Temporary Residence Permits In Switzerland
Embarking on the Swiss adventure often begins with securing your golden ticket: a temporary residence permit. Need assistance with temporary residence permits? Don’t Worry! We’ve got you covered!
Whether you’re chasing career heights, academic excellence, or just the breathtaking Alpine views, understanding the Swiss permit puzzle is crucial. This guide slices through the complexity like a hot knife through fondue, offering you a clear path to calling Switzerland your temporary home.
Let’s dive in!
Why Apply For Swiss Temporary Residence Permit?
One must apply for a temporary residence permit to stay in Switzerland for over 180 days.
A foreigner is usually given 2 weeks to submit the temporary residence permit application to stay in Switzerland for longer than 3 months.
Staying in Switzerland legally has many advantages.
One can have the following opportunities by acquiring a temporary residence permit, which can also be the reasons why one would want to have a temporary residence permit in Switzerland:
✅One will get the right to have a legal work permit.
✅Swiss temporary residence permit also allows entrepreneurship.
✅One can also get the opportunity to invest in any business legally.
✅Family reunification can be applied for by having a temporary residence permit.
✅Also, one can pay tax in a lump sum.
✅One will be able to have a high standard of living in Switzerland.
✅Good-quality medical Insurance and access to medicine.
✅Travelling will come smoothly in various parts of Switzerland and Schengen countries.
✅One will be able to receive social benefits and additional guarantees.
Who Is Eligible For Switzerland Residence Permits?
Usually, issuing a residence permit in Switzerland involves considering the applicant’s nationality. The rules are different for people with EU or EFTA nationality and different for non-EU/EFTA.
So, the requirements for diverse nationalities are distinctive. They are more stringent for the non-EU/EFTA citizens of third-world countries regarding how many such non-EU/EFTA citizens can enter Switzerland annually; they are restricted to a certain number.
The rules are lax for EU/EFTA citizens because of the Free Movement of Persons Agreement that Switzerland has signed with various EU countries. So, no such limit is imposed on them that limits the number of entrances in Switzerland in a year.
The following table shows different permits that are issued to the EU/EFTA nationals on the left and different permits that can be issued to the residents of the third-world countries on the right:
| Swiss Permits Issued To EU/EFTA Nationals | Swiss Permits Issued To Third-World Nationals |
| EU/EFTA L Permit (short-stay permit) | B Permit (residence permit) |
| EU/EFTA B Permit (residence permit) | C Permit (settlement permit) |
| EU/EFTA C Permit (settlement permit) | Ci Permit (residence permit with employment) |
| EU/EFTA Ci Permit (residence permit with employment) | G Permit (cross border commuter permit) |
| EU/EFTA G Permit (cross-border commuter permit) | L Permit (short-stay permit) |
| F Permit (for temporarily admitted foreigners) | |
| N Permit (for asylum seekers) | |
| S Permit (for persons in need of protection) |
What Are The Different Types Of Swiss Temporary Residence Permits?
There are different types of residence permits; the two main categories are:
- Permanent Residence Permit
- Temporary Residence Permit
Even the two primary types of Swiss permits have subtypes that depend on one’s purpose of travel to Switzerland. The most commonly applied for Switzerland residence permits have been further explained below:
Permit L For Short-term Residence
The L Permit is for short-term residence in Switzerland, meaning it is valid for up to one year and can be renewed before the end of the first year for another year or at a maximum of 24 months.
People usually get this permit when they get a job in Switzerland and have to move there to work. Usually, company one has got the work in sponsors this permit.
However, if one changes jobs, one may not be able to renew the permit and might need to apply for the permit L again.
Permit B For Temporary Residence
The permit issuance period is different for EU and non-EU nationals. This permit allows the EU/EFTA nationals to stay for 5 years while it permits the non-EU/EFTA nationals to stay for one year in Switzerland.
This permit can also be renewed if needed. One will need this permit if one has received a job offer or acceptance from a credited Swiss university to any of their programs. Thus, one will need a B permit to move to Switzerland to work or study there.
However, a B permit may also have certain limitations and restrictions regarding the choice of the right canton or the specific job for which one has to work.
Permit G For Cross-border Commuting
This temporary Swiss residence permit is allotted to those individuals who live in another country but have to work in Switzerland. They are the type of workers who either commute on a daily or a weekly basis to Switzerland.
For G permit holders, it is mandatory to return to their country at least once a week. It also doesn’t grant the holder the same rights as a resident living in Switzerland on another permit.
The G permit can also be renewed after a year, and its validity stands for the duration of the work contract. However, it can only go up to five years.
Permit Ci For Temporary Residence
The Ci Permit is a temporary resident permit issued to inter-governmental organisations’ spouses and children (up to 25 years of age) or to official foreign embassy workers.
The holder of a Swiss Ci Permit can stay and work in Switzerland for the duration their parent or partner has been assigned as a foreign official in Switzerland.
