Permits L, B, C, G, F, S, N and Ci at a glance — legal basis, validity, employment and family reunification under the FNIA and the AFMP.
Switzerland does not have a single residence permit but a set of foreign nationals identity documents with different legal bases, periods of validity and legal effects. Anyone planning to work, study, bring family members or settle here first needs to know which permit is available for their situation. This overview classifies the eight categories that matter in practice and links to the corresponding detailed page.
The first decisive factor is nationality. Nationals of the EU and EFTA are covered by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU (SR 0.142.112.681). Neither quotas nor priority for domestic workers apply to them; with an employment contract or sufficient financial means there is in principle an entitlement to the permit. Third-country nationals, by contrast, are subject to the admission rules of Art. 18 to 26 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA, SR 142.20), with maximum numbers, a priority test, wage control and qualification requirements.
The second distinction is between permits under migration law (L, B, C, G) and documents that record a status under asylum or protection law (F, S, N). Permit Ci is a special case for family members of staff of foreign missions. This distinction affects access to employment, family reunification, freedom to travel and later naturalisation.
Note. This page provides general orientation. Which permit applies in an individual case and which requirements must be evidenced depends on nationality, purpose of stay, canton and personal circumstances.
Who is eligible
- Permit L — short-stay permit under Art. 32 FNIA for limited stays of up to one year, for example project assignments, internships or seasonal work. Under Art. 32 para. 3 FNIA an extension up to two years is possible, while a change of employer is only permitted for important reasons. See the page on the short-stay permit L.
- Permit B — residence permit under Art. 33 FNIA for stays of more than one year. The permit is limited in time and is extended if no grounds for revocation under Art. 62 FNIA exist. It is the standard permit for employees, students and family members admitted through reunification. Details on the page residence permit B.
- Permit C — settlement permit under Art. 34 FNIA. It is unlimited in time and granted without conditions. The document itself is periodically renewed, but the right of residence remains. Requirements and time limits are set out on the page settlement permit C.
- Permit G — cross-border commuter permit under Art. 35 FNIA for persons resident abroad who work in Switzerland. Under Art. 35 para. 2 FNIA they must return to their place of residence abroad at least once a week; for third-country nationals the restriction to the border zone under Art. 25 FNIA applies in addition. More on the page cross-border commuter permit G.
- Permit F — temporary admission under Art. 83 FNIA. An important clarification applies here. Temporary admission is not a residence permit but a substitute measure where removal cannot be enforced. Permit F documents this status but does not create a right of residence within the meaning of Art. 32 to 34 FNIA.
- Permit S — temporary protection under Art. 66 et seq. of the Asylum Act (AsylA, SR 142.31). The Federal Council grants protection collectively for a defined group of persons. Under Art. 74 para. 2 AsylA, persons in need of protection receive a cantonal residence permit if the Federal Council has not lifted temporary protection after five years.
- Permit N — asylum seekers during pending asylum proceedings. The document certifies the right to be present until a final decision, nothing more. Employment is possible at the earliest after the first three months and only with a cantonal authorisation.
- Permit Ci for spouses and children of members of foreign missions and intergovernmental organisations. It allows gainful employment in Switzerland and is tied to the function of the principal holder.
Requirements in detail
For EU and EFTA nationals it is generally sufficient to provide evidence of an employment relationship or, for persons not in gainful employment, of sufficient financial means and health insurance. The permit is declaratory in nature; the entitlement follows directly from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. The authority examines neither an overall economic interest nor qualifications.
For third-country nationals admission to the labour market is regulated far more narrowly. Under Art. 18 FNIA, employment is only permissible if it serves the overall economic interest, if an employer submits an application and if the further requirements are met. On top of this come the maximum numbers under Art. 20 FNIA, which the Federal Council sets and which are allocated to the Confederation and the cantons. Art. 21 FNIA additionally requires evidence of priority for domestic workers and for nationals of states covered by the free movement agreement. Art. 22 FNIA requires salary and employment conditions customary for the location, occupation and sector. Under Art. 23 FNIA only managers, specialists and other qualified workers are in principle eligible. Self-employment is governed by Art. 19 FNIA.
Regardless of the category, the authority examines the integration criteria under Art. 58a FNIA, that is respect for public security and order, respect for the values of the Federal Constitution, language skills and participation in economic life or acquisition of education. Family reunification is governed by Art. 42 to 44 FNIA depending on the status of the sponsoring person. In special constellations a permit may be granted on grounds of serious personal hardship under Art. 30 para. 1 let. b FNIA.
