Regulations on Fribourg Citizenship (RDCF) - Subject Matter (BRR)

1. This regulation implements the federal citizenship provisions and the provisions of the law on Freiburg citizenship.

1. In application of the law regarding Fribourg citizenship, the following administrative fees are levied

a) Ordinary naturalization of foreign nationals and Swiss nationals

1. Submission of the application, preliminary review and preparation of dossier: CHF 100-250

2. Decision of inadmissibility: CHF 50

3. Decision of non-admission: CHF 80-150

4. Preparation of the investigation report: CHF 150-200 per person

5. Additional investigation: CHF 50-200 per person

6. Verification of civil status information as per Annex 2 No. 8 ZStGV: CHF 75 per half hour

7. Transfer of the dossier to the municipality: CHF 60

8. Opinion of the canton and transfer of the dossier to the State Secretariat for Migration: CHF 100-200

9. Drafting of decree and associated work, preparation of the dossier for transmission to the State Council and the Naturalization Commission of the Grand Council: CHF 50

10. Examination of the dossier by the Naturalization Commission of the Grand Council: CHF 100-200 per person

11. Completion of the naturalization process, registration in the Infostar database, issuance of the naturalization document: CHF 100

12. Flat rate for postal dispatches, phone calls, faxes, non-appearance at a summons without prior notification, etc.: CHF 30

13. Civic education course conducted by the Office for Civil Status and Naturalization: CHF 30‒50

14. Hearing, determination of a particular fact, special legal analysis: CHF 150 per commenced hour

b) Readmission of Swiss nationals to Fribourg citizenship: CHF 100-200

c) Release from Fribourg citizenship in connection with release from Swiss citizenship: CHF 100-250

d) Release of Swiss nationals from Fribourg citizenship: CHF 50-100

e) Determination procedure: CHF 100-300

f) Declarations and Miscellaneous

1. Issuance of a citizenship confirmation, confirmation of an ongoing naturalization, etc.: CHF 10-25

2. Preparation of certified copies and extracts from the records: CHF 3-5

3. Photocopy, per A4 page: CHF 0.50

4. Measures by the Office for Civil Status and Naturalization in favor of private individuals and legal opinions: CHF 150 per commenced hour

1. An individual seeking naturalization in Switzerland must submit their individual or joint application on the federal naturalization approval form to the Office for Civil Status and Naturalization (the Office), and must include the following documents with the application

a) a notice of registration of their personal data in the Swiss civil status register (Infostar);

b) a letter explaining why they wish to acquire Swiss citizenship;

c) a recent passport-sized photo;

d) if language proficiency cannot be proven as per Article 6 paragraph 2 of the Naturalization Ordinance

1. an official language certificate (e.g., language tests fulfilling the international criteria of the "Association of Language Testers in Europe ALTE," like FIDE) according to Article 6 paragraph 1 of the Naturalization Ordinance;

2. if applicable, a certificate of illiteracy according to Article 6 of this regulation;

e) a residency confirmation from the municipality with the date of settlement in the municipality listed;

f) a certificate from the competent migration authorities regarding their stays in Switzerland;

g) a current original extract from the debt collection register of their place of residence for the five years prior to the application submission;

h) the assessment notice for the last tax period; if such an assessment notice is not available, a certificate from the Cantonal Tax Administration is sufficient, especially for those recently subject to tax obligations;

i) a copy of their residency permit and passport or identity card;

j) if possible, an extract from the criminal register or an equivalent document from the competent authorities of their country of origin or countries where they previously lived;

k) for those who attended school in Switzerland, a copy of their school reports or a copy of school attendance or study confirmations from the relevant authority;

l) the curriculum vitae.

2. If an applicant who is married or in a registered partnership submits an application alone, they must additionally submit the following documents

a) an original extract as described in paragraph 1 letter g concerning the situation of the spouse or registered partner;

b) a declaration signed by the spouse or registered partner authorizing the office to obtain information regarding their person.

3. Minors are not required to submit the documents mentioned in paragraph 1 letters g and h. However, the documents are required if the individual reaches adulthood during the proceedings.

**1. Swiss nationals or residents of Fribourg who apply for acquisition of Fribourg municipal or cantonal citizenship must generally submit their application on the official form provided, accompanied by the following documents:**

a) a copy of the passport or identity card;

b) the tax assessment notice for the most recent tax period; if such a notice is unavailable, a certificate from the Cantonal Tax Administration suffices, particularly for individuals who have only recently become taxpayers;

c) a current original extract from the debt enforcement register of their place of residence for the five years preceding the submission of the application;

d) the curriculum vitae.

**2. Minors are not required to submit the documents specified in clauses b and c of paragraph 1. However, the documents become necessary if the individual reaches the age of majority during the course of the procedure.**

1. Documents not drafted in an official language of Fribourg may be rejected if they are not accompanied by a certified German or French translation.

