List of cantonal introductory laws and ordinances per canton.
Last reviewed
03.06.2026
Statute as of
01.01.2024
Statute citations
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As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
Cantonal Migration Office Laws — Reference Index
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Frequently asked
4 answers on this topic.
Concrete questions people ask about Cantonal laws — index.
Federal law (FNIA, OASA, AsylA) is implemented at cantonal level. Each canton has an implementing law (EG-FNIA or similar), a fees ordinance and procedural regulations. These govern the interaction between cantonal authorities, fees, appeal bodies and cantonal hardship cases (art. 30 FNIA).
: 01.01.2024 — This reflects the state of federal and cantonal legislation at the time of initial drafting. Cantonal authority addresses, designations and points of practice are subject to change and require frequent
VERIFICATION
.
Status: AI draft, pending review by the supervising lawyer of record (CLR — Lawyer-of-Record) for Geneva content, pending review by cantonal correspondents for the remaining content.
This file is a reference index, not a guide. It lists, per canton, the cantonal implementing law for the AIG, the competent migration authority with contact details, and a maximum of three sentences on specific practice-related keywords. It does not apply the law to specific individuals and does not provide any strategic advice on choosing a canton.
1. Overview — federal structure of Swiss immigration law
The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (AIG, SR 142.20) is federal law. Its implementation, however, is the responsibility of the 26 cantons — the 20 full cantons (AG, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NE, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG, ZH) and the six half-cantons (AI, NW, OW), which, however, are treated as full cantons for the purposes of immigration law. Each canton has its own migration office (in the French-speaking cantons, this is usually called Service de la population or Service des migrations; in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, the cantonal authority names are structured differently).
In practice, the cantonal migration offices have considerable powers:
Granting and extension of all residence permits (B, C, L, G, Ci, F, N, S) — subject to the approval requirement of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) in certain cases, as reserved under Fedlex·Art. 99 AIG.
Revocation of permits pursuant to Articles 62 ff. of the AIG.
Interpretation and cantonal application of the federal integration and language standards (Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG, Art. 77d OASA).
Enforcement of removal and deportation orders pursuant to Arts 64 ff. AIG.
Application to the SEM in hardship cases (Art. 30 para. 1 lit. b LEI/LStrI/FNIA) and to the cantonal appeal authorities.
This federal structure means that the same legal provision is applied in the 26 cantons, albeit with some differences in practice. This variation in practice is documented in legal sociology (e.g. studies by the Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies SFM, University of Neuchâtel; VERIFY current studies 2025–2026). However, SIP does not provide an assessment of which cantonal practice is "more favourable" or "more strict", nor does it provide any strategic advice on choosing a canton. Such assessments would constitute a form of legal advice within the meaning of the LLCA (Federal Act on the Freedom of Movement of Lawyers, SR 935.61) and are the sole responsibility of lawyers registered in the relevant cantonal bar register.
1.1 Cantonal Application Act AIG — the typical structure
Most cantons have their own cantonal implementing law for the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (in the French-speaking cantons, this is often referred to as Loi cantonale d'application de la loi fédérale sur les étrangers et l'intégration, LaLEtr/I, or similar). These laws typically contain:
the determination of the competent cantonal authority (usually the migration office) and the demarcation of responsibilities in relation to municipal residents’ registration offices, the cantonal employment office, the cantonal social welfare office and the cantonal tax office;
the setting of fees for permit applications and certificates (within the limits defined by the SEM under federal law);
the regulation of the appeals procedure in conjunction with the cantonal administrative procedure law;
the designation of the cantonal hardship commission or a comparable advisory body (Art. 30 FNIA);
where applicable, provisions on cantonal integration support in implementation of Art. 53 ff. LEI/LStrI/FNIA and Art. 57 ff. OASA.
In addition, each canton has implementing regulations and departmental directives that govern the practical application in detail.
1.2 Scope of this document
This document provides no individual cantonal interpretation, no comparative assessment of cantonal practice, and no strategic recommendations for choosing a canton. It records exclusively the formal responsibilities, the addresses of the relevant authorities, and concise details of specific practices, as documented in the relevant secondary literature and in the official information provided by the respective cantons. For individual questions regarding cantonal practice, consult a lawyer registered in the cantonal bar register in the relevant canton.
2. Per Canton — Reference Entries (Alphabetical)
2.1 AG — Aargau
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Cantonal Law on Foreign Nationals and Asylum in the Canton of Aargau (EG AAR; VERIFY current SR number SAR 122.600 or subsequent standard 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration and Integration, Canton of Aargau (MIKA).
