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IMMIGRATION

Anti-immigrant climate sparks citizenship rush

More and more foreigners in Switzerland are seeking Swiss citizenship according to official figures, reversing a downward trend over the previous 10 years.

Anti-immigrant climate sparks citizenship rush
Photo: Christophe G

Figures from the Swiss immigration office show that the number of naturalizations rose by around 20 percent in 2015, with 40,588 people in Switzerland becoming Swiss citizens, up from 32,988 in 2014.

The rise reverses a recent trend, as naturalizations had been in steady decline from 2006 to 2014.

The nationalities most inclined to get a Swiss passport in 2015 were Italians (5,477 in 2015), Germans (5,212), Portuguese (3,614) and French (2,583).

Just 614 Brits and 390 Americans living in Switzerland took Swiss nationality in 2015.

Speaking to newspaper Le Temps, Etienne Piguet, geography professor at the University of Neuchatel, said the rise in naturalizations could be attributed to the uncertainty surrounding the status of EU citizens in Switzerland.

One contributing factor is the February 2014 vote in favour of the SVP initiative to restrict the number of immigrants to Switzerland.

The revision of the law on asylum, due to come into force in 2017, which introduces further conditions on obtaining Swiss nationality, could also be a factor.

“For holders of a residence permit, the possible end of free movement agreements with the EU following the events of 9 February 2014 could mean the loss of certain rights, such as the right to return to Switzerland after a stay abroad,” he said.

An increasing number of young people are also seeking naturalization, said the paper.

In Lausanne, 436 young students put in a request for ‘simplified’ naturalization (a process available to foreign spouses or children of Swiss citizens, as opposed to ‘regular’ naturalization), up from 252 in 2014, said Sylviane Rochat of the city’s naturalization office.

Some 68 requests have already been submitted so far in 2016, she added.

Zurich, meanwhile, saw a 40 percent rise in requests for information about the naturalization process during January 2016, Claudia Grando, head of communications for the city, told Le Temps.

And in Bern, around 65 people a week come to the information office to find out about naturalization, compared with an average of 50 a week in the same period last year, said spokesperson Alice Späh.

Obtaining citizenship in Switzerland can cost in excess of three thousand Swiss francs, takes around three years, and involves interviews at the federal, cantonal and commune level.

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SWISS CITIZENSHIP

EXPLAINED: What is the reference letter you need for Swiss citizenship?

When seeking Swiss naturalisation, you must provide certain documents. One of them is a reference letter.

EXPLAINED: What is the reference letter you need for Swiss citizenship?

Among the documents and procedures that are required for the application process is a character reference from people who know you well. 

Even if you fulfil all the criteria for either the ordinary or fast-track process — such as length of residence and language requirements — the authorities only ‘know’ you through the paperwork you submit.

That is why they meet you personally during the interview, but they also depend on the (hopefully objective) references from people who know you  — pretty much the same way as new employers rely on what your former bosses  say about you.

How many references do you need to provide?

Usually between three and five.

The exact number depends on your canton’s requirements, as well as what kind of procedure you apply under.

Those eligible for fast-track naturalisation (for instance, spouses of Swiss citizens as well third-generation foreigners), will typically be asked to submit three references, while all the others will need five.

After you submit your application, you will be informed how many references you are expected to provide.

Who should you ask to attest to your character?

In a nutshell, people who have known you longest and with whom you are in frequent contact.

The only requirement is that they are Swiss nationals, though it doesn’t matter whether they are born and raised in Switzerland (in other words, citizens by birth), or whether they have been naturalised. As long as they have Swiss passports, they can be sources of references.

An important thing, however, is that these people should be ‘culled’ from different areas of your life — for instance, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbour — instead of all coming from just one group.

What should these letters contain?

The purpose of the references is not to sing you praises and tell what a nice person you are — or, at least, not just that.

Instead, they should focus on what is most important to Swiss authorities, that is, your integration, behaviour, and character.

Therefore, the letter should include information such as how long the person has known you and how you met; examples of specific acts that prove your worthiness to become Swiss — for example, of your helping out in neighbourhood events, involvement in various local causes; volunteering, and everything else that shows your willingness to be part of your community.

If, for instance, you are part of the local fire brigade, choir, school association, or play on a local football (soccer) team, all that counts in your favour.

So rather than merely saying ‘so and so is a nice person’, the references should be rich in detail and, needless to say, honest. 

READ ALSO:  When do the Swiss think a foreigner is successfully integrated?

How is this letter mailed?

In most cantons, authorities instruct to submit references by email, at the address provided for this purpose.

One elderly person who was not computer-savvy wrote the letter by hand and sent it the old-fashioned way — through the post.

In return, she received a letter from the authorities, written on recycled paper, advising the woman that she should avoid such correspondence in the future for environmental reasons.

The letter contained a pamphlet with dates of recycling courses in her community.

That’s Switzerland for you.

What if you don’t know three or five people well enough (or they don’t know you well enough) to ask for a reference?

In this case, you should probably abstain from applying for naturalisation in the first place.

Not being able to round up a few individuals for this purpose after years of living in the country doesn’t bode well for your citizenship chances.

It shows that you are not integrated enough to merit being Swiss.

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