In a further push toward end-to-end e-government, the Federal Council has approved ordinance changes that will let cantonal authorities transmit and receive ordinary naturalisation files electronically through the SYMIC migration system from 1 August 2026. Today, cantons send paper dossiers to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), which prolongs processing and complicates status tracking. The new interface will allow real-time data exchange, additional data fields and digital signatures, trimming weeks off the timeline and giving applicants clearer visibility on where their case stands. Although the reform targets citizenship rather than short-term mobility, it underscores Switzerland’s broader strategy to digitise migration-life-cycle services—from entry (EES/ETIAS) to residence (online permit renewals) and now naturalisation. For international assignees considering long-term settlement, the change promises a more predictable, less paper-heavy pathway. A pilot with several cantons will precede nationwide rollout; employers with large foreign workforces may wish to encourage eligible staff to time applications after the pilot to benefit from the streamlined channel.