Address: Bahnhofplatz 3c, 5001 Aarau.
Telephone: +41 62 835 18 60 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: In 2023–2024, the Canton of Aargau was documented in secondary literature as adopting a comparatively strict interpretation of dependence on social welfare as grounds for revocation under Art. 62 para. 1 lit. e and Art. 63 para. 1 lit. c of the AIG; VERIFY published decisions of the Administrative Court in 2025–2026. Reference: legal_events/le_betreibung_impact.md. No comparative case law with other cantons from SIP.
2.2 AI — Appenzell Innerrhoden
Cantonal Implementation Act: Ordinance on the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden (VERIFY current legal basis and SR-AI number 2026).
Authority: Appenzell Innerrhoden Office for Migration (which also serves as the residents’ registration office).
Address: Marktgasse 2, 9050 Appenzell.
Telephone: +41 71 788 95 19 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Appenzell Innerrhoden is the canton with the smallest population in Switzerland (approximately 16,000 inhabitants; VERIFY 2026); immigration law matters are typically handled by a small number of case workers, who therefore have a correspondingly detailed knowledge of individual cases. The secondary literature does not document any systematic differences in practice; VERIFY through local research.
2.3 AR — Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Cantonal Implementing Act: Implementing ordinance to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (VERIFY SR-AR number 2026).
Authority: Appenzell Ausserrhoden Migration Office, Department of the Interior and Security.
Address: Schützenstrasse 1, 9102 Herisau.
Telephone: +41 71 353 64 13 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: No systematically documented specific features in the secondary literature; VERIFY through local research and cantonal administrative court decisions 2025–2026.
2.4 BE — Bern
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Bern Cantonal Act on Foreign Nationals and Asylum (EG AAG; VERIFY BSG number 2026).
Authority: Migration Service of the Canton of Bern (MIDI), Department of Security.
Address: Ostermundigenstrasse 99B, 3006 Bern.
Telephone: +41 31 633 53 15 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Bern is bilingual (German / French — the latter particularly in the Bernese Jura, Jura bernois), and the cantonal procedure can be conducted in both languages. The city of Bern also has the Residents' Services, Migration and Aliens Police (EMF) of the city administration, which works together with the cantonal MIDI; VERIFY current interface regulations for 2026. Migration-related applications are generally submitted to the MIDI, and municipal registrations are made at the respective residents' registration office.
2.5 BL — Basel-Landschaft
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Cantonal Law on Foreign Nationals of Basel-Landschaft (VERIFY SGS number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration Basel-Landschaft.
Address: Parkstrasse 3, 4402 Frenkendorf.
Telephone: +41 61 552 51 80 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Basel-Landschaft, together with Basel-Stadt, forms the trinational economic area of Basel and maintains close practical coordination with the authorities in Basel-Stadt as well as with the German and French border authorities in Lörrach and Saint-Louis (cross-border worker procedures). VERIFY specific bilateral coordination agreements for 2026.
2.6 BS — Basel-Stadt
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Cantonal Law on Foreign Nationals of the Canton of Basel-Stadt (VERIFY SG-BS number 2026).
Authority: Migration Office of the City of Basel.
Address: Spiegelgasse 12, 4051 Basel.
Telephone: +41 61 267 70 70 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Basel-Stadt has a cantonal return counselling service (counselling on voluntary return to the country of origin), which – unlike the practice in Zurich, which primarily serves asylum seekers – also advises non-asylum law subjects with precarious residence status. VERIFY current sponsoring body and scope for 2026 (usually located at the cantonal social welfare office or a commissioned NGO).
2.7 FR — Fribourg / Freiburg
Cantonal Implementation Act: Cantonal Act on the implementation of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (VERIFY RSF number 2026).
Authority: Service de la population et des migrants (SPoMi) / Amt für Bevölkerung und Migranten.
Special practice: The Canton of Fribourg is officially bilingual (French and German). Migration law applications can be submitted in both languages; official correspondence is typically conducted in the language of the submitting party. The cantonal administration is in the process of transitioning to digitised procedures; VERIFY current online platform 2026.
2.8 GE — Geneva
Cantonal application law: Cantonal law applying the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (LaLEtrI, RS-GE F 2 10).
Authority: Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM).
Address: 88, route de Chancy, 1213 Onex (postal address: Case postale, 1211 Geneva 4).
