Eligibility quiz
Do you have a parent who is a Swiss citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Switzerland
You can live in Switzerland with your Swiss family member for as long as your residence permit is valid.
Study in Switzerland
You can attend school, vocational training or study in Switzerland, under the usual rules of the school or institution.
Work in Switzerland
You can work in Switzerland for an employer or for yourself without a separate work permit.
Permanent residence under 12
Children under 12 are entitled to a settlement permit, which gives them permanent residence.
Spouses may qualify after five years of uninterrupted lawful residence if they have obeyed the law and meet the integration conditions.
Rent a home
You can rent housing in Switzerland.
Vote in elections
Depending on where you live and other conditions, you may be able to vote on cantonal or local matters.
Get financial support
If you need financial help, you may be able to receive social assistance.
Depending on it can put your permit at risk, but losing your permit is not automatic.
If you work, you enter the social insurance system; your employer generally arranges accident insurance if your work meets the required threshold.
How to apply
From outside SwitzerlandFrom outside Switzerland
Find your consulate
Find the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for the place where you live. If you do not need a visa, ask it how to seek permission to live in Switzerland before you move.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Swiss embassy or consulate handles family reunification visa applications for someone living in your city?”
Download the application form
If you need a visa, download the national type-D visa application form.
Download the formFill in the form
Complete, date and sign the form, choosing “Family reunion” and giving your Swiss address and relationship to your parent. If you are a child, ask your parent or guardian to help you complete and sign it as required.
Get help with the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in and sign the Switzerland national visa application form for family reunification as a child?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsArrange an appointment
Arrange an appointment with the consulate or its booking provider if one is required.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange an appointment for a Switzerland family reunification visa at the Swiss consulate serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Bring your completed form, passport and supporting documents to the consulate as instructed. Pay the fee if one is charged, using the payment method the consulate accepts.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Switzerland family reunification visa application and pay the fee at the Swiss consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the Swiss cantonal migration office to decide whether you can live in Switzerland. Answer any questions and send more documents if the office asks for them.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I submit a Switzerland family reunification visa application?”
Get your visa
Once your application is approved, follow the consulate’s instructions to get your visa. You can then travel to Switzerland while it is valid.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get my Switzerland family reunification visa after approval at the Swiss consulate serving your city?”
Travel to Switzerland
Travel to Switzerland while your visa is valid.
Plan your entrySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Switzerland with a national visa for family reunification?”
Once in SwitzerlandOnce in Switzerland
Register your address
Register with the local office in your new town or municipality after you move. If you are a child, ask your parent or guardian to help you register.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I register my address in your city after moving to Switzerland for family reunification?”
Get your residence permit
Follow the cantonal migration office’s or local registration office’s instructions to complete your residence-permit process. Your permit lets you live in Switzerland with your parent.
Find permit instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete the Switzerland residence permit process after arriving for family reunification?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your birth certificate showing your relationship to your Swiss parent. Ask the office for the version it accepts and whether it needs a certified copy.
Parent's citizenship records
Provide a copy of your Swiss parent's passport or identity card. Make a clear copy of the identity details.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Renewal and family life
Ask your canton to renew your permit generally no earlier than 3 months and no later than 2 weeks before it expires.
You normally need to live with your Swiss family member and meet language, work or education, and other integration conditions.
After separation, you may stay after at least 3 years married and living together in Switzerland with successful integration, or for serious personal reasons.
Residence can be lost
Your permit can end if you leave Switzerland permanently or no longer meet the family conditions; separation does not automatically end it.
It can be taken away for false or hidden facts, a long prison sentence, serious or repeated public safety risks, or a broken condition.
Other grounds for withdrawal include dependence on social assistance, including by someone you support, misuse of citizenship applications or unjustified breach of an integration agreement.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
🇨🇭Expats in Switzerland ⭑ Living, Moving & Advice ✨
English Facebook group for people living in Switzerland interested in Swiss visas
Join on Facebookr/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on RedditEXPATS IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭✨ Lifestyle, Networking & Travel Tips 🌍
English Facebook group for people living in Switzerland interested in Swiss local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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