Temporary permit with a specific purpose. This is the standard residence permit for most residents.
Last reviewed
03.06.2026
Statute as of
01.01.2024
Statute citations
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As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
The B residence permit — Swiss immigration law in detail
1. Overview: What the B permit is (and what it is not)
Frequently asked
4 answers on this topic.
Concrete questions people ask about B — B residence permit.
The application for an extension must be submitted to the cantonal migration office no later than 14 days before the expiry date (art. 59 OASA). Required supporting documents: valid passport, rental agreement, pay slip or proof of sufficient financial means, and proof that the applicant is not dependent on social welfare. Additional requirements apply to married couples and families.
(Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, SR 142.20), a foreign national’s identity document issued for a
temporary stay
with a
specific purpose
. The permit may be subject to further conditions and, according to Art. 33 para. 3 AIG, is generally
valid for one year
and
renewable
, provided that there are no grounds for revocation according to Fedlex·Art. 62 AIG.
The B permit is the most common residence permit in Switzerland, based on the number of permits issued and the number of holders.
What the B permit is NOT:
It is not permanent. The C settlement permit (Art. 34 FNIA) is the permit with no expiry date. The B residence permit, on the other hand, loses its validity after the expiry date if it is not renewed in time.
It is not the same as an L permit. The L short-term permit (Fedlex·Art. 32 AIG) is intended for stays of a maximum of one year and is not primarily aimed at permanent residence.
It is not granted for an unspecified purpose. The B permit is issued in accordance with Art. 33 para. 2 FNIA for a specific purpose of stay (e.g. employment, study, family reunification). A change of purpose requires a new permit (Art. 54 OASA).
The key legislative package includes:
FNIA — Federal Act of 16 December 2005 on Foreign Nationals and their Integration (SR 142.20).
OASA — Ordinance of 24 October 2007 on Admission, Residence and Employment (SR 142.201).
FZA — Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the Swiss Confederation, on the one hand, and the European Community and its Member States, on the other hand, on the free movement of persons (SR 0.142.112.681).
VFP — Ordinance of 22 May 2002 implementing the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (SR 142.203).
Cross-link: The institutional foundations are documented in the framework glossary (framework/fw_aig_vzae_glossary.md and framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md).
2. The two regimes of the B permit
The B permit exists legally in two different systems, which run in parallel but follow different requirements and procedures. Anyone who fails to make this distinction risks relying on the wrong provisions.
2.1 B residence permit EU/EFTA (AFMP regime)
Nationals of the EU-27 and EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) have a legal entitlement to a residence permit under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) if they meet the requirements of the AFMP.
The most important grounds for entitlement are set out in Annex I of the AFMP:
Art. 6 Annex I AFMP — Employees.
Art. 12 Annex I AFMP — Self-employed persons.
Art. 24 Annex I AFMP — Persons without gainful employment who have sufficient financial resources and health insurance.
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer covered by the AFMP. Switzerland and the UK have concluded an agreement on acquired rights (for those who were already resident in Switzerland before 31 December 2020) and an agreement on the mobility of service providers.
2.2 B permit for third-country nationals (FNIA regime)
Nationals of all other states (third countries) are subject to the FNIA. There is no legal entitlement to its issue – the permit is granted at the discretion of the authorities and is subject to:
Quotas / maximum numbers (Art. 20 FNIA, OASA Annex 1 and 2).
Priority for nationals (Art. 21 FNIA).
Personal requirements of the applicant (Art. 23 FNIA: qualifications, language, integration).
Economic need of the employer (Art. 18 FNIA).
Specifically, this means that an employer who wishes to employ a third-country national must demonstrate to the cantonal migration office that no suitable worker was available on the domestic labour market (Swiss nationals, permanent residents, B permit holders with access to employment, and EU/EFTA nationals) (Art. 21 para. 1 AIG).
3. B residence permit for third-country nationals — detailed requirements
3.1 Priority for Nationals (Art. 21 FNIA verbatim, paras. 1–3)
“Foreign nationals may only be authorised to take up gainful employment if it is demonstrated that no suitable domestic workers and no nationals of states with which an agreement on the free movement of persons has been concluded can be found for this purpose.”
The principle of priority for nationals requires:
Job advertisement at national level (usually via the regional employment agencies/RAV and relevant industry channels).
Documentation of the unsuccessful search (applications received, reasons for rejection).
Justification for the specificity of the qualification sought.
The Federal Council determines the maximum number of B residence permits for nationals of third countries each year. The quotas are distributed among the cantons, with additional federal quotas for peak demands in cantons other than those to which they are allocated.
Currently (as of 01.01.2024):
B permit (third-country nationals, permanent residence): annual quota
L permit (third-country nationals, short-term stay ≤ 12 months): separate quota
Exhausted quotas can prevent the granting of a permit even if all other requirements are met – a key difference from the EU/EFTA regime.