Telephone: +41 22 546 46 03.
E-Mail: .
Special practice: Geneva is the main location of international organisations (UN office, WTO, ICRC, etc.) with approximately 40,000 holders of an EDA Carte de légitimation, plus accompanying persons with a C permit — the largest concentration of international organisations in the world outside of New York (VERIFY figures for 2026). The Section Organisations internationales of the OCPM does not exist in this form in other cantons. For cantonal details, see cantonal/major_canton_geneva.md.
2.9 GL — Glarus
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, Glarus (VERIFY GS-GL number 2026).
Authority: Main Department of Migration, Glarus, Department of Security and Justice.
Address: Schulstrasse 2, 8750 Glarus.
Telephone: +41 55 646 67 00 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Glarus, with approximately 41,000 inhabitants, is one of the cantons with the smallest population; the processing of immigration law matters is carried out by a correspondingly small team. No systemically documented specific practices in the relevant secondary literature for 2024–2025; VERIFY through local research.
2.10 GR — Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of the Canton of Graubünden (EG AAG GR; VERIFY BR number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration and Civil Law of the Canton of Graubünden, Department of Justice, Security and Health.
Address: Karlihof 4, 7001 Chur.
Telephone: +41 81 257 25 38 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Graubünden is the only officially trilingual canton in Switzerland, with German, Italian and Romansh as cantonal official languages (Art. 3 KV-GR). Migration law proceedings can in principle be conducted in all three languages, but in practice German predominates (VERIFY 2026). For Italian-speaking applicants in Misox/Calanca/Bregaglia and for Romansh-speaking applicants in Surselva, it is advisable to clarify the language of the proceedings at the beginning (cantonal lawyer).
2.11 JU — Jura
Cantonal Application Act: Act applying the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (VERIFY RSJU number 2026).
Authority: Population Service of the Canton of Jura.
Address: Rue du 24-Septembre 1, 2800 Delémont.
Telephone: +41 32 420 56 30 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: The Canton of Jura is French-speaking. Migration law proceedings are conducted exclusively in French. No systemically documented special practices in the relevant secondary literature for 2024–2025; VERIFY through local research.
2.12 LU — Lucerne
Cantonal Implementation Act: Act on the application of federal law in the area of foreign nationals and integration, Canton of Lucerne (VERIFY SRL number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration, Canton of Lucerne.
Address: Fruttstrasse 15, 6002 Lucerne.
Telephone: +41 41 228 56 56 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Lucerne is the largest canton in Central Switzerland; the office coordinates with the migration offices of the neighbouring cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Uri and Zug in regional Central Switzerland practice forums. VERIFY current coordination structure 2026.
2.13 NE — Neuchâtel
Cantonal Application Act: Neuchâtel cantonal act applying the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (VERIFY RSN number 2026).
Authority: Migration service of the Canton of Neuchâtel.
Address: Rue de Tivoli 28, 2002 Neuchâtel.
Telephone: +41 32 889 63 10 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: The Canton of Neuchâtel is described in the relevant secondary literature (e.g. SFM publications from the University of Neuchâtel) as having a comparatively restrained approach to proceedings; SIP does not provide a comparative assessment with other cantons. VERIFY published decisions of the Federal Administrative Court for 2025–2026.
2.14 NW — Nidwalden
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Nidwalden (VERIFY NG number 2026).
Authority: Office of Justice Nidwalden, Migration Department.
Address: Kreuzstrasse 2, 6371 Stans.
Telephone: +41 41 618 75 03 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Nidwalden is a canton with a relatively small population (approximately 44,000 inhabitants); the processing of immigration law matters is integrated into the Office of Justice and carried out by a correspondingly small team. No systemically documented specific practices in the secondary literature; VERIFY.
2.15 OW — Obwalden
Cantonal Implementation Act: Implementing ordinance to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Obwalden (VERIFY GDB number 2026).
Authority: Department of Security, Obwalden, Office for Migration.
Address: St. Antonistrasse 4, 6061 Sarnen.
Telephone: +41 41 666 65 00 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Obwalden is a canton with a relatively small population (approximately 38,000 inhabitants) and a correspondingly small team responsible for handling immigration law matters. No systematically documented specific practices can be found in the relevant secondary literature; VERIFY.
2.16 SG — St. Gallen
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Cantonal Law on Foreign Nationals of the Canton of St. Gallen (VERIFY sGS number 2026).
Authority: Cantonal Migration Office of St. Gallen.
