The owner of a permanent residence permit (permit C) is equated in economic rights to the citizens of the Confederation. However, in cases stipulated by law, it may be annulled or removed.
A characteristic feature of a permanent residence permit is its indefiniteness. However, in Switzerland the document is formally updated every 5 years.
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A foreigner entering Switzerland for the first time cannot immediately apply for a C permit. It must be preceded by a time spent in a country with a different type of permit.
There is only one exception - it only applies to professors who are invited to work at Swiss universities. It does not apply to any other cases.
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Requirements for permanent residence permit in Switzerland:
Conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Switzerland (general procedure):
- Legal stay in the country for 10 years (no interruption of residence for the last 5 years). Important: some types of stay in Switzerland do not count towards the term;
- No grounds for the annulment of the permit (for example, a criminal record is taken into account for both Swiss and foreign convictions).
Conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Switzerland (special procedure due to successful integration):
- Legal stay in the Confederation for 5 years - important: some types of stay in Switzerland are not included;
- The presence of successful integration.
Staying in Switzerland on a Schengen visa does not count.
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How to extend your permit?
Apply to your community of residence along with the following documents:
- Your current permit;
- Your passport (valid for at least three months after the permit expires)
- Notification of the expiration of the permit, if you have received it from the cantonal migration authorities.
You can apply for renewal of the permit no earlier than three months and no later than two weeks before the expiration of the permit.
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Stay in Switzerland after the divorce or death of your partner:
If you received a residence permit in Switzerland at the time of family reunification, but you have divorced the person who granted you the right for residence, or that person has died, your permit may not be renewed.
However, you can still stay in Switzerland if you have a type C permit.
If you have a residence permit (permit B), you can also stay on the following conditions:
EU / EFTA citizens:
- You can apply for a permit if you work or have sufficient resources to ensure your financial independence.
Citizens of third countries:
- You can get permission to extend the validity of your permit if:
- You have been married for at least three years and have lived in the same household with your husband (Swiss or foreign national),
- You are well integrated in Switzerland (impeccable reputation, good communication skills, desire to work or continue your education or training), or
- You need to stay in Switzerland for important personal reasons (e.g., social reintegration in the country of origin is severely disrupted, domestic violence).
A Swiss citizen or an owner of the Residence permit who wants to bring foreign family members to Switzerland can apply for a family reunification.
Depending on the residence permit, family reunification is a right or option left to the discretion of the authorities. Unlike a C permit, a B permit does not necessarily give you the right to family reunification, which, however, can also be granted by the authorities.
Shelter seekers do not have the right to apply for a family reunification.
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Who has the right for family reunification?
You cannot bring all your family members to Switzerland. The degree of family reunification depends on the country of origin.
If you are a Swiss citizen, you can invite these family members:
- Your husband/wife or a registered partner;
- Your underage children and grandchildren (or under the age of 21 or on dependence if they are citizens of member states of the EU/EFTA);
- Your parents, grandparents that are on your dependence and are citizens of EU/EFTA (if you are not receiving an education);
If you are a citizen of member states of the EU/EFTA, you can bring these family members:
- Your husband/wife or a registered partner;
- Your children and grandchildren under the age of 21 or on your dependence;
- Your parents, grandparents that are on your dependence (if you are not receiving an education).
If you are a citizen of a third country, you can bring these family members:
- Your husband/wife or a registered partner;
- Your children under the age of 18.
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Conditions to be eligible for family reunification in Switzerland:
Your marriage or registered partnership must be recognized by Switzerland. Even if you have a Swiss passport, you cannot bring your partner with you unless you are officially married.
To avoid being denied in family reunification, you must have enough space (by Swiss standards) to accommodate the whole family.
If you are self-employed or unemployed, you must also provide evidence of sufficient financial resources to support your family members.
Your family members arriving in Switzerland must have:
- Valid ID-card or passport;
- Visa if necessary;
- A certificate from the country of origin confirming your relationship;
- For people, dependent on you: a certificate from the authorities of the country of origin or confirmation that they are dependent or have lived with you;
- For your spouse, a certificate of enrollment in language courses if they cannot understand the national language (A1 level at least).
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Time limits
You usually have five years to apply for family reunification, but only one year if concerns children over 12, so that they can integrate more quickly into the Swiss society.
If you have been temporarily admitted to Switzerland (permit F), you must wait at least three years before applying for family reunification.
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Where to apply for family reunification in Switzerland:
You need to contact the following cantonal immigration authorities:
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/sem/kontakt/kantonale_behoerden/adressen_kantone_und.html.
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Rights and responsibilities in family reunification:
If the application for family reunification was accepted, members of your family would be issues a residence permit (its time usually depends on your status).
Accept you parents or grandparents, members of your family are allowed to work in Switzerland. However, owners of short-term residence permits (type L) have to firstly apply for an employment permit in a competent cantonal authority.
