Permanent residence permit C

The permanent residence permit is issued if you have lived in Switzerland for five or ten years. Although the permit is unlimited, it has a five-year review period.

Permits issued in the normal procedure

Permanent residence permits are issued after an orderly and consecutive stay of ten years in Switzerland. A foreign national must have been in possession of a residence permit for the last five years. Nationals of countries with a settlement agreement receive a settlement permit after just five years.

Early issue of a permanent residence permit

You can apply for a permanent residence permit before the ten years have expired. The following requirements have to be fulfilled: you have held a residence permit for five years; you meet the integration criteria; there are no grounds for revocation.

The applicant must be integrated (Art. 58a para. 1 AIG). The competent authority takes the following criteria into account when assessing integration:

– Respect for public safety and order
– Respect for the values of the Federal Constitution
– Language skills
– Participation in economic life or the acquisition of education

The degree of integration of all family members over the age of twelve is taken into account when examining the application for an early settlement permit. They must all meet the requirements for the granting of a permanent residence permit. Applicants who are of legal age must prove that they have oral German language skills, namely at least at reference level B1. Written German language skills should correspond to at least reference level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Retention of the settlement permit

The permanent settlement permit expires when you deregister or after a six-month stay abroad. It can be maintained for four years if you submit a justified application before the six months have expired.

As a lawyer with long-standing experience in immigration law, I can help with the application for a settlement permit C, especially in the case of premature issue or in case of issues relating to residency in Switzerland. When it comes to immigration issues, we offer support in making the application, draw up the necessary documents, handle communication with the authorities and represent the client’s interests in court throughout Switzerland.