Address: St. Leonhard-Strasse 40, 9001 St. Gallen.
Telephone: +41 58 229 91 91 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: St. Gallen is the most populous canton in Eastern Switzerland (approximately 521,000 inhabitants: VERIFY 2026) and coordinates its practice with the surrounding Eastern Swiss cantons of AR, AI, TG, SH and with the neighbouring Vorarlberg (Austria). VERIFY current bilateral coordination agreements 2026.
2.17 SH — Schaffhausen
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Schaffhausen (VERIFY SHR number 2026).
Authority: Migration Office of the Canton of Schaffhausen, Department of the Interior.
Address: Beckenstube 11, 8200 Schaffhausen.
Telephone: +41 52 632 74 76 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Schaffhausen is geographically located mostly north of the Rhine and is surrounded by German territory; the migration office coordinates closely with the German border authorities (Singen, Konstanz) for cross-border procedures (G permits). VERIFY the current coordination structure for 2026.
2.18 SO — Solothurn
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Solothurn (VERIFY BGS number 2026).
Authority: Migration Office of the Canton of Solothurn, Department of the Interior.
Address: Ambassadorenhof, 4509 Solothurn.
Telephone: +41 32 627 28 22 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: No systematically documented special practices in the relevant secondary literature for 2024–2025; VERIFY through local research and cantonal administrative court decisions.
2.19 SZ — Schwyz
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Schwyz (VERIFY SR number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration, Canton of Schwyz, Department of Security.
Address: Steistegstrasse 13, 6431 Schwyz.
Telephone: +41 41 819 21 96 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: The Canton of Schwyz is described in the relevant secondary literature for 2023–2024 as having a relatively moderate practice regarding the early granting of the C settlement permit pursuant to Art. 34 para. 4 AIG in conjunction with Fedlex·Art. 60a VZAE; VERIFY publishes rulings of the administrative court and cantonal statistics for 2025–2026. SIP does not provide a comparative assessment with other cantons.
2.20 TG — Thurgau
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Thurgau (VERIFY reference number 2026).
Authority: Migration Office of the Canton of Thurgau, Department of Justice and Security.
Address: Schlossmühlestrasse 9, 8510 Frauenfeld.
Telephone: +41 58 345 64 64 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: No systemically documented specific practices in the relevant secondary literature for 2024–2025; VERIFY through local research.
2.21 TI — Ticino
Cantonal Implementation Act: Cantonal law on the implementation of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and their Integration (VERIFY RL-TI number 2026).
Authority: Population Section of the Canton of Ticino, Department of Institutions.
Address: Via Lugano 4, 6500 Bellinzona.
Telephone: +41 91 814 32 13 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: The Canton of Ticino is the only canton in Switzerland where Italian is the sole official language. All immigration proceedings are conducted in Italian; applications, supporting documents and correspondence must be submitted in Italian (translations must be provided for original documents that are not in Italian; VERIFY current requirements for 2026). Ticino also has a significant cross-border worker population from Northern Italy (G permits).
2.22 UR — Uri
Cantonal Implementation Act: Implementing ordinance to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Uri (VERIFY RB-UR number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration Uri, Department of Security.
Address: Klausenstrasse 4, 6460 Altdorf.
Telephone: +41 41 875 22 14 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Uri is a canton with a small population (approximately 37,000 inhabitants) and a correspondingly small team dealing with immigration law matters. No systemically documented specific practices in the secondary literature; VERIFY.
2.23 VD — Vaud / Waadt
Cantonal Implementation Act: Vaud cantonal act implementing the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (LVLEtr; VERIFY reference number 2026).
Authority: Service de la population (SPOP).
Address: Avenue de Beaulieu 19, 1014 Lausanne.
Telephone: +41 21 316 49 49 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: In the relevant secondary literature of 2023–2024, the Canton of Vaud is described as systematically applying the integration agreement under Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG (Convention d'intégration) when extending permits with integration deficits – in particular in the areas of French language skills, employment and respect for public safety and order; VERIFY published rulings of the Administrative Court from 2025–2026. SIP does not provide a comparative assessment with other cantons.
2.24 VS — Valais / Wallis
Cantonal Implementation Act: Cantonal Valais Act on the implementation of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration / Introductory Act of Valais (VERIFY SGS-VS number 2026).
Authority: Service de la population et des migrations (SPM) / Dienststelle für Bevölkerung und Migration.
Address: Avenue de la Gare 39, 1950 Sion.
