Spouse Visa In Switzerland: An Expats Guide
Navigating the serene landscapes of Switzerland with a loved one can transform from a dream to reality with the right paperwork—a spouse visa. But Fret Not! We’ve got your back!
Let’s face it, the journey through Swiss bureaucracy can feel more daunting than a climb up the Matterhorn. This guide is your Swiss Army knife, packed with everything you need to know about securing a spouse visa, ensuring your adventure in togetherness begins on a note as smooth as Swiss chocolate.
Let’s dive in!
Who Is Eligible For Swiss Spouse/Family Reunion Visa?
One can invite the spouse to live with them in Switzerland through the Swiss Family Reunion Visa. Asylum seekers cannot apply for a Swiss spouse or family reunion visa.
Also, one must have a residence permit to apply for a family reunion visa. Still, it’s not a compulsion that all residence permit holders can invite their family to Switzerland.
As in many cases, C permit holders might be allowed to apply for the family reunion visa, but the B permit is not flexible. Also, the final permission rests with the official Swiss migration authorities.
Eligibility For Family Of Swiss Residents/Citizens
Furthermore, one can only bring some family members to Switzerland at once. There are specific requirements and conditions.
If one is a Swiss resident or citizen and wants to apply for the family reunion visa, one can invite:
- One’s spouse or registered partner.
- One’s unmarried children and grandchildren who are younger than 18.
- Dependent children or grandchildren or other dependents under 21 if they have a residence permit from an EU/EFTA country.
- Dependent parents or grandparents if they have a residence permit from an EU/EFTA country.
Eligibility For Non-EU/EFTA Residents
If one is a non-EU/EFTA country citizen, one may be allowed to bring the following family members to Switzerland.
- Spouse or registered partner.
- Unmarried children under the age of 18.
What Are The Conditions For The Spouse/Family Reunion Visa in Switzerland?
Other than the eligibility criteria for Swiss residents applying for the Family Reunion Visa, other conditions should be keenly observed to avoid getting one’s visa rejected.
Some of the requirements have been given below for getting the Swiss spouse/family reunion visa accepted:
Official Registered Marriage
To invite one’s spouse to Switzerland through the family reunion visa, one needs to have an officially registered marriage that needs to be recognized by the Swiss authorities. One is only allowed to bring one’s partner if one is officially married to them.
Spacious Accommodation
Another reason that leads to the denial of the family reunion visa is needing a larger residence to support the accommodation of one’s spouse or children. The living space also must follow the Swiss standards.
So, to avoid getting the family reunion visa applications rejected, one should have a big enough residence that will be able to accommodate the entire family easily.
Financial Stability
The resident inviting the family to live with them in Switzerland must be financially stable and have enough resources to support the dependents. One must be on social assistance.
Suppose one does not have a job but is self-employed or unemployed. In that case, one must provide proof of sufficient financial resources to support the family members invited to Switzerland through the family reunion visa.
Valid Documents Of The Family
The family members invited to Switzerland need certain valid documents to ensure their identity and other information required by the authorities for the state’s security.
These documents may include:
- A valid ID card and passport
- A valid visa
- A certificate from one’s home country showing proof of the relationship with the Swiss resident.
- A certificate from the authorities of one’s home country proves one’s relationship with the dependents and proves they will love the applicant and depend on the Swiss resident.
Language Proficiency
Language proficiency is also a needed requirement for the approval of the Swiss family reunion visa. A certificate of enrolment in a language proficiency course will be required for one’s spouse if the spouse cannot speak at the A1 Language level.
If they can easily communicate with others and make themselves understood in the national language spoken where the Swiss resident lives, then the enrolment certificate will not be needed.
Time Restraints
One is usually given the time of 5 years, during which one can apply for family reunification. However, if the children are above the age of 12, then only 1 year is given for applying for a family reunion visa.
This short time limit is adhered to because the Swiss administration wants the family to integrate and assimilate quickly into Swiss culture and society.
Suppose one does not have a B or C permit and has been provisionally admitted to Switzerland with the F permit. In that case, one must wait three years before applying for family reunification or a spouse visa.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for all the residents of Switzerland, at least 30,000 CHF a year. Also, the health insurance is private.
Thus, all the souse and all the family members arriving in Switzerland will require separate, individual insurance contracts to reside in Switzerland legally.
What Are The Required Documents For The Switzerland Family Reunion Visa?
The visa application form usually mentions the required documents an applicant must provide.
The following are some of the required documents when applying for a Swiss family reunion visa:
- Valid passport and travel documents issued in the past ten years.
- Three copies of all the relevant passport pages: pages 1-4 and the last page, pages showing the date of issuance and expiry.
- Four passport-sized pictures.
- Recent biometric details have been done in the last 6 months.
