Ah, the nation of Swiss – world-renowned for its stunning natural peaks, delicious chocolate, and of course, stupefyingly strict citizenship rules. Everyone knows it’s nearly impossible to become a full-fledged Swiss citizen – but it can be done if you have the skills, determination, and patience to make it work. So do you want to know exactly what it takes to become a Swiss citizen? Read on!
So, how exactly do you tackle this complex Swiss process to become a citizen? Well, it’s important to know the Swiss couldn’t care less whether you’re a lawyer, doctor, prince, or professional skier – they want to make sure you know and abide by their customs, laws, and traditions. The Swiss government has a whole list of criteria to meet in order to obtain citizenship, and trust us, some of them are pretty wild! Here are the top rules for gaining Swiss citizenship:
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Live it Up in Switzerland
To become a Swiss citizen, you must live in the country for at least 10-12 years – that’s right, 10 whole years – and prove you’ve been a lawful and valuable resident the whole time. You must also have a steady job, pay your taxes, and follow Swiss law. Also important are integration, language, and culture – which means you must learn to speak one of the country’s four official languages, embrace Swiss customs, and get to know the culture. Also, make sure to dress the part and wear the traditional Swiss outfit – Lederhosen, of course!
Give it the Swiss Stamp of Approval
Once you’ve done all of that, you must pass a Swiss-style citizenship test – no easy feat considering the questions can cover anything from the history of the nation to the nation’s national anthem. If you manage to ace the test, you have to go before a review board, answer tough questions about your character and your knowledge of Swiss culture, and explain why you wish to be a Swiss citizen.
A Final Vote of Confidence
After the review, the board will decide whether you are ready to become a Swiss citizen. If you make it this far, you must apply for Swiss citizenship and sit patiently for a final vote of confidence. If you are accepted, you will officially become a citizen of Switzerland…and the world of green hills, enormous mountains, luscious chocolate, and amazing fondue will truly be yours! Just make sure not to let the cheese run away – the Swiss take that offense extremely seriously.
As you can see, becoming a Swiss citizen is no small task! If you’ve got the patience, passion, knowledge, and dedication to make it through the process, a whole new world of adventure and discovery awaits you on the other side. All that’s left is for you to lace up those Lederhosen and take the plunge – the Swiss government will be waiting!