Three levels of government are involved. The Confederation, specifically the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), sets the maximum numbers and in certain cases gives its approval to the cantonal permit. The canton decides on the application, with the labour market authority issuing the labour market decision and the migration office granting the permit. The municipality registers the person at their place of residence and issues the registration confirmation.
The procedure step by step
- Clarify the purpose of stay and the category, in particular whether the free movement agreement or the FNIA applies.
- For gainful employment of third-country nationals, the employer submits the application with the employment contract, job description and evidence for the priority test to the cantonal labour market authority.
- The cantonal labour market authority issues the labour market decision and examines Art. 21 to 23 FNIA as well as the availability of quota units.
- The cantonal migration office decides on the permit and, where required, forwards the file to the SEM for approval.
- For persons subject to a visa requirement, the Swiss representation abroad issues the entry visa once authorised by the cantonal authority.
- After entry, registration with the municipality of residence must take place within the period provided for by cantonal law, as a rule within 14 days and before taking up employment.
- The cantonal migration office records the biometric data and issues the foreign nationals identity card in credit card format.
- An extension must be requested from the cantonal migration office in good time before expiry; the deadlines vary by canton and are frequently between two weeks and three months before expiry.
Required documents
- Valid passport or recognised identity card, in some categories with a minimum remaining validity
- Recent passport photograph meeting the biometric requirements
- Employment contract or confirmation of employment; for self-employment a business plan and evidence of funding
- Evidence for the priority test in the case of third-country nationals, such as job advertisements and an assessment of applications
- Diplomas, references from previous employers and evidence of professional qualifications
- Tenancy agreement or confirmation of accommodation
- Proof of health insurance under Swiss law
- Civil status documents for family reunification, depending on the country of origin with an apostille or legalisation and a certified translation
- Proof of sufficient financial means for persons not in gainful employment and for students
- Language certificate where the canton or the category requires one
Duration and costs
The following table compares the eight categories. It shows the typical arrangement; in an individual case diverging rules of the free movement agreement or cantonal practice may apply.
| Permit | Validity | Gainful employment | Family reunification |
|---|
| L (Art. 32 FNIA) | up to one year, extendable up to two years | tied to purpose and position, change of employer only for important reasons | only exceptionally, suitable accommodation and means required |
| B (Art. 33 FNIA) | limited, usually one year, as a rule five years for EU/EFTA employees | permitted, for third-country nationals tied to the admission decision | entitlement under Art. 44 FNIA or under the free movement agreement |
| C (Art. 34 FNIA) | unlimited, the document is renewed periodically | free, without labour market restrictions | entitlement under Art. 43 FNIA |
| G (Art. 35 FNIA) | tied to the employment contract, as a rule five years for EU/EFTA | in Switzerland, for third-country nationals limited to the border zone under Art. 25 FNIA | no reunification in Switzerland, residence remains abroad |
| F (Art. 83 FNIA) | twelve months, extendable by the canton, not a permit | permitted with authorisation or notification | only after several years and under narrow conditions |
| S (Art. 66 et seq. AsylA) | one year, extendable, residence permit after five years under Art. 74 para. 2 AsylA | excluded during the first three months, thereafter governed by the FNIA | for spouses and minor children according to SEM practice |
| N | for the duration of the asylum proceedings | at the earliest after three months and only with cantonal authorisation | not provided for during the proceedings |
| Ci | tied to the function of the member of the mission | permitted, with notification to the competent authorities | depends on the status of the principal holder |
Fees are set by cantonal law and differ considerably. For issuance or extension expect roughly CHF 100 to 200 depending on the canton; additional fees apply to labour market decisions and to applications subject to federal approval. Processing times also vary by canton. Procedures under the free movement agreement are frequently completed within a few weeks, whereas admissions of third-country nationals involving a priority test and SEM approval regularly take longer.
Rights and obligations
Every permit is issued by a canton and is valid for its territory. Moving to another canton requires an application for a change of canton under Art. 37 FNIA. If another canton grants a permit, the previous one expires under Art. 61 FNIA. A permit likewise expires upon deregistration abroad or when its period of validity ends.
Ongoing obligations include notifying changes of address, civil status and employer, applying for an extension in good time and cooperating in the proceedings. The foreign nationals identity card must be presented on request. Rights differ considerably between categories, in particular regarding access to the labour market, occupational and geographical mobility, family reunification and travel.
