Ordinance on Cantonal and Communal Citizenship (VLG) - Scope (VLG)

1. This ordinance governs the acquisition and loss of land rights and municipal citizenship rights.

1. There is no legal entitlement to admission into state citizenship or municipal citizenship.

2. Naturalization under this regulation grants all the rights and obligations of cantonal and municipal citizenship, but does not confer citizenship and usage rights in Rhoden and corporations, unless provided under the law of the respective institution.

1. The municipal citizenship is the basis of the national law.

2. The municipal citizenship becomes effective with the acquisition of the national law.

3. ...

1. The municipal citizenship of Oberegg is conferred by the district council of Oberegg, while that of Appenzell is conferred by the Great Council.

2. The cantonal citizenship is granted by the Great Council.

3. Insofar as this ordinance does not assign jurisdiction to another authority, the Cantonal Executive Council is the competent cantonal authority within the meaning of the federal citizenship legislation. It specifically determines the office at which applications for ordinary naturalization are to be submitted and ensures that the necessary investigations and reports to the naturalization authorities are conducted.

1. For applicants from the inner part of the country, the commission of the Grand Council examines the requirements and hears them. Subsequently, it submits a collective proposal to the Grand Council regarding the granting of municipal citizenship of Appenzell and regional citizenship.

2. For applicants from the District of Oberegg, the District Council examines the requirements. A delegation from the District Council hears the applicants in the presence of a delegation from the responsible commission of the Grand Council. Subsequently, the District Council decides on the granting of municipal citizenship of Oberegg. In the event of a positive decision, the commission of the Grand Council submits a proposal to the Grand Council regarding the granting of regional citizenship.

3. For Swiss citizens, the hearing is waived.

1. Foreign applicants must meet the formal requirements in accordance with the Federal Act on Swiss Citizenship when submitting their application.

2. The cantonal formal requirements for submitting an application are governed by the resolution of the Landsgemeinde on the granting of citizenship.

1. Citizenship of the Canton and the Municipality is granted only to individuals who meet the requirements of the federal legislation for obtaining federal naturalization approval and, additionally,

a) are familiar with Swiss, cantonal, and local customs,

b) have well integrated into local conditions, and

c) demonstrate the language proficiency in German as required by the citizenship legislation.

1. Applications from two persons who are married to each other or live in a registered partnership shall, unless a different request is made, be decided jointly.

2. Applications from persons as referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, in which minor children are included in the naturalization, can only be decided jointly.

3. Minor children who have reached the age of 16 must also sign the application.

1. Minors may independently submit an application upon reaching the age of 16. The application must also be signed by the legal representative.

1. For individuals under comprehensive guardianship, the application for independent naturalization must be submitted by the legal representative.

1. Upon admission into the regional law, applicants without Swiss nationality must pay the following fees

a) Adults from the age of 20, per person: CHF 1,000.--

b) * Minor children included in the naturalization of parents or one parent, per child: CHF 100.--

c) * Minor applicants after reaching the age of 16: CHF 200.--

d) * Adult applicants up to the completion of the 20th year of age: CHF 500.--

2. Applicants with Swiss nationality must pay a fee of CHF 100.--.

3. The fee is payable upon submission of the application. For applicants from the district of Oberegg, half of the fee is allocated to the district of Oberegg.

4. If the application is withdrawn before the hearing by the grand council committee or the delegation of the district council of Oberegg, 80% of the fee will be refunded, and if withdrawn after the hearing, 30%. In the event of rejection of the application by the district council of Oberegg, 30% of the fee paid will be refunded.

5. The fees for discharge are

a) from Swiss citizenship and regional law (Art. 37 BüG): CHF 60.-- to CHF 240.--;

b) from regional law: CHF 60.-- to CHF 120.--.

1. Applicants who would possess more than two citizenships after acquiring the new citizenship must, prior to naturalization, declare in writing which ones they will relinquish.

1. The Cantonal Commission decides on applications for release from citizenship.

2. The release is granted if the applicant does not have a residence in the canton and possesses another citizenship or has obtained assurance of acquiring one in the event of release.

3. With the renunciation of citizenship, the intralocal municipal citizenship rights also lapse.

1. Spouses or registered partners are generally released from citizenship together.

2. In justified cases, the release may be limited to one spouse or registered partner.

1. The discharge extends to children under parental custody, but to youths over the age of 16 only if they consent to their discharge in writing.

2. In justified cases, the discharge can be limited to the person submitting the request or to individual children.

1. When it is unclear whether someone possesses national citizenship or municipal citizenship, the state commission shall issue an appropriate order.

1. The deliberations of the Grand Council regarding the granting of municipal citizenship of Appenzell and the right of domicile are conducted excluding the public.

1. This regulation shall enter into force upon adoption by the Grand Council.