Dual nationality

Dual nationality is permissible under Swiss law.

This means that Swiss nationals may acquire foreign citizenship rights without forfeiting their rights as a Swiss citizen. However, certain countries demand that a person who acquires the nationality of that country must renounce their previous citizenship rights. Please contact the competent authority in the country concerned for more information on its nationality legislation.

Expatriate Swiss nationals who have acquired foreign citizenship rights must inform the Swiss representation where they are registered of their dual nationality.

Foreign nationals seeking to obtain Swiss citizenship should note that domestic legislation in their country of origin may require them to forfeit their previous citizenship rights. Authoritative information on this matter can be obtained from the authorities in the country of origin.

Services provided by the FDFA may be limited for persons with more than one nationality and are set out in the Swiss Abroad Act (SAA; RS 195.1) as well as in its Ordinance (SAO; RS 195.11).

Swiss consular protection may be granted to Swiss citizens with multiple nationalities in the same way as to citizens with only Swiss nationality. If persons hold the nationality of the receiving state as well as Swiss nationality, they may receive consular protection from Switzerland provided the receiving state does not oppose it.

Swiss nationals who have also acquired citizenship rights in their country of residence are treated as nationals of that country by the authorities there. For the country of residence, the nationality of the country of residence is deemed predominant.

As a general rule, Swiss citizens living abroad with multiple nationalities do not benefit from any Swiss social welfare if their foreign nationality is predominant.