Dual Citizenship in Switzerland — Everything You Need to Know

If you're considering Swiss naturalization, this is probably the first question on your mind: do I have to give up my current passport? The answer is no.

Switzerland has allowed dual citizenship without restrictions since 1992. Before that, acquiring Swiss citizenship meant automatically losing your previous nationality — but that rule was abolished over 30 years ago. Today, you can hold Swiss citizenship alongside any other nationality, and Switzerland imposes no conditions or limitations on this.

This applies to all paths to citizenship — ordinary naturalization, facilitated naturalization through marriage, and citizenship by descent. Whether you're a German national who has lived in Switzerland for 12 years or a Brazilian married to a Swiss citizen, the Swiss side will never ask you to renounce your other citizenship.

Approximately 25% of Swiss citizens hold dual citizenship. It's not a special exception. It's the norm.

Many people delay starting the naturalization process because they assume they'll have to choose between passports. If that's been holding you back, you can set that concern aside — at least on the Swiss side. The question is whether your home country allows it too.

Switzerland says yes, but the other country has its own rules. Here's the situation for the most common nationalities in Switzerland.

Germany: Yes. Since June 2024, Germany fully allows dual citizenship for all naturalizations. Previously, Germans who naturalized elsewhere had to apply for a retention permit (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung). That requirement is gone. If you're German and naturalize in Switzerland, you keep your German citizenship automatically.

Italy: Yes. Italy has long allowed dual citizenship. Italian nationals can become Swiss without losing their Italian passport.

France: Yes. France permits dual citizenship without restrictions.

Portugal: Yes. Portuguese citizens can hold multiple citizenships.

Spain: Yes. Spain allows dual citizenship without restrictions.

United Kingdom: Yes. The UK allows dual citizenship, including post-Brexit.

Turkey: Yes, but with a step. Turkey allows dual citizenship, but you should inform the Turkish consulate. Failing to do so doesn't cost you your Turkish citizenship, but it can create administrative complications later.

Kosovo: Yes. Kosovo permits dual citizenship.

Serbia: Yes. Serbia amended its citizenship law in 2021 and now explicitly allows dual citizenship in most cases.

Austria: Generally no. Austria requires you to renounce your Austrian citizenship before or shortly after acquiring another one. There are limited exceptions, but they're rare and require prior approval. This is one of the strictest rules in Europe.

If your country isn't listed here, check with your embassy or consulate in Switzerland. The key point: Switzerland will never be the obstacle. Any restriction comes from the other side.

Holding two passports comes with practical implications. Here's what changes — and what doesn't.

Military service: Switzerland has mandatory military service for male citizens. However, if you naturalize after age 25, you're generally exempt from service (though you may still owe the military service exemption tax until age 37). If you're under 25 at naturalization, you'll need to complete service or civil service. Your obligations to your other country's military are separate and governed by that country's laws.

Taxes: Switzerland taxes based on residence, not citizenship. Being a dual citizen doesn't mean you're taxed twice. You pay Swiss taxes if you live in Switzerland, regardless of how many passports you hold. The major exception is the United States, which taxes its citizens worldwide — if you're American, you'll continue to file US taxes even as a Swiss citizen. Most other countries don't tax non-residents.

Voting: You can vote in both countries, wherever each allows it. As a Swiss citizen, you can vote in federal, cantonal, and municipal elections and referendums. Many countries also allow overseas citizens to vote in their elections.

Passport usage: When entering Switzerland, use your Swiss passport. When entering your other country, use that passport. For third countries, use whichever passport is more convenient (visa-free access, shorter queues). The Swiss passport is one of the strongest in the world for travel.

Consular protection: In your other country of citizenship, Switzerland generally cannot provide you with consular protection — the other country considers you its own citizen. In third countries, you can seek help from either country's embassy.

There's a lot of misinformation about dual citizenship in Switzerland. Let's clear up the most common myths.

Myth: "You have to choose one citizenship at age 18." This is false for Switzerland. Some countries do require a choice at adulthood, but Switzerland does not. Once you're a Swiss citizen, you remain one indefinitely — no matter how many other citizenships you hold. There is no deadline to "choose."

Myth: "You'll be taxed twice." Almost never. Switzerland taxes based on where you live, and most countries do the same. Double taxation agreements exist between Switzerland and over 100 countries to prevent exactly this. The only notable exception is the United States, which taxes based on citizenship. For everyone else, you pay taxes where you reside.

Myth: "You can easily lose your Swiss citizenship." Extremely unlikely. Since 2018, Switzerland no longer automatically revokes citizenship from dual citizens born abroad who don't register by age 25 (the old rule). Today, the only ways to lose Swiss citizenship are: voluntarily renouncing it, or having it revoked due to fraudulent naturalization. Simply holding another passport or living abroad does not put your Swiss citizenship at risk.

Myth: "Your children won't automatically be Swiss." If at least one parent is Swiss at the time of birth, the child is Swiss — regardless of where they're born and regardless of what other citizenships they hold. This applies whether the parents are married or not (though the process differs slightly for unmarried fathers).

Myth: "Dual citizens can't hold public office in Switzerland." There is no federal law barring dual citizens from holding public office. Some cantons had such restrictions in the past, but they've been largely removed. Dual citizens serve at all levels of Swiss government.

If you're going through the Swiss naturalization process — whether ordinary or facilitated — here's what you need to know about dual citizenship in that context.

Switzerland does not ask you to renounce your current citizenship at any point during the process. There's no form to fill out, no declaration to make, and no proof of renunciation required. The Swiss authorities — SEM, your canton, and your municipality — simply don't consider your other citizenship relevant to their decision.

Your naturalization application is assessed on its own merits: residency duration, integration, language skills, financial situation, criminal record, and your knowledge of Switzerland. Whether you hold one other passport or five others makes no difference to the Swiss assessment.

If your home country requires you to renounce before acquiring a new citizenship, that's a matter between you and that country. Switzerland will not coordinate with your home country or wait for you to sort out your other citizenship status. You receive Swiss citizenship when SEM or your canton approves your application — what you do with your other citizenship is your decision.

One practical tip: if your home country does require renunciation, wait until you have officially received your Swiss citizenship before taking any steps. Don't renounce your original citizenship "in advance" based on an expected approval — naturalization applications can be delayed or denied, and you don't want to end up stateless.

If the dual citizenship question was your main concern, you now have clarity. Switzerland allows it, and for most nationalities, the home country does too. That means the path to Swiss citizenship is open.

The real work is meeting the actual requirements: residency (10 years for ordinary naturalization, or 5 years plus 3 years of marriage for facilitated naturalization), language skills (B1 spoken, A2 written), integration into Swiss society, and — for ordinary naturalization — passing the Einbürgerungstest.

The citizenship test covers Swiss politics, history, geography, and daily life. It's a written multiple-choice exam in most cantons, and the pass mark is typically around 60%. Even if you're going through facilitated naturalization and don't have a formal test, you'll be assessed on these same topics during your interview with SEM.

To start preparing, you can practice with real test questions online. The platform covers all the topics you'll encounter — from federal politics to cantonal knowledge. If you prefer studying on the go, there's also the iOS app with hundreds of practice questions.

Don't wait: The naturalization process takes 1.5-3 years on average. Every month of delay matters. Start gathering your documents and preparing for the test today to avoid unnecessary setbacks.