Residence requirements: how long you must live in the canton
On top of the ten years in Switzerland, each canton requires its own minimum period of two to five years. Here you will find the federal rules and the requirements of all 26 cantons.
The federal rule
For ordinary naturalisation the Confederation requires ten years of residence in Switzerland, three of them in the five years before applying (Art. 9 SCA). Years between the completed 8th and 18th year of age count double, but actual residence must be at least six years. Residence with a B or C permit or an FDFA legitimation card counts in full, and provisional admission (F) counts half.
The cantonal requirement
In addition, cantonal law must provide for a minimum residence period of two to five years (Art. 18 para. 1 SCA). The cantons have used this range differently:
- Two years: Bern, Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Vaud and Zurich.
- Three years: Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Fribourg and Lucerne.
- Four years: Solothurn.
- Five years: the remaining 14 cantons.
The details matter. Some cantons count years in the whole canton, others only in the municipality. Often the last years must have been spent without interruption in the same municipality, for example the last three years in Aargau, Glarus, Thurgau or Zug. In Basel-Landschaft, municipalities may additionally require two to five years in the municipality.
If you move
A move can restart the clock, especially in cantons that require uninterrupted residence in the municipality. If you have already applied and the canton and municipality have completed their assessment of your integration, they remain responsible if you move (Art. 18 para. 2 SCA). So if possible, plan a move before the period starts or after the assessment is complete.
A special rule for the second generation
The cantons of Zurich, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura mutually recognise the residence periods of young second-generation foreign nationals. This is based on a reciprocity agreement from 1994. Fribourg also has a shorter period for the second generation: two instead of three years in the canton.
All requirements at a glance
The following table shows each canton’s minimum residence period with its legal basis, sorted by length. The information comes from the Federal Council report of 5 November 2025. Current cantonal law is always binding; if in doubt, ask your municipality.
Residence requirements in all cantons
| Canton | Minimum residence | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
 Basel-City | 2 years without interruption in the commune | § 3 Abs. 1 BüRG BS |
 Bern | 2 years without interruption in the commune | Art. 11 Abs. 1 KBüG BE |
 Geneva | 2 years in the canton | Art. 17 Abs. 1 lit. b LDCG |
 Jura | 2 years in the commune | Art. 3 LCD, Art. 4 Décret |
 Neuchâtel | 2 years in the canton | Art. 14 lit. b LDCN |
 Schaffhausen | 2 years without interruption in the commune | Art. 7 Abs. 1 BüRG SH |
 Vaud | 2 years in the canton, 1 of them in the commune | Art. 12 Abs. 3 LDCV |
 Zurich | 2 years in the commune | § 2 Abs. 1 lit. a KBüG ZH |
 Appenzell Outer Rhodes | 3 years without interruption in the commune | Art. 4 Abs. 1 Gesetz über das Landrecht und das Gemeindebürgerrecht AR |
 Fribourg | 3 years in the canton, 2 of them within the 5 years before applying | Art. 9 Abs. 1 BRG FR |
 Lucerne | 3 years in the commune of naturalisation within the 5 years before applying | Art. 18 i. V. m. Art. 17 KBüG LU |
 Solothurn | 4 years in the canton, including the last 2 before applying, and 2 years in the commune | § 14 Abs. 1 und § 18 Bürgerrechtsgesetz SO |
 Aargau | 5 years in the canton, the last 3 of them without interruption in the commune | § 4 Abs. 1 lit. a KBüG AG |
 Appenzell Inner Rhodes | 5 years in the canton, the last 2 of them without interruption | Art. 1 Abs. 1 Landsgemeindebeschluss über die Erteilung des Bürgerrechts AI |
 Basel-Country | 5 years in the canton; communes may require 2 to 5 years in the commune | § 8 Abs. 1 und 4 BüG BL |
 Glarus | 5 years in the canton, the last 3 of them without interruption in the commune | Art. 8 Abs. 2 lit. g KBüG GL |
 Graubünden (Grisons) | 5 years in the commune, the last 2 of them without interruption | Art. 4 Abs. 1 KBüG GR |
 Nidwalden | 5 years without interruption in the canton and the commune | Art. 6 Abs. 1 Ziff. 2 kBüG NW |
 Obwalden | 5 years without interruption in the canton and the commune | Art. 5 Abs. 1 BRG OW |
 Schwyz | 5 years without interruption in the commune of naturalisation | Art. 3 Abs. 1 Bürgerrechtsgesetz SZ |
 St. Gallen | 5 years without interruption in the canton and the commune | Art. 9 Abs. 1 BRG SG |
 Thurgau | 5 years in the canton, the last 3 of them without interruption in the commune | § 4 Abs. 1 KBüG TG |
 Ticino | 5 years in the canton and 3 years in the commune, the last 2 before applying without interruption | Art. 12 und 13 LCCit |
 Uri | 5 years without interruption in the commune | Art. 4 KBüG UR |
 Valais | 5 years in the canton and 3 years in the commune | Art. 3 Abs. 2 lit. b und Art. 1 Abs. 1 lit. a Gesetz über das Walliser Bürgerrecht |
 Zug | 5 years in the canton, the last 3 of them without interruption in the commune | § 10 Abs. 1 Bürgerrechtsgesetz ZG |
Source: Federal Council report of 5 November 2025, section 4.3.4
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Which canton has the shortest residence requirement?
Bern, Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Vaud and Zurich require two years. Depending on the canton, years in the canton or in the municipality count.
Which cantons require five years?
Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Glarus, Graubünden, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Schwyz, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug require five years, often on condition that the last years were spent in the municipality without interruption.
Do I have to spend the whole period in the same municipality?
That differs between cantons. Zurich, Bern and Schaffhausen require two years in the municipality. Other cantons, such as Geneva or Neuchâtel, count the years in the whole canton. The exact rule is in the table.