Telephone: +41 27 606 55 50 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: The Canton of Valais is officially bilingual (French in Lower Valais, German in Upper Valais). Immigration proceedings can be conducted in both languages; official correspondence is typically in the language of the district capital of the applicant's municipality of residence. VERIFY current practice in 2026.
2.25 ZG — Zug
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, Canton of Zug (VERIFY BGS-ZG number 2026).
Authority: Office for Migration, Canton of Zug, Department of Security.
Address: Aabachstrasse 1, 6300 Zug.
Telephone: +41 41 728 50 60 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Zug is a financially strong canton with a high concentration of international company headquarters (in particular in the raw materials trade and the pharmaceutical industry). This results in a practice with a disproportionately large number of highly qualified permits (B residence permit for employment from third countries according to Fedlex·Art. 23 AIG); the practice relating to international organisations is, by contrast, smaller in scale than in Geneva, as Zug only has a few international organisations. VERIFY current statistics for 2026.
2.26 ZH — Zürich
Cantonal Implementation Act: Introductory Act to the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration of Zurich (EG AIG; VERIFY LS number 2026).
Authority: Cantonal Migration Office of Zurich, Department of Security.
Address: Berninastrasse 45, 8090 Zürich.
Telephone: +41 43 259 88 00 (VERIFY 2026).
E-Mail: (VERIFY 2026).
Special practice: Zurich is the most populous canton in Switzerland (approximately 1.57 million inhabitants; VERIFY 2026) and implements a highly standardised practice in comparison with other cantons, with extensively published guidelines, online forms and an online platform (eUmzug, ZHservices; VERIFY current platform name 2026). The migration office works closely with the municipal city administration of Zurich (City Chancellery, Department of Social Affairs) and with other municipalities in the canton.
3. Procedure language per canton — quick overview index
The language used in the cantonal migration procedure is governed by the cantonal official languages regulations (Fedlex·Art. 70 BV and cantonal procedural law). Application forms, supporting documents and correspondence must be submitted in the respective official language; deviations may lead to the rejection of the application or a delay in the procedure. VERIFY cantonal translation requirements for 2026 for original documents not in an official language.
3.1 German only (18 cantons)
ZH, BS, BL, LU, ZG, AG, SH, SG, AR, AI, GL, NW, OW, UR, SZ, SO, TG — as well as the majority of Bern (Bernese German) and smaller areas of Graubünden. Immigration proceedings are conducted in German; application forms and correspondence are in German.
3.2 Exclusively French (4 cantons)
GE, VD, NE, JU. All migration law proceedings are conducted in French; applications and correspondence must be in French. Non-French original documents must be submitted with a certified translation (VERIFY requirements per canton 2026).
3.3 Exclusively Italian (1 canton)
TI. All migration law proceedings are conducted in Italian; applications and correspondence must be in Italian. Non-Italian original documents must be submitted with a certified translation (VERIFY requirements 2026).
3.4 Bilingual German/French (3 cantons)
BE — Bern: German (majority of the canton) and French (Bernese Jura, Jura bernois). The language of the proceedings depends on the place of residence or the language of the person submitting the application.
FR — Fribourg: French (majority) and German (Lake District, Sense). Both languages are official languages; the language of proceedings is usually chosen by the applicant.
VS — Valais / Wallis: French (Lower Valais) and German (Upper Valais). The language of proceedings depends on the district of the municipality of residence.
3.5 Trilingual: German / Italian / Romansh (1 canton)
GR — Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun: German (majority), Italian (Misox, Calanca, Bregaglia, Puschlav) and Romansh (Surselva, Engadin, Sutselva, Surmiran, etc.). In practice, German predominates; Italian and Romansh-language proceedings are possible in principle, but less common in practical processing. VERIFY current practice in 2026.
3.6 Important points regarding the language used in the forms
Submitting the application in the wrong language may lead to its rejection (with a deadline for amendment) or, at the very least, to a significant delay in the procedure. This formal requirement should not be underestimated: application forms from the Zurich Migration Office cannot simply be submitted to the OCPM in Geneva – even if the substantive content were identical. The cantonal standardisation of forms is a central aspect of federal practice.
4. Methodology of this Index
This index is based on:
Self-help information provided by the cantonal migration offices (websites, online guides, telephone information; research conducted in 2024–2026 with extensive VERIFY markers for 2026).
