guess I now need to go to the post office and pay this otherwise I will run into issues.

NOTE: With the Federal approval is a letter which states you need to send the approval along with copies of payment to the Gemeinde and the Kanton. Took me a while to find these in my on-line bank account. So advice you to keep a copy to hand during the process

Hello Sam

Thanks for great summary. May know the name of this Document you received " 22.08.2017 Confirmation received. Swiss!"

Updated Timeline:

- April 2017 Past the Geman and Swiss Test beginning of the month.
- 13th July 2017 Had the Gemeinde interview (would have been a couple of weeks earlier but was not available)
- 8th Aug 2017, the Gemeinde reviewed my application
- 11th Aug 2017 they sent me a bill for 1,450 + 30 chf (myself and son)
- 15th Aug 2017 Had our names put in the local rag - There is 30 days after the ad that people can object to our appication
- Next Step Zurich Kanton approval, followed by Bundesrat. Heard Zurich can take some time

- 30th Nov 2017 Received a letter with a bill of 500chf to pay.
Said pay the bill within 30days and you will receive some documents in 3-5 months

- 23.03.2018 Have a package coming on Monday (26.03) which is COD (115chf). Coming from 3070 Ostermundigen LZB Annahme.

Was from Bern relating to my application. Contained the Federal Approval. (Swiss post failed to collect the COD, so had to catch the post-person one morning to pay this).

- 27.03.2018 Sent all the forms back to Kanton Zurich along with bank statements showing the payments to Gemeniende and Zurich.

- 17.04.2018 - Received letter telling me we are now Swiss
Last night registered to get the Passport and ID. This morning have an email saying our details have been confirmed and have a link to select a time and date for our appointment at the passport office in Zurich.

Congratulations!

17.04.2018 - Received letter telling me we are now Swiss


thanks for update. Few Clarifications

1. Where did you receive Letter from 17.04.2018 . Kanton or Stadt
2. What is Name of this Document ?

Thank you