Executive Summary

On June 12, 2026, the Federal Council approved regulatory amendments for the digitalization of naturalization processes. In the future, the exchange between cantonal authorities and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will take place digitally instead of by mail. The new regulations come into force on August 1, 2026. Cantons can submit naturalization requests via a new interface of the Central Migration Information System (ZEMIS) and receive SEM decisions digitally. After a pilot phase with several cantons, the remaining cantons will be connected.

Persons

  • Federal Council (collegial body; decision-maker)

Topics

  • Administration Digitalization
  • Naturalization Law
  • Federalism
  • Migration Policy

Clarus Lead

The digitalization initiative addresses a central inefficiency in the federal administration system: previously, communication between cantons and the federal government regarding naturalizations took place by mail. The gradual introduction – first a pilot phase, then full rollout – reduces implementation risks and enables adjustments. The project is embedded in the comprehensive renewal of ZEMIS, which as a central migration database enables further process optimizations in the long term.

Detailed Summary

The regulatory amendments affect two central regulatory frameworks: the ZEMIS Ordinance and the Citizenship Ordinance. In technical detail, new data fields are being implemented in ZEMIS and additional online access rights are being established for cantonal naturalization authorities. This enables a fully digital process chain: cantons review local requests, transmit them digitally to the SEM, which in turn communicates its approval or rejection via the same interface.

The project is part of the ongoing IT project "ZEMIS Renewal," which aims for comprehensive digitalization of migration processes. The staggered introduction – pilot phase with selected cantons before full rollout – follows a proven change management approach and is intended to minimize operational disruptions.

Key Statements

  • Digital Interface: New exchange between cantons and SEM via ZEMIS instead of by mail
  • Legal Basis: Amendments to ZEMIS Ordinance and Citizenship Ordinance required
  • Timeline: Entry into force August 1, 2026; pilot phase follows, then rollout to all cantons
  • System Integration: Project embedded in comprehensive ZEMIS renewal

Critical Questions

  1. Data Protection & Security: What security standards apply to the digital transmission of sensitive naturalization data between cantonal and federal systems?

  2. Technical Compatibility: How will it be ensured that all 26 cantons with different IT infrastructures can implement the new ZEMIS interface?

  3. Pilot Phase Criteria: According to what criteria are cantons selected for the pilot phase, and how long will this phase last?

  4. Cost Sharing: Who bears the implementation costs on the cantonal side, and are there federal funds for technical upgrades?

  5. Error Handling: How will transmission errors or data loss be handled during the migration from the mail process to the digital interface?

  6. Backward Compatibility: Can cantons work in parallel with the old mail process during the pilot phase to avoid process interruptions?

Sources

Primary Source: Federal Council (12.06.2026): Digitalization of Naturalization Processes – Regulatory Amendments Approved – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/onEHTO9ZwjJf

Verification Status: ✓ 12.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 12.06.2026