The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad

The spouses of Swiss citizens living abroad can, after several years of marriage, apply for Swiss citizenship. But the process requires determination as it involves lots of paperwork, learning a Swiss language, and significant fees. “It’s too complicated,” declared André Henri, a Swiss in Thailand, discussing his wife’s possible naturalisation as a Swiss citizen. “And not particularly useful if you don’t plan to live in Switzerland,” added his compatriot Frank Dumoulin, whose wife is also eligible. Nevertheless, between 2020 and 2023, some 540 spouses of Swiss citzens abroad applied for “simplified naturalisation” at their Swiss embassies or consulates. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) issues the decisions. It approved 460 of the applications, most of which came from neighbouring countries (France, Germany, and Italy). Established marriage Spouses of Swiss Abroad are eligible for simplified naturalisation if they meet two main requirements. First, an applicant must be ...