RELOCATION
REGISTRATION
- First things first: within 14 days of arriving you will need to register at your local municipal office in person for most cantons or by filling up an arrival form in Geneva. This first is essential for all the next steps – applying for your residence permit, opening a bank account, renting or buying a property, subscribing to health insurance, etc.
The type of residence permit you will receive will depend on your citizenship, the purpose and length of your stay in Switzerland and your financial situation.
EU/EFTA citizens benefit from easier application processes than non-EU citizens, who face strict conditions and are subject to quotas when it comes to work permits.
Make sure you are able to provide all the required documents and that you meet the conditions to obtain a permit before moving to Switzerland !
Residence permits:
The B permit or “autorisation de séjour” is a multifaceted residency and work permit delivered for specific reasons such as employment for skilled non-EU workers and EU-27/EFTA workers or residents, family reunification and retirees over 55 years old (art. 33 al. 2 LEI).
NB: After 5 years of residency in Switzerland holding a B permit, the fast-tracked C permit or “permit C anticipé” can in some cases be requested, if the applicant meets the integration requirements (art. 34 al. 4 LEI). After 10 years of residency in Switzerland, a C permit holder is allowed to apply for Swiss citizenship if the conditions are me
Where to start
Applying for a B permit or “autorisation de séjour” in Switzerland starts with the cantonal immigration authorities in charge of examining each application according to the law on Foreigners and Integration (LEI) and the “Ordonnance relative à l’admission, au séjour et à l’exercice d’une activité lucrative” (OASA).
For non-EU citizens, once approved by the cantonal authorities, the application is sent to the SEM (Secrétariat d’Etat aux Migrations) in Bern to be examined on a federal level for a final decision.
Different types of procedures and requirements exist depending on the purpose of your stay in Switzerland, as described below. In some cases, exceptions can be made for people who are particularly well integrated.
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