2. If necessary, the authority requests further evidence that allows the authorities to ascertain the facts of the case.

3. A naturalization application is considered submitted to the authority when the documents required for the management of the proceedings or for decision-making are available.

1. The applicant may invoke personal circumstances and justify special consideration of their situation by submitting, in particular, the following documents

a) a medical certificate confirming a physical, mental, or psychological disability;

b) a medical certificate confirming a serious or long-term illness;

c) sufficient information on the status of their income and expenditures

1. if they live in poverty despite being employed or

2. undertake comprehensive caregiving responsibilities or

3. are dependent on social assistance.

1. In cases of illiteracy and partial illiteracy, the association "Lire et Ecrire" or any other special institution possessing the necessary expertise in this field and whose primary statutory purpose is fundamentally to address these specific issues, may issue a certificate.

2. Such a certificate may only be issued if the person concerned has regularly attended a language course of at least three months' duration, and it can be determined at the end of this course that it is impossible for them to acquire the minimum requirements demanded by federal law.

1. The employees entrusted with the surveys take their oath or vow before the head of the directorate of institutions, agriculture, and forestry.

2. The office ensures that the individuals entrusted with the surveys possess the necessary competencies, particularly for conducting interviews with children and adults.

1. In the survey report prepared by the office, the formal and material prerequisites and integration criteria provided for in federal and cantonal legislation are addressed.

2. Witnesses can only be questioned within the framework according to Article 46 paragraph 2 of the Administrative Procedure Act of May 23, 1991.

3. If the applicant marries or enters into a registered partnership during the ongoing procedure, the survey report must be supplemented in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 2 letter f of the Federal Act on the Acquisition and Loss of Swiss Citizenship (BRG).

1. The Assessment Report is prepared based on an individual interview with the applicants.

2. The Office may conduct the individual interviews via a video conferencing system if

a) the security of the data and communications is ensured;

b) the evidential value of the action is adequately ensured;

c) the applicant has given his or her consent.

3. If the interview is recorded and digitally stored, the recording shall be destroyed within one year after the conclusion of the procedure.

1. The office examines whether the integration prerequisites and criteria for a child over the age of twelve are met by generally conducting an individual interview with the child. The modalities of the interview are adjusted according to the child's age and maturity.

2. The interview with the child may be recorded on video and digitally stored. The recording will be destroyed within one year after the conclusion of the process.

1. The office declares an application inadmissible if the applicant, at the time of submission

a) does not possess a permanent residence permit (C permit);

b) does not fulfill the residency requirements.

2. The Directorate of Institutions and Land and Forestry (the Directorate) issues a decision of non-entry if it becomes evident, at the latest before the dossier is forwarded to the municipal authority, that the applicant

a) has been criminally convicted in accordance with Article 4, paragraphs 2 and 4 of the Federal Act on the Acquisition and Loss of Swiss Citizenship (BuV);

b) clearly does not respect public safety and order as per Article 4, paragraph 1 of the BuV;

c) does not present sufficient proof of language skills as required by Article 6, paragraph 2 of the BuV, neither providing an official language certificate (e.g., language tests meeting the international criteria of the "Association of Language Testers in Europe ALTE," such as FIDE) as per Article 6, paragraph 1 of the BuV, nor a certification of illiteracy or literacy inadequacy as defined in Article 6 of these regulations.

1. Application of the Reciprocity Agreement of December 16, 1994, concerning the cantonal conditions for the naturalization of young second-generation foreigners, the years spent in the following cantons are recognized in the canton of Fribourg

a) Bern

b) Vaud

c) Neuchâtel

d) Geneva

e) Jura

f) Zurich.

1. The competent municipal authority for concluding reciprocity agreements pursuant to Article 10, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law (BRG) is the municipal council.

1. The naturalization dossier transferred to the community for the procedure of granting municipal citizenship to persons of foreign nationality contains the following documents

a) the form for federal naturalization authorization with a power of attorney;

b) a letter in which the person explains why they wish to acquire Swiss citizenship, with a current photo in passport format;

c) a copy of their residence permit and their passport or identity card;

d) for the applicant whose proof of language skills is not considered fulfilled in accordance with Article 6 paragraph 2 of the Naturalization Ordinance (BüV), an official language certificate (e.g., language tests meeting the international criteria of the "Association of Language Testers in Europe ALTE," such as FIDE) pursuant to Article 6 paragraph 1 of the BüV, or a certificate of illiteracy or literacy issues in accordance with Article 6 of these regulations;

e) a copy of the investigative report with police record and any appendices;

f) a residency confirmation from the community and a certification from the competent migration authorities regarding their stays in Switzerland;

g) an extract from the debt enforcement register;

h) the assessment notice or a tax certificate;

i) a copy of the civil status extract;

j) if applicable, an extract from the criminal record or an equivalent document from the competent authorities of the applicant's country of origin;

k) the resume;

l) possibly other documents.