Children joining you in Switzerland have to attend free compulsory education until at least the age of 16. The system differs in various cantons.
Health insurance is compulsory and private in Switzerland. Don’t forget to sign a contract for each member of your family.
Naturalization allows a foreign citizen to obtain Swiss citizenship. The procedure differs in each individual case.
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What is naturalization?
Naturalization is the last step in the process of integration into the Swiss lifestyle. This gives you the right to vote and stand for election.
As Switzerland recognizes dual citizenship, applicants for a Swiss passport do not risk losing their original citizenship, provided that the country of origin also allows dual citizenship.
There is the usual naturalization procedure and the simplified naturalization procedure for people who are already members of a Swiss family.
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Usual naturalization
Who can apply?
- Owners of residence permit (type C);
- Individuals, who have a registered partnership with a Swiss citizen.
What are the requirements for the place of residence?
The federal law demands you to have lived at least 10 years in Switzerland, including three out of five years before application.
Time spent in Switzerland between the ages of 8 and 18 is counted twice, but you cannot apply for naturalization until you have lived in the country for at least 6 years.
Depending on the canton, you must also have lived in your community or canton for two to five years before you can apply for naturalization.
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What are the individual requirements?
The Swiss law provides that citizenship can be granted to individuals that are:
- Successfully integrated into the Swiss society;
- Acquainted with the Swiss lifestyle;
- Do not present any danger for internal or external security of Switzerland;
Requirements for obtaining citizenship rights differ greatly in cantons and communes.
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How much does it cost to apply for naturalization?
The pay may vary significantly depending on the canton and the commune but in general it is:
- Commune: from 500 to 1000 francs per person
- Canton: up to 2000 francs per person
- Confederation:
Spouses with or without underage children: 150 francs
Single person with or without underage children: 100 francs
Underage person: 50 francs
In addition, a fee is charged for the necessary documents (certificate of residence, extract from the criminal record, extract from the register of debt collection, etc.).
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What is the procedure of naturalization?
You ought to apply to the canton or commune of your residence. To find out, where to get an application form, check the website of your canton or commune.
After applying you will be invited for a personal interview, where you will be presented with the following steps of the procedure.
Procedure varies greatly from canton to canton but you will definitely need to prove your knowledge of the national language. Some authorities will demand you to take written or oral exams in the process of naturalization in order to check your knowledge of Switzerland and your canton.
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How much time does the procedure take?
The duration of the procedure is variable. To get more detailed information, please, address your local cantonal or communal authority.
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Simplified naturalization
Who can apply?
- Husband or wife of a Swiss citizen;
- A child of a Swiss citizen;
- Until February 15, 2023 – a person under the age of 40 who is a member of a foreign family that had lived in Switzerland for 3 generations (starting February 15, 2023 the age limit is going to be decreased to 25);
- An underage person without a citizenship;
- An individual who had lost Swiss citizenship (e.g., after getting married to a person of a different nationality).
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What are the requirements for the place of residence?
In order to apply for a simplified naturalization you do not need to have lived as much time in Switzerland as when applying for usual naturalization. The required period of time varies in each individual case.
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What are the individual requirements?
General requirements are the same as in case of usual naturalization. Additionally, there are conditions that vary depending on your situation. You can find more detailed information on a website of the State Secretariat for Migration How do I become a Swiss citizen:
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/integration-einbuergerung/schweizer-werden/verheiratet.html.
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How much does it cost?
The pay for simplified naturalization in Switzerland varies depending on age:
- 250 francs for individuals under the age of 12;
- 650 francs for individuals above the age of 12;
- 900 francs for adults.
The full amount must be paid in advance and will not be refunded if the application is rejected.
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What is the procedure of naturalization?
The application for simplified naturalization must be sent to the State Secretariat for Migration in the official form. You can order this form by sending an email to SEM and it will be delivered by mail to your home address.
The documents that also need to be provided vary depending on the case.
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How much time does the procedure take?
The simplified naturalization procedure takes a year and a half on average.
The purchase of real estate in Switzerland does not guarantee obtaining a residence permit or its renewal.
Under the investment migration program, a temporary residence permit is initially issued on the basis of investments. The permanent residence permit of Switzerland is issued later on general grounds.
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What are the advantages of getting a residence permit in exchange for investment?
Switzerland's investment residence permit program may be of interest to the citizens of third countries. They acquire the right to live and work here on the basis of their economic investment in the economy of a canton (and, consequently, Switzerland as a whole). Investors' children have the opportunity to study in Switzerland (both in private and public school or university).
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How much does a residence permit in Switzerland cost?
The criteria on the basis of which the cantonal authorities evaluate the investment are diverse. They are determined by extensive administrative and judicial practice. The main ones are:
- The nature of the investment (scope of future business);
- Economic indicators (expected business profit);
- Creation of new workplaces;
- Professional qualities of the investor.
