CH-CBN-01 — Nichtigerklärung (nulidade da naturalização; BüG art.º 36)

Art 36 BüG requires the following elements to be established before SEM can proceed with Nichtigerklärung:

1. Citizenship acquired through fraudulent conduct: The naturalization must have been granted as a direct result of deliberate deception by the applicant. The deception must be material — i.e., the naturalization would not have been granted if the true facts had been known.

2. Types of qualifying fraud:

• Scheinehe: A sham marriage to a Swiss citizen entered into solely to access the facilitated naturalization pathway (BüG Art 21 — marriage-based facilitated naturalization). The Scheinehe must have been the vehicle for the naturalization application; a Scheinehe that was dissolved before naturalization proceedings commenced has a different legal character.
• False declaration of residence: Falsely claiming Swiss federal residence periods that were not in fact completed.
• Identity fraud: Use of a false identity, forged documents, or another person's identity to obtain naturalization.
• Concealment of criminal history: Deliberate concealment of criminal convictions or proceedings that would have disqualified the application under BüG Art 11(1)(e) / Art 12(1)(f).
• False integration claims: Systematic fabrication of integration evidence (employment, language certificates, community involvement).

3. SEM knowledge date (Kenntnis): The 2-year clock runs from the date SEM first acquires actual knowledge (Kenntnis) of the specific fraudulent circumstances — not constructive knowledge or generalized suspicion.

4. 8-year absolute bar: Even if SEM only recently acquired knowledge, nullification is barred if more than 8 years have elapsed since the naturalization was granted. The 8-year bar is absolute — no extension is possible.

5. Statelessness prohibition: If nullification would render the person stateless (i.e., the person holds no other nationality), nullification cannot proceed. This is an absolute bar deriving from Art 36(4) BüG read together with CH's 1954 Convention obligations.

6. Children included in original naturalization: BüG Art 38 (Einbezug von Kindern) — children who were included in the original naturalization proceed with their parent. If the parent's naturalization is nullified, the children's citizenship may also be affected depending on the basis of their inclusion. BVGer jurisprudence requires careful individualized assessment of each child's position.

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Phase 1 — SEM investigation

1. SEM receives information indicating that a naturalization may have been fraudulently obtained (from police report, cantonal authority referral, tip-off, VOSTRA review, or own investigation).
2. SEM opens an administrative investigation. The 2-year Nichtigerklärung window begins from the date SEM acquires actual Kenntnis of the fraud — not from the date of the initial tip-off or suspicion.
3. SEM gathers evidence: cantonal civil-registry records, police/VOSTRA records, cantonal naturalization dossier, evidence of the alleged fraud (e.g., evidence the marriage was sham — shared residence records, communication records, witness testimony).

Phase 2 — Right to be heard (Rechtliches Gehör) 4. Before issuing the Nichtigerklärung, SEM must give the person affected a right to be heard (Anhörungsrecht) under the Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren (VwVG SR 172.021 Art 30). This is a constitutionally protected procedural right (BV Art 29). 5. The person may submit written representations and evidence challenging the alleged fraud.

Phase 3 — SEM decision 6. SEM issues the Nichtigerklärung as a formal administrative decision (Verfügung). The decision must be reasoned and must address the statelessness question (does the person hold another nationality?). 7. The Nichtigerklärung is entered in the civil registry (Infostar). The Heimatort registration is cancelled.

Phase 4 — Appeal (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) 8. The person may appeal the Nichtigerklärung to the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVGer) under VwVG Art 44 + Bundesverwaltungsgerichtsgesetz (VGG SR 173.32). The BVGer reviews on full merits (Rechtskontrolle + Sachverhaltskontrolle). 9. Further appeal to the Bundesgericht (BGer) under Bundesgerichtsgesetz (BGG SR 173.110) Art 83 lit. b — citizenship cases require BGer authorization.

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• Investigation phase: 6-18 months (depending on complexity; Scheinehe cases often involve civil-registry and police records that require inter-cantonal coordination).
• Anhörung phase: 30-60 days (minimum legal notice period for written representations).
• SEM Nichtigerklärung decision: 6-24 months from SEM Kenntnis.
• BVGer appeal (if filed): 12-24 months.
• BGer review (if requested): 6-18 months further.
• Absolute constraint: The entire process — from SEM Kenntnis to final nullification decision — must complete within 2 years of SEM Kenntnis AND within 8 years of naturalization. Once the 8-year bar is reached, no nullification is possible regardless of the state of proceedings.

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SEM does not charge a fee to the affected person for the Nichtigerklärung procedure — it is a state-initiated administrative proceeding. However:

• Legal representation costs: The affected person will typically engage a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt). Costs: CHF 3,000-15,000 depending on complexity and appeal stages.
• BVGer appeal filing: Court fees CHF 700-5,000 (dependent on complexity); the BVGer may award costs against the losing party.
• BGer review: Court fees CHF 1,000-10,000.

SEM may seek cost recovery from the person if the Nichtigerklärung is upheld (VwVG Art 63) — practical costs typically CHF 500-3,000.

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Primary statute: BüG 2014 Art 36 (SR 141.0, in-force 2018-01-01)

Art 36(1): "Das SEM kann die Einbürgerung nichtig erklären, wenn die Einbürgerin oder der Einbürgerungswerber die Einbürgerung durch arglistige Täuschung oder Verheimlichung erheblicher Tatsachen erwirkt hat."

Art 36(2): "Die Nichtigerklärung ist nur innerhalb von 2 Jahren, nachdem das SEM von dem Nichtigkeitsgrund Kenntnis erhalten hat, und spätestens innert 8 Jahren nach der Einbürgerung möglich."

Art 36(3): "Die Nichtigerklärung ist ausgeschlossen, wenn sie die betroffene Person staatenlos machen würde."

BüV Art 29: Implementing regulation provisions on the Nichtigerklärung procedure.

Distinction from Art 37-41 Entlassung: Art 37-41 govern voluntary release from Swiss citizenship upon application by the citizen. Entlassung requires the citizen's own petition; Nichtigerklärung is SEM-initiated against the citizen's interest.

Distinction from Art 42 Entzug: Art 42 Entzug (revocation) applies to dual citizens who have been convicted for terrorist offenses (or participated in activities seriously endangering CH or its allies). It requires a criminal conviction; is decided by the Federal Council (not SEM); has no time bar; and applies regardless of how the citizenship was acquired (it is not limited to fraudulently obtained citizenships). The first Art 42 Entzug case was BVGer F-5427/2019 (decided 31.05.2021) confirmed by BGer 1C_457/2021 (25.03.2022).

Distinction from Art 43 Feststellung: Art 43 doubt resolution is used where citizenship status is genuinely uncertain (not fraudulently obtained) — see CH-CBN-04. It is a determination, not a sanction.

Key jurisprudence:

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