The Federal Council has adopted ordinance changes that will allow cantonal authorities to transmit and receive ordinary-naturalisation files entirely through the SYMIC migration information system as of 1 August 2026. Today, naturalisation dossiers travel by post, adding weeks to processing times and risking data-protection breaches. With the new digital interface, cantons can upload applications, supporting documents and biometrics directly to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). SEM decisions—approval or refusal—will be returned through the same channel, eliminating paper correspondence. A pilot phase will start with the cantons of Zurich, Vaud and Ticino this autumn. Authorities expect end-to-end processing times to fall by 20 %, saving an estimated CHF 3 million in postage and archiving costs annually. For employers sponsoring key foreign staff for Swiss citizenship, the move promises clearer tracking, fewer lost documents and faster outcomes. The digital overhaul is part of the broader “SYMIC Renewal” IT programme, which also prepares the system for EU Entry/Exit System (EES) data integration and future ETIAS queries. HR and mobility managers should update internal checklists: from August, applicants will need digital copies of language certificates and tax statements that meet new metadata standards. Data-protection safeguards include two-factor authentication for cantonal users and encryption of file transfers. The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner has already vetted the architecture, the Council said.
Source: Federal Council press release