- The spouse will require an international marriage certificate Form B with the original and 2 copies.
- Recognition certificates and authorization of their legal representatives will be required for the children. Both the original and 2 copies of each document will be required.
- The documents written in any language other than those of the official languages of Swiss must be notarized.
- Three copies of the Swiss residence permit, passport, or identity card of the spouse/partner living in Switzerland must also be provided.
- Two copies and the original, detailed extract of the personal registration certificate must also be translated into one of Switzerland’s official languages will need to be attached.
- Criminal record.
- International birth certificate Form B.
- Original and 2 copies of the domicile certificate will also be needed.
One must know that the Swiss authorities may ask for additional documents based on the applicant’s nationality.
What Is The Process To Apply For Swiss Family Reunion Visa?
After arriving in Switzerland, all foreign residents need residence permits. But before applying for residence permits in Switzerland, one has to apply for a Switzerland Family reunion visa in one’s home country.
All the applicants can submit the spouse visa or family reunion visa application forms with the required documents to the Swiss embassy or consulate. The completed and signed application forms in German, French, Italian, Spanish, or English are required.
The application forms can be easily downloaded online and printed after filling them out, or one can also find the application form in hardcopy at the Swiss embassy/consulate.
Applying for a spouse visa can be done by following this outline:
- Make an appointment at the consulate or embassy.
- Submitting the required documents.
- Paying the fee.
- Attending an interview.
- Getting the visa.
After the applicant submits the Switzerland Family Reunion Visa applications and documents, the Swiss authorities forward them to the cantonal immigration office in Switzerland, where the applicant will reside.
When the Swiss authorities decide, they will inform their Swiss representative. If the decision is to authorize and accept the visa, only then will the Swiss embassy or consulate contact the applicant and issue the Swiss Family Reunion Visa.
The whole visa application process for the spouse visa for the family reunion visa can be different for the following reasons:
- Permanent residents
- Temporary residents
- EU-EFTA/ Non-EU/EFTA residents
Application Process As A Family Member Of A Swiss Permanent Resident
The application method can differ for people of different nationalities and family members. If the family members need to stay longer than three months, they also need a residence permit.
So, after getting their family reunion visa applications approved, they can get the residence permit application when they arrive in Switzerland. Most foreign nationals must also have a long-stay Swiss visa to enter Switzerland.
The spouse or registered partner and children aged 12-18 will receive a B Permit with the same validity as one’s settlement permit. They will also be allowed to work but must register with the cantonal immigration and labour market authorities.
Children under 12 will receive a settlement permit, also known as Permit C.
Application Process For Swiss Family Reunion Visa For Family Members Of Temporary Residence Holders
Permits L and B are temporary residency visas. They are usually issued for one year, but the B Permit can also be extended for two years annually, while the L permit can only be extended once.
Like the family members of C Permits, B-Permit family members must also apply for a long-stay visa for a family reunion at the Swiss embassy or the consulate in one’s own country of residence.
The visa application procedure is almost the same as for the B-permits. However, one will need to contact the local cantonal authorities first to see whether they will permit to bring one’s family members to live in Switzerland.
If permission is granted, the family members, after arriving in Switzerland, will need to register with the cantonal immigration and workforce authorities and get their residence permits.
Application Process For Swiss Family Reunion Visa For Family Members Of EU/EFTA Citizens And Non-EU/EFTA Citizens
If the EU/EFTA citizen can easily accommodate the family members in the same living space, apartment/house, and can financially support them, then they will be allowed to
bring their family members to Switzerland.
The exact Switzerland Family Reunion Visa application requirements and process apply to the family members of non-EU/EFTA nationals, but they’ll need to adhere to stricter requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Apply For A Swiss Visa?
The following table shows the visa fee due at the time of the application. When it is submitted, it cannot be refunded.
The Swiss representation has the right to change the fees amounts at any time due to currency exchange rate fluctuations and economic conditions.
| Swiss Visa Category | Fee In CHF | Fee in USD* |
| Adults | 86.7 | 96$ |
| Children between 6-12 years | 43.29 | 48$ |
| Children younger than 6 years | Free | Free |
| Holders of diplomatic, official passports | Free | Free |
| A family member of an EU/EEA national | Free | Free |
| Students and accompanying teachers during a school trip | Free | Free |
| Researchers | Free | Free |
| Nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. | 37.87 | 42$ |
Conclusion
And there you have it—a roadmap through the twists and turns of obtaining a spouse visa in Switzerland. With patience, the right documentation, and a bit of Swiss precision, you and your partner can start carving out your future in this picturesque country.
Remember, every epic tale in Switzerland starts with a single step—or in this case, a well-filled form. So, strap on your hiking boots, and let’s make those dreams of Alpine living a reality.
Bonded Borders!
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