A child of a Swiss mother or a Swiss father acquires Swiss citizenship by birth (condition applies). A person born of a Swiss parent abroad has to be registered either with the relevant Swiss Embassy or Consulate General or the Swiss authorities before reaching the age of 22. After this deadline is missed, it is possible under certain conditions to apply for reintegration into Swiss citizenship. For further information, please contact the nearest Swiss representation.

A person born in Switzerland of foreign parents does not obtain Swiss citizenship by birth.

A foreigner does not acquire Swiss citizenship by marriage to a Swiss national. However, a foreigner can apply for Swiss citizenship after six years of marriage to a Swiss national. The applicant has then to prove his/her close ties with Switzerland e.g. vacations spent in Switzerland, relations with Swiss firends and relatives and Swiss societies abroad, speaking one of the national languages of Switzerland etc.

This request must be made in writing with an original signature of the applicant.

Women who lost their Swiss citizenship by marriage before the 1st of January 1992 can apply for reintegration into Swiss citizenship within 10 years after the wedding. Women who acquired their Swiss citizenship by a former marriage and lost it by second marriage before the 1st of January 1992, can only apply for reintegration into Swiss citizenship if they can prove that they have very close ties to Switzerland, namely if they live in Switzerland and have spent altogether 6 years in Switzerland.

Switzerland recognizes dual citizenship.The predominant nationality is determined by the place where such a person is domiciled. For instance, it would not be possible for a South African - Swiss citizen to ask the Swiss authorities for consular protection whilst living in South Africa. The same would apply if such a person lived in Switzerland, i.e. he/she could not ask the South African Embassy there for consular assistance.

Swiss citizens registered with the Embassy of Switzerland in Pretoria or the Consulate General in Cape Town who acquire South African citizenship are asked to inform the Embassy in Pretoria or the Consulate General Cape Town about this for keeping the registration records up to date.