Anyone permanently dependent on social assistance, convicted of serious offences or providing false information in the proceedings risks revocation under Art. 62 FNIA; for the settlement permit the narrower conditions of Art. 63 FNIA apply. After the dissolution of the family unit, further residence is governed by Art. 50 FNIA.
Common reasons for refusal
- The maximum numbers under Art. 20 FNIA have already been exhausted for the year in question.
- Priority for domestic workers under Art. 21 FNIA was not sufficiently documented.
- Salary or working conditions do not match the level customary for the location, occupation and sector under Art. 22 FNIA.
- The qualifications do not meet the requirements of Art. 23 FNIA.
- Financial means are not evidenced or there is dependence on social assistance.
- Grounds for revocation under Art. 62 FNIA exist, for example criminal convictions.
- The integration criteria under Art. 58a FNIA are not met, in particular a lack of language skills.
- The file is incomplete, documents are not translated or not authenticated.
What to do if your application is refused
A negative decision is issued as an appealable ruling with instructions on legal remedies. The time limit for appeals against cantonal rulings is as a rule 30 days from notification, as is the time limit for appeals to the cantonal administrative court or to the Federal Administrative Court. The instructions on legal remedies contained in the specific ruling are always decisive.
Before the Federal Supreme Court it must be noted that an appeal in public law matters is excluded in permit cases where there is no legal entitlement to the permit. In such cases the subsidiary constitutional appeal remains available. It is often worth examining, before filing an appeal, whether a fresh application with more complete documentation or a different legal basis leads to the goal more reliably. The procedure is set out in detail in the article on challenging administrative decisions.
When legal advice makes sense
Legal support makes a difference where time limits are running or where discretion is exercised. This applies in particular to appeals against a ruling within 30 days, hardship applications under Art. 30 para. 1 let. b FNIA, revocation proceedings under Art. 62 and 63 FNIA and cases in which the authority assesses the integration criteria or priority under Art. 21 FNIA differently from the employer.
Legal assistance is equally useful in matters of evidence, for example demonstrating that recruitment within Switzerland was unsuccessful, documenting a case of hardship or establishing uninterrupted residence for the settlement permit. Changes of canton under Art. 37 FNIA, changes from one permit category to another and the coordination of family reunification with employment regularly raise questions that cannot be answered from the statutory text alone. Sobiera Legal Consulting handles these proceedings with fees according to the scope of the mandate.
Related topics
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Which residence permits exist in Switzerland?
Switzerland issues the short-stay permit L, the residence permit B, the settlement permit C and the cross-border commuter permit G. In addition there are permits F (temporary admission), S (temporary protection), N (asylum seekers during proceedings) and Ci for family members of staff of foreign missions. Which one applies depends on nationality, purpose of stay and intended duration.
What is the difference between permit B and permit C?
Permit B under Art. 33 FNIA is limited in time and is extended as long as no grounds for revocation exist. Permit C under Art. 34 FNIA is unlimited in time and granted without conditions. A settlement permit may only be revoked under the narrow conditions of Art. 63 FNIA.
Do different rules apply to EU and EFTA nationals?
Yes. They are covered by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (SR 0.142.112.681). There are no quotas and no priority for domestic workers, and with an employment contract or sufficient financial means and health insurance there is in principle an entitlement to the permit. Third-country nationals are subject to the admission requirements of Art. 18 et seq. FNIA.
Is permit F a residence permit?
No. Temporary admission under Art. 83 FNIA is not a permit but a substitute measure where removal cannot be enforced. It is ordered for twelve months and extended by the canton. Permit F documents this status but does not create a right of residence within the meaning of Art. 32 to 34 FNIA.
Can I move to another canton with my permit?
Permits are issued by a canton and are valid for that canton. Moving requires an application for a change of canton under Art. 37 FNIA. The existing permit expires as soon as another canton grants a permit (Art. 61 FNIA).
How long does it take to obtain the settlement permit C?
Under Art. 34 para. 2 FNIA usually after a total of ten years holding permit L or B, of which the last five years continuously with permit B. Under Art. 34 para. 4 FNIA the permit may be granted after five years of uninterrupted residence with permit B if the integration requirements are met and the national language spoken at the place of residence is well mastered.
What does a residence permit cost?
Fees are charged by the cantons and differ. For issuance or extension expect roughly CHF 100 to 200 depending on the canton, with additional fees for labour market decisions. The cantonal fee schedule is always decisive.