2. The naturalization dossier transferred to the community for the procedure of granting municipal citizenship to Swiss nationals contains the following documents

a) the application form for naturalization;

b) a copy of the passport or identity card;

c) the assessment notice or a tax certificate;

d) an extract from the debt enforcement register;

e) the resume.

3. A copy of the decision on the granting of municipal citizenship to a person of foreign nationality is sent to the office together with the following documents

a) the dossier transferred by the office;

b) a copy of the protocol of the hearing of the applicant by the naturalization commission of the community.

1. A copy of the decision granting municipal citizenship to a person already entitled to citizenship in a municipality of Fribourg shall be delivered to the office; the office shall make the necessary updates in the computerized civil status register.

1. Before the office submits a dossier to the Council of State for review, it updates the facts regarding the requirements for naturalization as well as the personal details of the applicant.

2. The applicant may be requested to cooperate. Additionally, he or she must inform the competent authority of any changes in his or her personal situation.

1. The fees for the cantonal naturalization procedure are listed in the table in the appendix to this regulation.

2. When submitting the naturalization application, an advance payment must be made. If the application is withdrawn, suspended, or rejected, the fee for the procedure steps already carried out remains payable.

3. The office may particularly waive or reduce the fee for applicants who are indigent.

4. The municipalities may charge fees according to a tariff set out in a generally binding municipal regulation. Within this framework, they respect the principles of equivalence and cost recovery.

1. Official receptions shall be held at least twice a year.

2. Before each official reception, the State Council shall designate its representative at the request of the Directorate.

3. The Office shall organize the official receptions. In particular, it ensures that they are held regularly in different regions of the canton.

4. New citizens are required to attend the reception.

1. The Office transmits the naturalization dossiers to the State Council through the Directorate. Simultaneously, it transmits a draft decree and a naturalization sheet.

2. The draft decree recommends either the granting or the denial of citizenship.

3. The naturalization sheet of the applicant contains the following information

a) their personal details and those of their father and mother;

b) date and place of birth;

c) nationality;

d) marital status;

e) profession;

f) residence;

g) names of the persons included in the naturalization application;

h) date and reference number of the federal naturalization approval;

i) municipal citizenship and the date of acquisition of citizenship;

j) social security number (AHV number);

k) administrative fees.

4. The draft decree contains the following information for each applicant

a) personal details;

b) nationality;

c) municipality of residence;

d) date of birth and the country where the applicant was born;

e) marital status;

f) municipal citizenship;

g) names of the persons included in the naturalization application.

1. The naturalization document is prepared by the office and forwarded to the State Chancellery for signing, printing, and delivery.

2. It contains the information listed in the naturalization decree.

3. It is presented to each person who has acquired Swiss and Fribourg citizenship at the official reception. Persons who, for important reasons, are unable to attend the official reception, will receive it according to the modalities determined by the office at the office.

1. Swiss citizens seeking readmission to the Fribourg citizenship must generally submit their application using the appropriate official form and include the following documents

a) a civil status certificate that verifies the previous Fribourg citizenship and the current Swiss citizenship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil status certificate, or family certificate);

b) a copy of the passport or identity card;

c) a letter stating the reasons for their re-naturalization request.

1. Citizens of Freiburg who seek release from Freiburger citizenship must, in principle, submit the declaration of renunciation using the official form provided for this purpose.

2. The declaration of renunciation must be accompanied by a civil status certificate for all persons included in the request, which confirms both their Freiburg and Swiss citizenship.

1. Anyone who wishes to renounce one or more civic rights of the municipalities of Freiburg shall generally submit the declaration of renunciation on the relevant official form.

2. A family certificate or a civil status certificate must be attached to the declaration of renunciation.

1. The decisions of the cantonal authority regarding naturalization, re-naturalization, or release from citizenship shall be communicated to the following entities

a) the Office for Civil Security and Military;

b) the Office for Population and Migration;

c) the municipality of residence;

d) the competent civil status authorities.

2. The decisions of the municipal authority concerning admission to or release from municipal citizenship shall be communicated to the office; this office makes the necessary updates in the computerized civil status register.

3. If the office receives a decision from the federal authority regarding a facilitated naturalization, re-naturalization, revocation, or withdrawal of citizenship, it shall acknowledge the decision and inform the authorities listed in paragraph 1 of the content of the decision.

1. The following are repealed

a) the Regulation of May 19, 2009, on Fribourg Citizenship (SGF 114.1.11);

b) the Ordinance of May 19, 2009, on Administrative Fees for Naturalizations (SGF 114.1.16).

1. This regulation shall be retroactively enacted as of January 1, 2018.