In Switzerland, about a quarter of the population does not have a Swiss passport. The largest groups are Italians, Germans, French, Portuguese and inhabitants of Balkan countries. About 38 percent of the country’s inhabitants are of foreign descent. The conditions for obtaining a Swiss passport are strict. Normally, someone has to live in the country for ten years to be able to apply (more flexible conditions apply, for example, to foreigners who are married to a Swiss). The applicant must also master the language, both written and verbal, and be integrated. In addition, cantons or municipalities often play a major role in whether or not to issue a passport.
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