Naturalisation fees in Switzerland vary from canton to canton – and sometimes by municipality within that canton – and some are cheaper (or more expensive) than others. So how much can you expect to pay in 2025?
You have your C permit in hand, and fulfil all the other requirements for Swiss citizenship.
Are you are ready to apply for naturalisation but are unsure how much this process will cost?
Here’s the thing: unlike in the EU, in Switzerland each individual canton sets its own fees, and they differ significantly from one to another.
And, to further complicate matters, there are three different fee levels.
According to Comparis cost comparison platform, they are:
- Federal: 100 francs for an adult, 150 francs for couples with or without minor children
- Cantonal: up to 2,000 francs per person
- Municipal: 500 to 1,000 francs per person
These are the averages, but some cantons exceed them (read more about this below).
Also, costs depend on whether the naturalisation is ordinary or simplified, with the former being more expensive than the latter.
READ ALSO: The different routes to obtaining a Swiss passport
But let’s look at fees charged for the ordinary procedure, as this is the one that pertains to most foreign nationals.
This is what you should expect to pay in Switzerland’s most ‘international’ cantons:
Zurich
The per-adult fee for cantonal naturalisation is a relatively modest (for Switzerland) 500 francs, but some municipalities charge above-average rates.
In the cites of Zurich and Winterthur, for instance, the procedure costs 1,200 francs, and in Uster, 1,380 francs.
Vaud
The canton charges 450 francs, and individual municipalities, from 100 to 400 francs.
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Geneva
The canton has the most ‘equitable’ system of all: it charges 1,250 francs and gives its fair share (whatever it is determined to be) to the naturalising municipality.
Basel-City
In October 2024, the cantonal fee for acquiring citizenship in Basel-City was halved from 300 to 150 francs.
Municipal costs range from 700 to 1,000 francs.
Bern
The cost of cantonal procedure is relatively high – 1,150 francs – with the municipal fees ranging widely: 400 francs for Bern, 600 for Thun, and 1,400 for Biel/Bienne.
Schwyz
The cantonal fee is between 200 and 500 francs, but maybe because Schwyz is home to a number of super- wealthy foreigners, some towns charge hefty fees for municipal procedures: Freienbach and Einsiedeln – 2,300 francs, and Schwyz 2,850 francs.
However, this doesn’t mean above-average fees that some cantons and/or municipalities charge will be allowed to continue.
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The cautionary tale of Kreuzlingen
This municipality in canton Thurgau has been charging 1,500 francs for single individuals, with the possibility of increasing it by 500 francs to 2,000 francs for the cantonal naturalisation and to 2,800 for the canton and the city.
But it will no longer be the case.
After Switzerland’s official price watchdog, Stefan Meierhans recently intervened, Kreuzlingen authorities significantly reduced their fees, also eliminating the possibility of further price hikes altogether.
Consequently, candidates for citizenship who live in Kreuzlingen will now be charged the following (lower) fees:
- Single people: 1,300 francs instead 1,500 francs previously
- Married couples: 1,800 francs instead of 2,000
- Minors: 600 francs instead of 800
(The cantonal fee in Thurgau is 800 francs).
You can see naturalisation costs for other cantons by scrolling down to ‘citizenship costs’ on Comparis’ platform.
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But that’s not all…
These are the fees you will be charged for the naturalisation procedure only (which are non-refundable in case your application is denied).
When you apply for Swiss citizenship, you will incur other costs as well, including for documents such as the criminal record extract (17 francs), debt collection register extract (17 francs), confirmation of residence (between 10 and 30 francs), and civil status register extract (30 francs).
Additionally, you may need official translations of various documents like birth certificates and anything else from your country of origin that local authorities require.
So becoming a Swiss citizen will cost you more than just naturalisation fees.
READ ALSO: How to apply for Swiss citizenship
