Residence Years Calculator
What the calculator does
For ordinary naturalisation you need ten years of residence in Switzerland. The calculator helps you make a rough count. You enter your date of birth and your periods of residence. It shows the total and how many years are still missing.
The rules it applies
- Years between your 8th and 18th birthdays count double. If you lived in Switzerland from age 8 to 18, that gives ten years.
- At least six years must be actual years in Switzerland. Doubling alone is not enough.
- Three of the last five years before the application must be spent in Switzerland.
- The type of permit matters: B, C and Ci count in full, F counts by half, N and L do not count.
Cantons and communes also set their own residence periods. The calculator does not check them.
Your data
The calculator runs only in your browser. It sends nothing to a server and stores nothing. When you close the page, your entries are gone.
Important notice
The calculator gives a rough guide, not legal advice. It does not tell you whether you can be naturalised. Only the responsible authority decides whether your years count. If in doubt, ask your commune or, in the canton of Zurich, the Gemeindeamt. The canton also offers its own self-check.
Next step
If your years add up, preparing for the knowledge test is the next job. Try the free questions.