Cantonal Citizenship Act (CCA) (KBÜG)

This Act governs the acquisition and loss of cantonal and municipal citizenship by Swiss citizens and by foreign nationals, to the extent that the Canton is competent according to federal citizenship legislation.

B. Naturalization of Swiss citizens

**1 The municipality shall grant Swiss citizens advance admission to its citizenship if they:**

a. have been domiciled in the municipality for two years at the time of application,

b. have no entries in their criminal record extract for private persons,

c. fulfil important public and private law payment obligations in accordance with § 6.

**2 The municipality may, in individual cases, waive the fulfilment of the requirements in whole or in part.**

1 Applicants submit their naturalization application to the municipality.

2 The organ designated in the municipal regulations decides on the granting of municipal citizenship.

3 Citizens of another canton acquire the citizenship of the Canton of Zurich simultaneously with municipal citizenship.

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141.1

Cantonal Citizenship Act (KBüG)

C. Naturalization of Foreign Nationals

Principle

Cantonal

Requirements

a. Period of

residence

b. Fulfilment

of financial

obligations

c. Adherence

to criminal law

d. German

language skills

1. Foreign nationals shall receive the cantonal and communal citizenship upon application if they fulfil the requirements under federal citizenship law and the supplementary requirements under this Act.

2. The Canton and the communes may promote the naturalisation of well-integrated foreign nationals.

1 Applicants must have resided in the municipality for two years at the time of application.

2 For applicants who have not yet reached the age of 25 at the time of application, two years of residence in the canton are sufficient.

1 Applicants must fulfill significant public-

law and private-law payment obligations.

2 The period relevant for the fulfillment of the payment obligations

begins five years before the submission of the application and ends

with the conclusion of the naturalization procedure.

3 The Government Council regulates the details.

Applicants who have been sentenced to a penalty or measure will not be naturalized if

a. there is an entry in the criminal register that is accessible to the cantonal authority and that, in accordance with the provisions of federal law, precludes naturalization, or

b. the conviction under juvenile criminal law at the time of submitting the naturalization application

1. occurred less than five years ago, if it was for a felony,

2. occurred less than two years ago, if it was for a misdemeanor.

1 Applicants must be able to communicate in everyday life, both orally and in writing, in German, according to the requirements of federal law.

2 The proof according to paragraph 1 is considered to have been provided if the applicant

a. speaks and writes German as a native language,

b. has attended compulsory schooling for at least five years with German as the language of instruction,

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Cantonal Citizenship Act (KBüG) 141.1

c. has completed an education at the upper secondary or tertiary level with German as the language of instruction,

d. is attending compulsory schooling or upper secondary level with German as the language of instruction at the time of submitting the application, or

e. possesses a language certificate that attests to the language competencies according to paragraph 1.

3 The language certificate must be based on a language test that complies with generally recognized quality standards for language testing procedures.

4 The Government Council regulates the details.

1. **Applicants must possess basic knowledge of the geographical, historical, political, and social conditions in the Confederation and Canton, as well as basic knowledge of the political conditions in the municipalities of Zurich.**

2. **The proof according to paragraph 1 is deemed to have been furnished if the applicant:**

a. **has attended compulsory schooling in Switzerland for at least five years, of which three years were at secondary level I,**

b. **has completed an education in Switzerland at secondary level II,**

c. **is attending compulsory schooling or secondary level II in Switzerland at the time of submitting the application, or**

d. **has successfully passed a basic knowledge test.**

3. **The basic knowledge test must meet recognized criteria for testing procedures. It can be taken orally or in writing.**

4. **The Government Council shall regulate the details.**

1 Applicants submit the naturalization application to the Directorate responsible for citizenship matters (the Directorate). a. Application

2 They pay an advance on costs, which covers the expenses of the procedure according to § 11 para. 1. If the advance on costs is not paid within the deadline, the application will not be processed.

3 Anyone not registered in the civil status register must register their personal status with the civil registry office before submitting the naturalization application.

