Third generation overseas nationals can now easily secure citizenship of Switzerland

The voters in Switzerland have decided to make it easy for the third generation of overseas immigrants to avail citizenship of the nation. This will give access to more than 25,000 individuals who are below 25 years of age. The fast track process to avail citizenship will now also be available to overseas spouses of Swiss citizens.

The referendum that sought to extend this privilege, titled ‘naturalization of third generation immigrants’ was passed with votes adding to 60% of the total votes, as reported by the SRF, the Swiss broadcaster.

This measure now gives an opportunity to the youngsters whose parents and grandparents have resided in Switzerland for several years an easier path to avail the citizenship of Switzerland, as quoted by The Hindu.

Switzerland does not offer default citizenship to those who are born in the nation. This latest referendum is likely to give eligibility to 25,000 individuals to gain citizenship of Switzerland. It is anticipated that the vote is going to have a far-reaching impact on Switzerland that has one-fourth of the population as immigrants.

The voters of Switzerland also rejected an intricate reforms measure for taxation that was aimed to harmonize the tax regime with global standards.

The latest initiative implies that the third generation overseas immigrants will not have to do less paperwork, pay lesser fees for processing and delays will be reduced. This is applicable for immigrants under 25 years of age whose parents and grandparents did not undergo the arduous and prolonged process of naturalization.

Generally, to become a citizen of Switzerland applicants are required to reside in the nation for 12 years and be proficient in one of the four languages of Switzerland. They must also uphold the basic values of the constitution of Switzerland such as freedom of conscience and equal rights for men and women.