Naturalisation for Germans in Switzerland: what has become easier since 2024

A quiet sensation for Germans in Switzerland

The German nationality reform came into force in June 2024. Since then, Germans can take on Swiss citizenship without losing the German one. It was different before. Anyone who wanted the Swiss passport previously needed a retention permit from Germany. That hurdle is gone.

For the large German community in Switzerland, this is a concrete relief. Anyone who already lives here for ten years and is interested in naturalisation faces a simpler path today than two years ago.

What the reform concretely changed

The reformed German Nationality Act (StAG) allows multiple nationality without restriction. Concretely: someone who is German and becomes Swiss does not automatically lose the German passport. The old rule, that German citizenship automatically lapsed upon acquiring another, no longer applies to Germans abroad.

Previously the path was: apply for a retention permit at the German Federal Office of Administration, justify why you want to keep your German passport, wait, receive approval or refusal. That could take months and was not guaranteed.

Today this application disappears completely. You simply go through the Swiss naturalisation procedure, and you keep the German passport automatically.

What the German reform does not affect

The reform was an adjustment of the German Nationality Act. Naturally, it does not change the Swiss naturalisation conditions. So if you are German and want to become Swiss, the same conditions apply to you as to any other nationality:

At least ten years of residence in Switzerland, of which several years in the canton and municipality of residence. The exact canton and municipality years vary, usually between two and five years. Years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double.

Settlement permit C. Anyone still living with a B permit cannot naturalise by the ordinary route.

Language proof of at least B1 spoken and A2 written in a national language. For most Germans this is the easiest point, because German is the mother tongue and can be proven without problems with a recognised certificate such as Goethe, telc or fide. In German-speaking Switzerland, standard German is enough; Swiss German is not a mandatory criterion.

Integration, sound finances, no ongoing social assistance, no relevant criminal record entry. This applies to everyone.

The language proof for native speakers

Anyone who applies with German as their mother tongue has a clear advantage with the language proof. Even so, some municipalities still expect an official certificate as proof.

Accepted are:

fide language proof: Developed specifically for Switzerland, tests everyday situations in the national language. Costs around CHF 250 to 350.

Goethe-Zertifikat: Internationally recognised, Goethe B1 or higher is enough. Some Germans choose this certificate because it is more familiar to them.

telc Deutsch: Also recognised, often a bit cheaper than Goethe.

Important: a German school-leaving certificate is not automatically accepted as language proof. You need a current certificate or proof of completed school or training in a national language in Switzerland. The practice varies by canton.

What you concretely have to do as a German

The procedure is the same as for any other nationality, but here are the steps in order:

1. Count the years of residence. Ten years in Switzerland, of which the required years in the canton and municipality. If you were here between 8 and 18, those years count double.
2. Check the C permit. If you still have a B, the first step is the switch to C. Depending on the canton, this is possible after five years of uninterrupted residence.
3. Obtain the language certificate. fide, Goethe or telc. Budget for the test: around CHF 300. For Germans usually a formality, but the test must still be taken if you have no recognised proof.
4. Submit the application to the municipality of residence. There you receive the documents for the ordinary naturalisation application. Both spouses can apply together or separately.
5. Prepare and take the naturalisation test. Written, 48 questions on history, geography, politics, society. In most cantons. Our platform has over 490 practice questions for exactly this test.
6. Naturalisation interview with the municipality. Personal interview, usually 30 to 60 minutes, about your daily life in Switzerland and your integration picture.
7. Wait for the decision. Municipality, canton, Confederation. Total ordinary duration between 12 and 24 months.

Costs for Germans: the same as for everyone

The federal fee is uniform across Switzerland: CHF 100 for a single person, CHF 150 for couples, CHF 50 for minors in the family procedure.

Cantonal and municipal fees vary markedly. Depending on your place of residence, you must reckon with total costs between around CHF 800 and CHF 3000. A precise calculation can be found via the cantonal filters for your place of residence.

For facilitated naturalisation through marriage to a Swiss citizen, the total costs are often lower, because only the federal level is responsible.

What happens with the pension

The Swiss pension insurance (AHV) and the German pension insurance are coordinated by a bilateral social security agreement. Anyone with contribution years in Germany does not lose them through Swiss naturalisation. The German contributions are preserved and are taken into account later in the pension calculation.

Anyone already retired in Germany who moves to Switzerland continues to receive the German pension. Citizenship has no influence on this.

The details are complex and depend on your personal contribution history. For a serious pension forecast, a consultation with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung or the SAK (Swiss Compensation Office) is worthwhile.

Taxes: residence decides, not nationality

A frequent misconception: some believe that whoever becomes Swiss automatically pays higher or lower taxes. That is not true. Tax liability depends on residence, not on nationality.

As a German in Switzerland, you pay your taxes in Switzerland under Swiss law. That does not change with naturalisation. Anyone who, however, still has income in Germany (rental income, secondary work, pension) must observe the double taxation agreement. That applies regardless of the passport.

A difference from the USA: Switzerland taxes citizens only if they live here. The USA taxes its citizens worldwide, which has never been relevant for Germans and will not be.

Military service: rarely an issue, but possible

Switzerland in principle requires military service or the exemption tax from male Swiss citizens. Anyone naturalised late usually has no problem, because the service obligation begins before the age of 25 or 30 and generally does not apply retroactively to older naturalisations.

Anyone naturalised younger who has not yet exceeded the age limit can be called up for service. In practice, male new citizens between 18 and about 25 are called up, but the service can, depending on the canton and the age at naturalisation, be settled by an exemption tax.

You clarify the details with the district command of your canton of residence. Women are not subject to military service.

Children: often automatically included

If you naturalise with children under 18, in most cases the children are naturalised together with you. Both parents with parental authority must consent. This is important to know when the parents live separately, even if only one parent naturalises.

Children under 16 usually do not have to take the naturalisation test. Young people who have attended compulsory school in Switzerland for several years are often exempt as well. This depends on the canton.

Children born in Switzerland one of whose parents is Swiss automatically receive Swiss citizenship at birth. Anyone who, as a German, is married to a Swiss citizen therefore has children who are Swiss from birth and become German in addition through the German parental side. From day one, two passports.

The most frequent hurdles for Germans

Despite an overall simple path, practice knows a few typical pitfalls among Germans:

The language proof is forgotten. Many Germans think the mother tongue suffices as informal proof. It does not. You need an official certificate if you cannot prove school or training time in Switzerland.

The C permit is assumed. Some who have lived with a B permit for a long time think they are already "firmly settled". For naturalisation, however, you formally need the C permit.

Too little integration outside the German community. Anyone who mainly associates with other Germans and has little contact with Swiss clubs, neighbours or work colleagues can stall in the integration assessment. The naturalisation interview checks exactly that.

Wrong expectation of the test. Anyone who underestimates the naturalisation test because they think they "already" know Switzerland often underestimates the questions on history, the constitution and specific cantonal topics. Preparation is worthwhile.

In short

For Germans, naturalisation in Switzerland has been simpler since June 2024, because the German reform allows dual citizenship without an application. The Swiss conditions remain unchanged: ten years of residence, C permit, B1 language proof, integration, sound finances, naturalisation test and interview.

Anyone who does not forget the language test, can demonstrate real integration and carefully prepares the knowledge test has, as a German in Switzerland, the simplest path of all nationalities to the red passport.

You will find every step towards naturalisation in our free guide.