Every foreign citizen who has moved to Lugano has the right to apply for Ticino citizenship and municipal involvement and, consequently, Swiss citizenship, under certain conditions.

Born and raised in Switzerland? Or married or registered partner of a Swiss citizen and for five years in the country?

Before starting the naturalization procedure and before requesting any documents, you should contact the Residents' Registration Office.

Contact the Residents' Registration Office

In the case of a negative response to point 1, you can proceed with a naturalization application if the following conditions are met:

  • in possession of a valid C permit
  • resident in Switzerland for at least ten years
  • resident in Ticino for at least five years
  • resident of at least three years in Lugano, of which uninterrupted residence in Lugano for the two years preceding the submission of the application for naturalization

In the calculation for the years of residence in Switzerland, no account is taken of the years spent in receipt of an N permit (asylum seekers) or an L permit, while the years spent with an F permit (provisional admission) account for half.

The years spent in Switzerland between the ages of 8 and 18 count as double, but the actual stay must be at least six years.

Children under 18 can be included in the naturalization application of one of the parents.

If all the conditions in point 2, are met, you are eligible to proceed with the naturalization application.

Before starting the naturalization procedure and before requesting any documents, you should contact the Residents' Registration Office.

Contact the Residents' Registration Office