Secondary literature (Spescha/Thür/Zünd/Bolzli/Hruschka, Immigration Law — Commentary on the AIG and VZAE, latest edition; VERIFY latest edition 2026; Caroni/Gächter/Thurnherr, Federal Act on Foreign Nationals, Stämpfli; Forum suisse pour l'étude des migrations et de la population SFM Studien).
Official statistics from the SEM (permit statistics, asylum statistics) and the BFS (population statistics); VERIFY the latest editions for 2026.
Published decisions of the cantonal administrative courts on immigration law issues (respective administrative court databases; VERIFY 2025–2026).
The practice notes per canton should be read as keywords from secondary literature, not as assessments by SIP. SIP does not provide a comparative assessment of which practice is "more favourable" or "more strict", because such an assessment would (i) constitute a form of legal advice within the meaning of the LLCA, and (ii) would depend in each individual case on the specific facts.
5. Cross-References
This file is referenced and, in turn, references other files:
All Permit Practice Files: permits/permit_b.md, permits/permit_c.md, permits/permit_l.md, permits/permit_ci.md, permits/permit_f.md, permits/permit_n.md, permits/permit_s.md, permits/permit_g.md — each permit category has significant cantonal practice variations and refers to this file for the federal framework.
Major-Canton Deep Dives: cantonal/major_canton_geneva.md (written), cantonal/major_canton_zurich.md (planned), cantonal/major_canton_vaud.md (planned), cantonal/major_canton_bern.md (planned), cantonal/major_canton_basel-stadt.md (planned), cantonal/major_canton_ticino.md (planned). These Major-Canton files provide a more detailed analysis of the practices of the cantons with the largest populations and those with practices that are particularly noteworthy.
Framework files: framework/fw_aig_vzae_glossary.md (Federal Framework AIG/OASA), framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md (EU/EFTA special provisions), framework/fw_asylg_glossary.md (Asylum Act and cantonal asylum procedures), framework/fw_bug_2018_glossary.md (Swiss Citizenship Act and cantonal naturalisation practice), framework/fw_data_protection_ndsg.md (data protection framework for cantonal data processing).
Legal-Events-Dateien: legal_events/le_betreibung_impact.md (social welfare and debt collection register as grounds for revocation), legal_events/le_strafurteil_widerruf.md (criminal convictions and grounds for revocation), legal_events/le_haertefall_30aig.md (hardship case under Fedlex·Art. 30 AIG).
6. Anti-Scope and Reservations
This index provides:
No strategic advice on choosing a canton. The choice of canton of residence depends on professional, family, social and tax-related factors; an assessment of immigration law practice with the aim of influencing the choice of canton would be an inadmissible form of legal advice within the meaning of the LLCA.
No assessment of cantonal practices that are "more favourable" or "more strict". Comparative evaluations would be (i) highly dependent on the specific facts in each individual case and (ii) a form of legal advice that is reserved exclusively for lawyers registered in the cantonal bar register.
No individual interpretation of cantonal procedural rules. For the interpretation of specific cantonal provisions in individual cases, a lawyer registered in the cantonal bar register should be consulted in the respective canton.
These anti-scope clauses follow the guidelines of ADR-014 (D2/D3 facts-only) and ADR-015 (D1 Tier A).
7. Update Discipline
This file has a stale_threshold_days of 90 days. Cantonal authority addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and section structures change frequently; as do the names of cantonal implementing laws after revisions. A systematic VERIFY round per canton must be carried out at least quarterly, and changes must be entered in the provenance.last_reviewed field and in the frontmatter sources.
Planned extensions to this file in later iterations:
Complete citation of the relevant cantonal implementing laws with ELI links to the cantonal collection of laws.
Linking the published decisions of the cantonal administrative courts per canton in a separate file cantonal/cantonal_jurisprudence_index.md.
Linking the cantonal hardship case commissions with information on their procedures and advisory structure (in each of the major canton sections).
HARD GLOSSARY — non-negotiable Swiss federal codes / agency names.
"AIG" → "FNIA"
"Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz" → "Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration"
"VZAE" → "OASA"
"BüG" → "SCA"
"Bürgerrechtsgesetz" → "Swiss Citizenship Act"
"FZA" → "AFMP"
"Freizügigkeitsabkommen" → "Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons"
"AsylG" → "AsylA"
"Asylgesetz" → "Asylum Act"
"nDSG" → "revFADP"
"DSG" → "FADP"
"SEM" → "SEM"
"Staatssekretariat für Migration" → "State Secretariat for Migration"
