Wait period for Swiss naturalisation will not be shortened, and many unknowns remain in the right-wing anti-immigration proposal — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
Wait period for Swiss naturalisation will not be shortened
Lawmakers have voted not to back a plan that demands cutting the period of residency required to qualify for Swiss citizenship from 10 to five years.
They point to the fact that, under the proposal, integration criteria – a major requirement for Swiss citizenship – would be largely eliminated.
MPs are not, however, against easing of some naturalisation-related rules – for instance, that the length of stay in a canton and municipality where the applicant lives be limited to two to three years.
READ MORE: Swiss MPs reject plan to shorten wait period for citizenship
Many unknowns remain in the right-wing anti-immigration proposal
In their bid to limit immigration from the European Union, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has spelled out what steps should be taken to achieve this goal.
But not everything is clear.
For instance, what will happen to bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU, and how immigrants from third countries will be impacted by this law, are among the questions to which no answers exist.
READ MORE: Swiss anti-immigration proposal leaves many unanswered questions
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Individual taxation of married couples to be voted on March 8th
On this day, Swiss voters will have their say about whether married couples should continue to be taxed jointly, or declare their income and assets separately instead.
If approved at the ballot box, the introduction of individual taxation would be one of Switzerland’s most significant tax reforms of recent decades.
This move will bring closure – one way or another – to an issue that has been in legislative limbo for years, before finally being green-lighted by the Parliament in 2024.
READ MORE: How would Switzerland’s planned individual tax law affect you?
To boost your career, the method of learning a (Swiss) language is important
Being able to speak one of Switzerland’s national languages is a must for a number of companies, sectors, and positions. But how you go about learning it matters more than the certificate you get.
According to an expert, however, most language learning is based on grammar rather than on practical speaking skills.
This means that, even though foreigners may attain an ‘academic’ proficiency level, they may not be able to communicate clearly and effectively in a business environment, which could be detrimental to their career.
READ MORE: Why learning a Swiss language strictly ‘by the book’ may not help your career
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Swiss franc outperforms both the euro and US dollar
The franc, Switzerland’s famously robust currency, has reached new highs against the euro and dollar, as it continues to strengthen against both.
In the week of January 26th, the franc rose to a level of 0.9167 against the euro – the highest in more than a decade.
It also gained ground, reaching new highs, against the dollar, at 0,7660.
This development is not a surprise to economists, who had forecast that the franc’s value would continue to grow in 2026.
READ MORE: Swiss franc reaches new highs against both the euro and US dollar
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Swiss will vote on four issues in a March referendum
Swiss voters will have their say on four big issues in the first round of 2026 federal referendums, to be held on March 8th.
The topics at the ballot box are individual taxation for married couples; a proposal to enshrine the availability of cash, as well as the franc as Switzerland’s only official currency, in the Constitution; an initiative to cap the TV license fee at 200 francs per household per year; and a move to force the federal government to allocate significantly more funds to combating climate change and its consequences.
READ MORE: What’s at stake in Switzerland’s spring referendums?