Permit F For Provisionally Admitted Foreigners
The Swiss F Permit is issued to the people who have been provisionally admitted in Switzerland. Swiss authorities might have ordered them to leave, but they cannot due to a humanitarian concern.
Due to their need for help and protection from a threat, they have found refuge in Switzerland following international law. So, they are permitted to have permit F, which allows them to temporarily stay in Switzerland for 12 months.
Permit N For Asylum Seekers
The Swiss N Permit is given to those foreigners who have submitted the application for asylum in Switzerland and is still being processed.
As their asylum application is processed, the asylum seekers having the Permit N get to enjoy the same rights and benefits as Swiss residents. In some cases, they may also get a work permit for lucrative work.
Permit S For People In Need Of Protection
The individuals who are issued the Swiss Permit S are allowed to stay in Switzerland provisionally. However, they are not allowed to leave the country and return. They are also not entitled to the same rights as the Swiss residents.
The Permit S holder will also need permission to get or change the job. They must also send their S Permit and other valid documents related to their permits to any potential new employers that they want to work for.
How To Apply For Swiss Temporary Residence Permits?
The procedure for applying for a temporary resident Swiss permit is quite simple and easy. One would first need to contact the cantonal migration authorities or the employment in the residence where one lives in Switzerland.
One must contact the authorities within 2 weeks or 14 days of entering Switzerland to apply for a temporary resident permit.
- First of all, one will need to visit the resident’s registration office.
- One must submit the application form for the temporary resident permit with the required documents to the registration office.
- Visit the migration office in the canton where one resides and arrange to receive the resident permit.
What Documents Are Required For Applying For Swiss Temporary Residence Permits?
The number of documents required for the EU/EFTA applicants is small.
However, for the non-EU/EFTA applicants, one would need to submit the following documents together with the personal entry application:
- Valid non-expired passport.
- Recent photographs.
- Letter of acceptance from the Swiss institution if they want to acquire a temporary resident permit for studies.
- Proof of payment for tuition fees.
- Proof of sufficient financial resources for living expenses for their stay.
- Previous educational certificates.
- Written agreement to leave Switzerland after completion of studies or duration of the job.
- Additional documentation requiring language proficiency. Language proficiency is often evaluated based on a short interview at the consulate.
- Criminal record.
Can The Swiss Temporary Residence Permits Be Extended?
The Swiss temporary residence permit can be renewed or extended. One may apply for the renewal or extension with at least 2 weeks remaining in the expiration of the previous resident permit and at most 3 months before the expiry.
The process of renewal is simple enough. One would need to visit the canton of the residence and submit the following documents with their renewal application form:
- Current permit
- Valid Passport
- Notice of expiry
The Swiss temporary resident permit is issued for 2 years at maximum and is given the right of extension.
In most cases, if one lives in Switzerland for 10 years, one may acquire a permanent resident permit. After 12 years of continuous residence in Switzerland, one may also get Swiss citizenship.
What If The Swiss Temporary Resident Permit Has Been Stolen Or Lost?
One must report to the Swiss police immediately if one’s resident permit gets lost or stolen. After registering the complaint with the police, one must go to the registration office in one’s canton to register another loss notice.
One will also need to apply for the duplicate permit by providing the details of one’s passport and its copy and the passport photo. The costs will vary.
If, by any coincidence, one finds the lost resident permit, one must apply for the cancellation of the duplicate permit at the resident’s registration office.
Can One Stay In Switzerland On A Temporary Resident Permit After Separation From The Partner Or Partner’s Demise?
Suppose one had attained temporary residency in Switzerland at the behest of one’s partner. In that case, one has to first notify the migration authorities of the partner’s death or separation from the partner.
One can be allowed to stay in Switzerland after a separation from a partner or after the partner dies in the following cases:
For EU/EFTA Citizens
One can apply for the residency permit if one is an EU/EFTA citizen when one has:
- An excellent job in Switzerland.
- Sufficient financial resources to support oneself or any dependents one has.
For Citizens Of Third-World Countries
One can get one’s Swiss temporary resident permit as a national belonging to a third-world country in the case when one’s partner has died or separated when the following conditions have been met:
- One has been married for at least 3 years and has lived in the same household as the Swiss partner, who is a Swiss national.
- One is a law-abiding citizen.
- Has pursued education or training in a Swiss education institute.
- Or one has to stay in Switzerland for social reintegration or other issues like domestic violence, etc.
Conclusion
As the sun sets behind the Swiss Alps, your journey towards securing a temporary residence permit comes to a hopeful horizon. Armed with the right knowledge and documents, the path ahead is as clear as a Swiss lake.
Remember, every great Swiss tale starts with a single step—or in this case, a correctly filled application. Here’s to beginning your Swiss story with confidence and a sense of adventure.
Permit Achieved!
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