Two of Switzerland’s largest cantons have set off a price-cutting domino that could reshape where skilled foreign professionals choose to settle. On 13 December the governments of Basel-Stadt and Bern confirmed they will lower their administrative charges for ordinary naturalisation by almost 40 percent from 1 January 2026. Basel-Stadt will drop its fee from CHF 980 to CHF 600, while Bern will charge CHF 520 instead of CHF 880.
Under Switzerland’s three-tier citizenship model, the Confederation levies a modest CHF 100, but cantons and communes are free to set their own tariffs. A 2024 survey revealed a canton-to-canton spread from CHF 350 (Zug) to over CHF 1,400 (Ticino), prompting Switzerland’s federal price-watchdog to brand the system a “postcode lottery”. HR managers and relocation firms say the new Basel and Bern prices are already appearing in recruitment pitches to third-country specialists weighing job offers in Zurich, Geneva or Basel’s life-sciences cluster.
Both cantons cite savings from fully digital case-management as the trigger for the cuts. Bern also links the move to its wider "Skilled Workers 2030" agenda, arguing that affordable naturalisation helps anchor talent in an ageing labour market. Local business lobby Swissmem welcomed the decision, calling harmonised, lower fees "a competitiveness issue" at a time when Germany and the Netherlands are streamlining their own citizenship paths for STEM workers.
![Basel and Bern Slash Citizenship Fees, Making Swiss Passport Cheaper for Foreign Talent]()
Because the reductions apply only to the cantonal share, applicants must still budget for communal fees, which in Bern average CHF 200-300. Nevertheless, a family of four applying in Basel will save roughly CHF 1,500 versus 2025 rates. Employers who subsidise citizenship costs for key staff may see mobility budgets stretch further—but only if assignees live in the cheaper cantons. Global-mobility teams are therefore advised to map fee differentials when planning future Swiss postings.
For expatriates and HR departments trying to keep pace with these evolving rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process by providing real-time guidance on Swiss visa and residency procedures, including naturalisation requirements and current cantonal fees. Their digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) assists with document preparation, appointment scheduling and status tracking, helping applicants navigate Switzerland’s administrative maze with confidence.
Pressure is now mounting on high-tariff cantons. Ticino’s economics minister told local media he would “study Basel’s figures closely”, while Zurich has launched an internal review of service-cost calculations. If more cantons follow, Switzerland’s naturalisation landscape could become markedly more uniform—good news for mobile professionals and the companies that employ them.
Under Switzerland’s three-tier citizenship model, the Confederation levies a modest CHF 100, but cantons and communes are free to set their own tariffs. A 2024 survey revealed a canton-to-canton spread from CHF 350 (Zug) to over CHF 1,400 (Ticino), prompting Switzerland’s federal price-watchdog to brand the system a “postcode lottery”. HR managers and relocation firms say the new Basel and Bern prices are already appearing in recruitment pitches to third-country specialists weighing job offers in Zurich, Geneva or Basel’s life-sciences cluster.
Both cantons cite savings from fully digital case-management as the trigger for the cuts. Bern also links the move to its wider "Skilled Workers 2030" agenda, arguing that affordable naturalisation helps anchor talent in an ageing labour market. Local business lobby Swissmem welcomed the decision, calling harmonised, lower fees "a competitiveness issue" at a time when Germany and the Netherlands are streamlining their own citizenship paths for STEM workers.
Because the reductions apply only to the cantonal share, applicants must still budget for communal fees, which in Bern average CHF 200-300. Nevertheless, a family of four applying in Basel will save roughly CHF 1,500 versus 2025 rates. Employers who subsidise citizenship costs for key staff may see mobility budgets stretch further—but only if assignees live in the cheaper cantons. Global-mobility teams are therefore advised to map fee differentials when planning future Swiss postings.
For expatriates and HR departments trying to keep pace with these evolving rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process by providing real-time guidance on Swiss visa and residency procedures, including naturalisation requirements and current cantonal fees. Their digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) assists with document preparation, appointment scheduling and status tracking, helping applicants navigate Switzerland’s administrative maze with confidence.
Pressure is now mounting on high-tariff cantons. Ticino’s economics minister told local media he would “study Basel’s figures closely”, while Zurich has launched an internal review of service-cost calculations. If more cantons follow, Switzerland’s naturalisation landscape could become markedly more uniform—good news for mobile professionals and the companies that employ them.
