Price paid to become Swiss varies widely, report finds

The administrative fees that go with becoming a Swiss citizen vary considerably across cantons, a new report has shown. In other countries, the process is often free. At a time when the value of a passport, both symbolic and actual, is a widely-discussed topic, obtaining the Swiss version will cost you anything between a couple of hundred and a couple of thousand francs, reports the Le Matin Dimanche paper. This despite the fact that a 2006 law ended the practice of cantons charging what they liked for citizenship; the current regulation states that only administrative costs should be billed to the candidate. However, administrative costs vary widely: in canton Fribourg, the fees can range from between CHF1800-3000 (depending on municipality); in neighbouring canton Vaud, the fees run from CHF550-850. Geneva is a fixed CHF1,250, Zurich CHF1,700. Practically throwing them out Why the disparities? Officials from canton Fribourg, contacted by Le Matin Dimanche, explained ...