Glossary: Swiss naturalisation from A to Z

Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance. Switzerland’s state pension scheme, the 1st pillar. People in work pay AHV contributions from the year after their 17th birthday, people without paid work from the year after their 20th birthday. At pension age there is a monthly AHV pension.

Area: Social insurance, Politics

The settlement permit. An indefinite residence permit in Switzerland. A prerequisite for ordinary naturalisation. You usually receive it after 5 or 10 years with a B permit.

Area: Naturalisation, Residence

The federal law governing naturalisation. The current version has been in force since 2018 and sets out the requirements for ordinary and simplified naturalisation.

Area: Naturalisation, Law

The Swiss principle of including all major parties in government instead of having an opposition. The “magic formula” divides the 7 Federal Council seats among the largest parties.

Area: Politics

The official name of Switzerland: Swiss Confederation. It goes back to the Federal Charter of 1291, with which the three founding cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden formed an alliance. The Rütli Oath is the legend about it; the Federal Charter is the surviving document.

Area: History

The small chamber of parliament with 46 seats. Each canton has 2 seats, half-cantons 1 each. It represents the interests of the cantons at federal level.

Area: Politics

Holding two citizenships at the same time. Switzerland has allowed this without restrictions since 1992. Whether your country of origin also allows it is another matter.

Area: Naturalisation

The Swiss parliament, made up of two chambers: the National Council (200 members, by population) and the Council of States (46 members, 2 per canton). Together they elect the Federal Council.

Area: Politics

Switzerland’s government consists of 7 Federal Councillors (ministers). Each heads a department. The Federal President changes annually and is not a head of state in the classic sense, but “first among equals”.

Area: Politics

The principle that the Confederation, cantons and municipalities each have their own tasks and powers. Switzerland is one of the most federalist states in the world. Cantons have their own constitutions, courts and tax laws.

Area: Politics

A language test designed specifically for Switzerland. It tests everyday situations such as shopping, visiting the doctor or dealing with authorities. It is accepted for naturalisation as proof of B1 spoken and A2 written level.

Area: Language, Naturalisation

German (~62%), French (~23%), Italian (~8%) and Romansh (~0.5%). Romansh is an official language only in the canton of Grisons, and at federal level only in dealings with Romansh speakers.

Area: Culture, Language

Public assembly of all eligible voters in a square, who vote by a show of hands. Today it only still exists in Glarus and Appenzell Inner Rhodes.

Area: Politics, Culture

The informal rule on the composition of the Federal Council: the largest parties share the 7 seats. Currently: 2 SVP, 2 SP, 2 FDP, 1 Centre (Mitte). The formula changes occasionally.

Area: Politics

For constitutional amendments, the people must vote automatically. It requires a double majority: a majority of voters and a majority of cantons.

Area: Politics

In smaller municipalities, eligible voters decide directly at the assembly on budget, taxes and naturalisations. In larger municipalities, a municipal parliament takes this over.

Area: Politics

The large chamber of parliament with 200 seats. Seats are allocated to the cantons according to population size. Zurich has the most (36), small cantons 1 seat each.

Area: Politics

Switzerland has been permanently neutral since the Congress of Vienna in 1815. This means no military alliances, no participation in wars. It is not a state objective, but the Federal Constitution gives the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council the task of safeguarding it.

Area: Politics, History

100’000 signatures within 18 months, then a proposal goes to a popular vote. One of the most important instruments of direct democracy in Switzerland.

Area: Politics

Optional referendum: 50’000 signatures within 100 days against a new law, then it goes to a popular vote. Together with the initiative, the heart of direct democracy.

Area: Politics

According to tradition, the three founding cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden swore mutual help on the Rütli meadow in 1291. It is regarded as the founding moment of the Confederation. Whether the oath really happened this way is historically disputed; the surviving document is the Federal Charter of early August 1291.

Area: History

Legislature (parliament makes laws), executive (the Federal Council implements them), judiciary (courts adjudicate). At all three levels: federal, cantonal, municipal.

Area: Politics

See C permit. An indefinite residence permit. A prerequisite for ordinary naturalisation. It is granted after 5 or 10 years with a B permit, depending on nationality and degree of integration.

Area: Residence, Naturalisation

Also called facilitated naturalisation. A faster procedure for certain people: spouses of Swiss citizens (3 years of marriage, 5 years of residence), 3rd-generation foreigners or stateless persons. Fees: CHF 500 for the SEM and at most CHF 400 for the canton, so up to CHF 900.

Area: Naturalisation

Whatever the municipality can regulate, the municipality should regulate. Only if it cannot does the canton take over. And only then the Confederation. Tasks are distributed from the bottom up.

Area: Politics

At federal level only since 1971, and at cantonal level in Appenzell Inner Rhodes only since 1990. A popular exam question.

Area: History