Switzerland has banned citizenship to anyone who has lived on welfare in the country in the previous three years unless they pay back the money they received.

An earlier law made it possible for migrants to apply for citizenship provided they were not on state handouts when they made their application.

But the rules have since been tightened as part of a new civil rights act which came into effect on January 1.

Switzerland has banned citizenship to anyone who has lived on welfare in the country in the previous three years unless they pay back the money they received. File picture shows the Swiss resort of St Moritz

The new legislation also requires applicants to prove a greater level of integration if their bid is to be successful, according to Kronen Zeitung.

As part of the new criteria they must show they have 'cultivated contacts' with a number of Swiss people.

There are also new language requirements, which vary depending on the canton they are living in.

Although not part of the European Union the Swiss Government has pledged to play its part in resettling families fleeing Syria.

In 2016, they announced they would take 3,000 asylum seekers from the war-torn country.

It was reported at the time that the country also aimed to settle up to 50,000 asylum seekers who had managed to make their way across the border and into Switzerland, mostly by crossing from with Italy following a perilous journey.