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141.1 Cantonal Citizenship Act (CCA)

b. Examination

by the

Directorate

c. Examination

by the

Municipality

d. Granting of

Citizenship

1 After the application has been submitted, the Directorate examines whether the applicant

a. has submitted the documents completely,

b. holds a settlement permit,

c. meets the federal and cantonal requirements for residency,

d. has not significantly or repeatedly disregarded any legal regulations or official orders,

e. fulfills important public law or private law obligations,

f. observes the criminal law system.

2 If not all conditions are met, the Directorate gives the applicant the opportunity to supplement or withdraw the application. If the applicant does not comply with this request, the Directorate rejects the application.

3 If all conditions are met, the Directorate forwards the application to the municipality of residence.

1. Upon referral of the application, the municipality shall examine whether the applicant

a. possesses proof of German language skills in accordance with Article 8, Paragraph 2;

b. possesses proof of basic knowledge in accordance with Article 9, Paragraph 2;

c. participates in the social and cultural life of society in Switzerland;

d. maintains contacts with Swiss citizens;

e. respects the values of the Federal Constitution;

f. participates in economic life or in the acquisition of education;

g. promotes the integration of family members.

2. The municipalities shall appropriately consider the situation of persons who are unable to meet the integration criteria under Paragraph 1, or can only meet them under difficult conditions, due to a disability, illness, or other significant personal circumstances.

1 The body designated in the municipal regulations decides on the granting of municipal citizenship.

2 The Directorate decides on the granting of cantonal citizenship.

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Cantonal Citizenship Act (KBüG)

141.1

3 After the granting of the naturalisation permit by the Confederation, the Directorate makes the naturalisation decision, with which municipal and cantonal citizenship as well as Swiss citizenship are acquired.

4 It only makes the naturalisation decision once the applicant has paid all fees.

The Directorate is responsible for the invoicing and collection of fees for decisions made by the Canton and the Municipality.

e. Invoicing and Collection

D. Release from Citizenship

The Directorate decides on the release from Swiss citizenship.

1. Cantonal and Municipal Citizenship: The municipal executive board or a commission decides on release from municipal citizenship.

2. Citizens are released from municipal citizenship upon request if they possess the citizenship of another municipality or if it has been assured to them in the event of release.

3. With the release from municipal citizenship, the applicant is simultaneously released from cantonal citizenship, provided they do not possess any other citizenship of a Zurich municipality.

E. Common Provisions

**1 Supervision**

The Directorate supervises the municipalities in the fulfillment of their tasks under this Act.

2 Sections 167–169 of the Municipal Act of April 20, 2015 are applicable.

The competent public bodies shall process personal data and special personal data for the fulfillment of their tasks under this Act concerning

a. the observance of public safety and order,

b. participation in economic life or in the acquisition of education,

c. health, insofar as the data are necessary for the application of Art. 12 para. 2.

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141.1

Cantonal Citizenship Act (CCA)

Electronic Processing of Procedures

**1 Canton and Municipalities process naturalization procedures for foreign nationals through an application operated by the Directorate.**

**2 Procedures with applicants can be conducted electronically if they provide their consent.**

**3 The Government Council regulates the details.**

**Fees**

1 The Cantonal Council regulates the fees for decisions in cantonal

citizenship matters.

2 The municipalities regulate the fees for decisions in municipal

citizenship matters.

3 Anyone who has not yet reached the age of 25 at the time of

submitting the application pays half the fee.

4 Anyone who has not yet reached the age of 20 at the time of

submitting the application pays no fee.

Non-

retroactivity

Adaptation of

municipal law

F. Transitional and Final Provisions

On applications submitted before the entry into force of this Act, the previous law shall apply.

1 Municipalities that, in their municipal regulations for the granting of

municipal citizenship to foreign women and men, provide for two

organs, shall designate a single organ for this purpose within four years after the

entry into force of this law.

2 Until this adjustment, the following regulation applies

a. The municipal executive is responsible for granting municipal

citizenship to foreign women and and men who

1. were born in Switzerland or

2. have attended compulsory schooling or secondary level II in

Switzerland in a national language for a total of at least five years.

b. In all other cases, the municipal assembly or the municipal parliament

is responsible.

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Cantonal Citizenship Act (KBüG)

141.1

raised.

previous law

1 OS 78, 167.

2 Entry into force: July 1, 2023.

3 OJ 2020-06-12.

4 LS 131.1.

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