Applying for family reunification in Switzerland & appealing against any rejection with the help of a competent Swiss immigration lawyer.

Under certain conditions, if you live in Switzerland but your family lives abroad, you can have your children or spouse join you in Switzerland. Immigration law does not provide for the reunification of relatives in the ascending line and is only possible in a few exceptional cases. This is called family reunification. The purpose of family reunification is to enable the family to live together and to provide legal security.

Whether and which of your family members can join you in Switzerland also depends on your nationality. You can submit applications for family reunification or to prepare for marriage. A distinction is made between

Family members of citizens from an EU/EFTA country
Family members of persons from a third country
Family members of Swiss citizens

For EU and EFTA Citizens

You are entitled to have the following family members join you in Switzerland if you have EU/EFTA citizenship:

Spouse or registered partner
Children or grandchildren under the age of 21 or who are granted maintenance
Parents and grandparents, provided they are granted maintenance

Family members of EU/EFTA citizens are entitled to the issue and extension of a residence permit. The person joining them may work in Switzerland as soon as the permit has been issued.

You can submit your application for family reunification to your municipality.

Your partner’s visa can be approved for three months in order to prepare for the marriage and conclude the marriage under civil law within this period. To do this, you must obtain confirmation from the registry office before entering the country. This must show that the marriage has been initiated and can take place within a reasonable period of time. In addition, the other requirements for family reunification must be met. Once you have submitted the marriage certificate, the residence permit can be issued. If the marriage does not take place, no residence permit will be issued and the bride or groom must leave Switzerland.

Applicants from third countries (Outside EU/EFTA)
Dependants of persons with a permanent residence permit (C) Foreign spouses, registered partners and unmarried children under the age of 18 of persons with a permanent residence permit are entitled to a residence permit if certain requirements are met. Further information on the requirements can be found below.

Family members of persons with a residence permit (B) or short-term residence permit (L) Foreign spouses, registered partners and unmarried children under the age of 18 of persons with a residence permit or short-term residence permit can be granted a residence permit or short-term residence permit if certain requirements are met. Further information on the requirements can be found below.

Family members of temporarily admitted persons and temporarily admitted refugees (F) Spouses, registered partners and unmarried children under the age of 18 of temporarily admitted persons and temporarily admitted refugees can join them after three years at the earliest. The following requirements must be met.

Pre-requisites for family reunification. The above-mentioned groups of persons from third countries may be joined by their family members if

– they live together with them;
– a suitable home is available;
– they are not dependent on social assistance;
– they can communicate in the national language spoken at the place of residence;
– the person joining them does not receive any annual supplementary benefits or could receive them due to the family reunification.

Legal deadlines for family reunification

Family reunification must be applied for within five years for spouses and children. Children over the age of twelve must be reunited within twelve months. Otherwise, family reunification will only be approved if important family reasons are invoked.

Making preparations for marriage

You can obtain a residence permit for your partner for three months in order to prepare for the marriage and conclude the marriage under civil law within this period. To do this, you must obtain confirmation from the registry office before entering the country. This must show that the marriage has been initiated and can take place within a reasonable period of time. In addition, the other requirements for family reunification must be met. Once the marriage certificate has been submitted, the residence permit can be issued. If the marriage does not take place, no residence permit will be issued and the bride or groom must leave Switzerland.