There’s a moment in every naturalization journey when it stops being theoretical. When the forms are submitted, the language certificate is earned, and suddenly you’re walking into a room full of people who will decide if you belong.
That’s the moment Serena sat down for — with her two children beside her, answering questions in rapid-fire German about everything from Swiss politicians to what they did on a school day seven years ago. She didn’t stumble. She didn’t freeze. She answered every single question they asked.
This conversation isn’t just about passing an interview. It’s about what it takes to get there — the mental hurdles, the bureaucratic fog, and the decision to keep going even when you’re not sure what the next step looks like. Serena talks about living in Basel for 16 years, raising her kids here, and finally reaching the point where she thought: I want to be part of this place, not just live in it.
She also talks about what came after. The letter that arrived the next day. The strange, surreal feeling of showing a Swiss passport when people can hear you’re not from here. And what it meant to know her children could leave and come back, no longer tethered to her work permit.
„I think really trusting in oneself to be able to do it because effectively when you actually get the ball rolling, it’s a lot less scary than it feels before starting.“
The hardest part of becoming Swiss isn’t the interview. It’s believing you’re ready for it.
The people across the table aren’t trying to trip you up — they’re checking if you’ve done the work. And if you have, the rest unfolds faster than you think.
About Serena Baldissera
Originally from Turin, Serena has lived in Basel for nearly 16 years and became a Swiss citizen in 2025. She’s a pharmaceutical regulatory expert with over 25 years of international experience, a mother of two, and someone who believes in sharing what she’s learned along the way. You can find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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