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Home >> Visa Informations Switzerland >> Stay or Residence Permit Visa in Switzerland


Stay or Residence Permit
Stay or residence permits are issued to persons resident in Switzerland for a long period for a certain purpose with or without any employment. These permits are generally issued for a period of 1 year and renewed on annual basis unless there is reason against its renewal.

Types of Stay Permit
Permit B Residence Permit
Permit C Settlement Permit
Permit C1 Residence Permit With Gainful Employment Permit F Provisionally Admitted Foreigners
Permit G Cross-Border Commuter Permit
Permit L Short-Term Residence Permit
Permit N Permit For Asylum-Seekers
Permit S People In Need of Protection

Permit B : Residence Permit for Third Country Nationals
As a rule, the period of validity of residence permit is limited to one year when the permit is granted for the first time. First-time permit for paid employment may only be issued within the limits of the ceilings and in compliance with Arts. 7-11 BVO. A legal entitlement to the renewal of an annual permit only exists in certain cases. In practice, an annual permit is normally renewed.

Permit C : Settlement Permit

Settlement Permit is issued to those persons who have been residents of Switzerland for 5 or 10 years. The right to settle in Switzerland is not subject to any restrictions and must not be tied to any conditions. As a rule after 10 years of regular and uninterrupted residence in Switzerland a person is granted Settlement Permit. Persons who hold settlement permits are free to choose their employers, and are not taxed at source.

Permit C1 : Residence Permit with Gainful Employment

The residence permit with gainful employment is issued to the family members of the intergovernmental organisations and for members of foreign representations. Family member include the spouse and children up to 21 years of age. The validity. of the permit is limited to the duration of the main holder's function.

Permit F : Provisionally Admitted Foreigners

Provisionally admitted persons are those who have been ordered to return from Switzerland to their native countries but in whose cases the enforcement of this order has proved inadmissible, unreasonable (concrete endangerment of the foreign national) or impossible (for technical reasons of enforcement).

Thus their provisional admission constitutes a substitute measure. Provisional admission can be ordered for duration of twelve months; the canton of residence may extend it for another twelve months at a time.

Provided that the situation on the labor market and in the economy in general allow for it, provisionally admitted persons are basically granted work permits for paid employment as an employee.

Provisionally admitted foreign nationals can only be granted annual residence permits (B permits) in cases of grave personal hardship. Provisionally admitted persons have no right of application.

Permit G : Cross-border Commuter Permit

Persons holding permanent residence permits in a neighbouring country and have had their regular place of residence in the neighboring country's border zone for at least six months are, entitled for this permit. In addition, they must fulfill the labour market requirements.

When this permit is granted for the first time, it is basically valid for one year, and its validity is limited to the border zone of the canton which has issued it. Moreover, such third-country border commuters require permission to change jobs or occupations. Cross-border commuters must return to their main,place of residence at least once a week.

Permit L : Short-term Residence Permit

Short-term residence permit is issued to persons who want to ,reside in Switzerland for; a limited, period of time, usually less than a year but more than 3 months, for a certain purpose with or without paid employment. The period of validity of the permit is identical with the term of the employment contract.

In exceptional cases, this permit can be extended to an overall duration of not more than 24 months, provided the holder works for the same employer throughout this time.

Employment as basic and advanced training practicals in Switzerland are also regarded as short-term residences. Permits, which are granted to persons who are gainfully employed for a total of no more than four months within one calendar year, are not subject to the quota regulation.

Trainees are also granted short-term residence permits. The period of validity of the permit is limited to one year but can be extended by another six months in exceptional cases.

Trainees are persons who are aged 18-30, have completed their occupational training and want to undergo some advanced occupational or linguistic training in the context of gainful employment in Switzerland. Trainees are subject to special rules, which have been laid down in special treaties. Thus, they are subject to special quotas, and the legal provisions concerning national priority are not applicable to them.

Permit N : Asylum-Seekers
Asylum-seekers are persons who have applied for asylum in Switzerland and whose application is being processed. During the asylum proceeding, they are basically entitled to be resident in Switzerland.

Under certain circumstances, they can be permitted to pursue gainful employment as an employee.

Permit S : People in Need of Protection

This permit entitles holders to stay in Switzerland provisionally, but not to cross the border and return to Switzerland. The duration of its validity does not entail any right of residence.

Any employment and change of jobs requires prior permission. If holders of this permit apply for a job, they will have to show this permit to the prospective employer. The permit must be submitted to the competent cantonal authority, without their requesting for it, two weeks before its validity expires.

The competent authority must be notified of any change of address within eight days.

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