Important! There is no fixed amount for which you can automatically obtain a Swiss residence permit, unlike in other countries.
Switzerland has a different mechanism. Each application is considered individually. Everything is important here: the size of the investment, its technological potential, and the optimization of the application by a lawyer.
The cantonal authorities usually request the following documents (incomplete list):
- Resume of the investor;
- Business plan (which presents a picture of the company's development for at least 3 years);
- Documents confirming the availability of funds for the full functioning of the business;
- Real estate lease agreements or property certificates;
- Employment contracts with local residents; the salary of employees must correspond to at least the average value of the relevant sector of the economy;
- Information about an already registered company (if any).
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Can you obtain Swiss citizenship for investments?
These procedures are not tied directly. After obtaining a residence permit, the investor remains a foreigner. However, if you meet all the requirements, you may obtain a type C residence permit first and then a Swiss passport (in the usual order).
Swiss citizenship cannot be bought. However, in fact, wealthy foreigners can obtain a residence permit in Switzerland. This permit can be obtained by agreeing with the cantonal authorities to pay a lump-sum tax.
The lump-sum tax in Switzerland (also called the "chord tax" or "expense tax") allows foreigners to obtain a local residence permit.
Important! This residence permit does not provide an employment permit.
This tax regime can be used only by foreign citizens who have not previously been taxed in Switzerland for at least the last 10 years by ordinary taxes. The following points are taken into account:
- Individuals with dual citizenship, one of whom is Swiss, are excluded from the list of applicants. For them, the only way out is to renounce Swiss citizenship.
- If the applicants are married, they must not be Swiss citizens.
- Only newly arrived foreigners (those who have either never lived in the Confederation or who have lived abroad before moving here for at least 10 years) can claim the lump-sum tax in Switzerland.
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Financial requirements for lump-sum tax payers:
To be able to obtain a residence permit in Switzerland by paying a lump-sum tax, you must meet the financial requirements of local authorities. As each payer is an individual case, it is impossible to talk about any exact tax rates.
But the annual tax burden will average at 295,000 francs.
This amount is divided between three levels of government: the federation, the canton and local communities (Gemeinde).
For EU / EFTA citizens, obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland through lump-sum taxation is of great financial benefit. The taxpayer must have an income of at least 500,000 francs and a capital of 10 million francs. As a result, additional 141,000 francs will be received by the cantonal treasury.
Extremely important: in other parts of Switzerland the tax burden may be lower: there are cantons where only about 120,000 francs a year will have to be paid.
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Difficulties in obtaining a residence permit in exchange for a lump-sum tax
Due to political considerations, not everyone will be approved by the cantonal authorities, even if they have the money.
According to the current practice, the migration authorities prefer to deal with a candidate represented by a local lawyer who has already worked on "optimizing the client's file". The cantonal authorities do not contact agents, lawyers and representatives located outside Swiss jurisdiction.
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After reaching retirement age, foreigners can move to Switzerland. The 55-year mark is valid for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit as a pensioner.
Cases of obtaining a residence permit as a pensioner are quite rare. The point is not even that the pensioner needs to prove the availability of significant funds to cover their expenses in the Alpine Republic. The obstacle is often the decision of the Swiss Federal Administrative Court.
That is why each case (before the submission of documents) must be studied in detail and "optimized" by a lawyer.
Extremely important: staying in Switzerland on these grounds implies that you will not be able to work here. Exceptions to this prohibition are few and must be justified.
The Federal Council of Switzerland has made a decision to activate a temporary protection status “S” for citizens of Ukraine, who were forced to leave their country due to the war, starting on 12.03.2022.
A temporary protective status “S” allows the citizens of Ukraine to live in Switzerland up to one year with a further extension of the length of stay.
Switzerland provides exceptions for citizens of Ukraine without a biometric travel document and without a visa in cases where there are no valid reasons against entry.
Additionally, Ukrainians, that do not obtain a travel document, but can prove that they had left the country due to war will be able to enter Switzerland.
Protective status “S” can be issued not only to Ukrainian citizens and their families, but also to citizens of third countries, who had left the country because of war. A compulsory requirement for application is the presence of a valid residence permit in Ukraine and the impossibility of return back to the country of their origin.
Protective status “S” will not apply to individuals who had already obtained a protective status in any other member state of the EU.
Information letter “Protective status S” (UKR).
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Advantages of the protective status “S”
Protective status “S” grants the victims a right for temporary housing, social aid and medical care. Children can go to school. The owners of the “S” status have the opportunity to engage in paid work (including self-employment) without a waiting period.
Those individuals, who will obtain protective status “S” will be able to travel abroad and return back to Switzerland without a travel permit.
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How to obtain a temporary protective status “S”?
In order to do this, you need to register at a federal center of the shelter: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home.html.
Switzerland