It is one of the most common misconceptions among Spaniards who have lived here for years and have children. The child is born in Switzerland, grows up in Switzerland, goes to school in Switzerland, and speaks the local language more naturally than Spanish. And yet they have Spanish nationality, or Spanish and their partner’s nationality, but not Swiss nationality. This is because Switzerland does not apply the principle of ius soli: the place of birth does not automatically confer citizenship.
Swiss nationality is passed on by descent. If one parent is Swiss, the child is Swiss too. If both parents are foreign nationals, the child inherits their parents’ nationality. Full stop. It doesn’t matter whether they were born in Geneva, Zurich or Lugano, or whether they’ve lived here all their life.
There is one partial exception: so-called ‘third-generation foreigners’ – that is, the grandchildren of people who settled in Switzerland – are eligible for a simplified naturalisation process. However, even in this case, a formal application must be submitted. It is not automatic, it is subject to conditions, and it remains an administrative process involving a file and a decision.
What does apply by descent, however, is the reverse situation: if one parent is Swiss, the child inherits that nationality regardless of where they are born. But if both parents are foreign nationals living in Switzerland, the child will have to apply for Swiss citizenship if they ever want a Swiss passport, just like any other foreign adult.