Family reunification in Switzerland: rules, deadlines and conditions

Whether you can bring your family to Switzerland, and how fast you must apply, depends on your own status and on your nationality. EU/EFTA nationals have a broad right under the free movement agreement. Third-country nationals with a B or C permit can bring a spouse and children under 18, but must meet housing, income and language conditions and apply within strict time limits (Art. 47 FNIA).

In short

• Who you can bring: a spouse or registered partner and minor children. EU/EFTA nationals can also bring children up to 21 and dependent parents.
• Time limits for third-country nationals: five years for a spouse and children under 12, twelve months for children aged 12 to 18.
• Conditions for B holders: adequate housing, enough income to live without social assistance, and basic language skills.
• Where to apply: the cantonal migration office of the canton where you live.
• After separation: the family member's permit is not revoked automatically (Art. 50 FNIA).

Which rules apply to you

The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, SR 142.20) sets separate rules by the status of the person already here: Art. 42 FNIA for family of Swiss nationals, Art. 43 FNIA for C permit holders, Art. 44 FNIA for B permit holders and Art. 45 FNIA for L permit holders. Art. 47 FNIA sets the time limits.

Family of EU/EFTA nationals fall under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP, SR 0.142.112.681) and the OFMP ordinance, which give a considerably broader right (Annex I Art. 3 AFMP). This matters: it decides who counts as family, how fast you must apply and which conditions apply. See the AFMP/OFMP glossary on free movement of persons.

A C permit gives a stronger right than a B permit. See the C settlement permit and the B residence permit.

Who counts as family

Spouses and registered partners are eligible if the marriage or partnership is legally recognised in Switzerland, including same-sex marriages concluded abroad since "marriage for all". Unmarried partners have no statutory right under the FNIA.

Children under 18, yours or your spouse's, are eligible. EU/EFTA nationals can also bring descendants under 21 or whom they support (Annex I Art. 3 AFMP).

Parents and other relatives. EU/EFTA nationals can bring parents and parents-in-law they support. Third-country nationals generally cannot bring parents, siblings or other relatives. In rare cases the cantonal migration office may grant residence as a serious personal hardship case (Art. 30 para. 1 let. b FNIA), at its discretion.

EU/EFTA and third-country nationals compared

Time limits

For third-country nationals, Art. 47 FNIA sets fixed deadlines:

• Spouse and children under 12: within five years.
• Children aged 12 to 18: within twelve months.

The clock starts when you receive your own permit, or when the family relationship begins (marriage, birth) if that is later. Missing the deadline does not mean automatic refusal, but a late application succeeds only for important family reasons (Art. 47 para. 4 FNIA), which the Federal Supreme Court reads narrowly.

C permit holders (Art. 34 FNIA) have a partly more favourable right under Art. 43 FNIA, but the Art. 47 FNIA time limits still apply in principle. Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals have no fixed deadline, though a long, unexplained delay can raise questions.

Housing

B permit holders must have adequate housing for the family (Art. 44 FNIA). Federal law sets no minimum size; each canton uses its own benchmarks. In general:

• the home must be available when your family arrives;
• you submit a signed rental agreement, proof of ownership or written landlord confirmation (a letter of intent is usually not enough);
• a single room or shared flat is usually refused for a family with children;
• the home must be habitable and not overcrowded.

Income

Your household income must support the whole family without social assistance (Art. 44 para. 1 let. c FNIA). Earnings and certain pension or insurance benefits count; savings without ongoing income usually do not. The income must cover living costs, rent and existing obligations such as maintenance payments, and past social assistance can count against you.

C holders and Swiss nationals face a lighter income test. Later reliance on social assistance can still affect permit renewals (Art. 33, 62, 63 FNIA) or naturalisation.

Language

A spouse or child over 18 must be able to communicate in the local national language or sign up for a language course, usually at oral level A1 (Art. 43 para. 1 let. d FNIA for C holders, the matching rule in Art. 44 FNIA for B holders, and Art. 73 and 77d OASA).

Documents

Your canton sets the list. Foreign documents must be translated into the canton's official language and, where needed, apostilled. You will almost always need:

1. the application form (cantonal or SEM);
2. a valid passport and photos for each family member;
3. a marriage or partnership certificate;
4. birth certificates for the children;
5. proof of housing;
6. proof of income (employment contract, pay slips, tax documents);
7. proof of health insurance for everyone;
8. a criminal record extract from the family member's home country;
9. proof of language skills, if required;
10. a copy of your permit and your municipal registration confirmation.

If a child joins only one parent, the other parent's written consent or a custody decision may be needed.

The procedure

1. You apply to the cantonal migration office where you live.
2. The canton reviews the file and may ask for more documents.
3. If it approves, it sends a visa authorisation to the Swiss embassy or consulate.
4. Your family member applies there for a national (type D) visa.
5. After arriving, they register with the municipality within 14 days.
6. The migration office issues the permit.

EU/EFTA family members often need no visa and register directly with the municipality. Processing times vary by canton.

Common mistakes

Missing the Art. 47 FNIA deadline (note the date your own permit was issued), missing apostilles or translations, sending a landlord's letter instead of a signed lease, and applying under the FNIA when the AFMP applies (an EU/EFTA national with a third-country spouse falls under the AFMP).

After the permit is granted

Your family member receives a permit linked to your status. Family of a B holder get a B permit. Family of a C holder also get a B permit first and can later obtain a C permit once they qualify (Art. 34 para. 2 and para. 4 FNIA). They must:

• register with the municipality within 14 days (domicile under Art. 23 CC);
• take out Swiss health insurance (KVG) within three months, see priminfo.admin.ch;
• in some cantons, sign an integration agreement with language goals (Art. 58b FNIA);
• enrol school-age children in school (free in the public system).

Separation or divorce. The permit is not revoked automatically. Under Art. 50 FNIA the right to stay continues if the marriage lasted at least three years in Switzerland and the person is well integrated, or if important personal reasons require them to stay. The authority decides case by case.

Special statuses

Reunification for provisionally admitted persons (F permit) is stricter, and the Asylum Act (AsylA, Art. 27 and Art. 102f) has its own rules. Recognised refugees and people with S status follow separate requirements. See provisional admission (F permit) and protection status S.

Naturalisation is separate

Naturalisation follows the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA, SR 141.0): residence and integration under Art. 9, 11 and 12 SCA, and for facilitated naturalisation of spouses Art. 20 and 21 SCA, with details in the Citizenship Ordinance (SCO). See naturalisation paths in Switzerland.