3.3 Work-related B residence permits (Arts 18–24 FNIA)
Art. 18 FNIA — Performance of dependent employment. Requirements: application by the employer, overall economic interest, fulfilment of wage and working conditions (Art. 22 FNIA).
Art. 19 FNIA — Exercise of self-employed gainful activity.
Art. 23 FNIA — Personal requirements: executives, specialists and other qualified workers with specific professional qualifications.
In practice, this means that the B residence permit for third-country nationals for employment is aimed at highly qualified workers. The granting of a permit for employment in a non-qualified occupation for a third-country national is the exception.
3.4 B residence permits not related to employment
Art. 27 FNIA — Education and training (studies). Requirements: enrolment in a recognised educational institution, secure means of support, suitable accommodation, personal requirements.
Art. 28 FNIA — Pensioners. Requirements: minimum age of 55 years, special personal ties to Switzerland, sufficient financial resources, no gainful employment.
Art. 30 FNIA — Departures from the admission requirements (hardship cases, serious personal distress).
Art. 42–52 LEI/LStrI/FNIA — Family reunification (see section 9).
3.5 Linguistic Requirements
The language requirements vary depending on the purpose of stay:
Initial issue of the B permit without family reunification: there is no uniform federal language requirement – the practice varies between cantons.
Family reunification (spouses and children over 18) — Art. 43 para. 1 lit. d AIG requires level A1 in spoken language of the language spoken in the place of residence or enrolment in a language support course.
Extension — the language and integration requirements may play a role when extending the permit repeatedly, in accordance with Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG (integration criteria).
Early C permit — Art. 34 para. 4 LEI/LStrI/FNIA: Level A2 written + B1 oral in the national language.
The recognised language certificates (fide, telc, Goethe certificate, DELF/DALF, CELI, etc.) are specified in the VIntA (Ordinance on the Integration of Foreign Nationals, SR 142.205).
4. B residence permit EU/EFTA — detailed requirements
4.1 Employees (Art. 6 Annex I AFMP)
An EU/EFTA national who has an employment contract with a Swiss employer for a period of at least 12 months or an open-ended employment contract will receive a B EU/EFTA permit with a validity of five years (Art. 6 para. 1 Annex I AFMP, in conjunction with Art. 4 Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons).
The evidence required is essentially as follows:
valid identification document;
Employment contract or employer’s confirmation;
where applicable, diplomas for professions requiring a permit.
The principle of priority for nationals and quotas do not apply to EU/EFTA citizens — this is the key practical difference compared to the regime for third-country nationals.
4.2 Self-employed persons (Art. 12 Annex I AFMP)
Self-employed EU/EFTA citizens are entitled to a B permit if they can demonstrate that they will actually be engaged in self-employed gainful activity.
Evidence:
Registration in the commercial register or with the AHV compensation fund as a self-employed person;
Business plan, bank statements, customer or order documents.
4.3 Non-gainfully employed persons (Art. 24 Annex I AFMP)
Persons without gainful employment (pensioners, students, private individuals) are entitled to it if they:
demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources so as not to be dependent on social assistance;
have health insurance cover that covers the entire range of benefits customary in Switzerland.
“Sufficient means” are assessed in practice against the supplementary benefit rates (SB) – the exact thresholds vary by canton.
4.4 Family reunification AFMP (Art. 3 Annex I AFMP)
The AFMP family reunification scheme is significantly more generous than the FNIA scheme:
Eligible family members include the spouse, registered partner, descendants under the age of 21 or who are dependent, and ascendants who are dependent.
A suitable dwelling is required (Art. 3 para. 1 Annex I FZA) – what constitutes “suitable” is a matter of cantonal practice.
Important: In BGE 136 II 5 (Metock case law) and subsequent judgments, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that third-country national family members of EU citizens can also benefit from the family reunification provisions under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, without having to originate from the EU themselves.
5. Extension of the B residence permit
5.1 Deadlines
The B permit ceases to be valid upon expiry of the period specified (Art. 61 para. 1 lit. c AIG). According to OASA Art. 59, the application for an extension must be submitted in good time before the existing permit expires.
The practice of the cantons and the guidelines of the SEM recommend submitting the application for extension 2 to 3 months before expiry, at the latest 14 days before expiry.
Anyone who fails to meet the deadline may, according to cantonal practice:
be subject to a fee for late submission.
in a legal grey area between the expiry of the old permit and the granting of the new permit — this is particularly sensitive in terms of labour law and social security law.
5.2 Requirements for extension (Art. 33 + 62 LEI/LStrI/FNIA)
The extension will be granted if:
the original conditions continue to be met (employment, studies, family ties, etc.);
no grounds for revocation under Art. 62 AIG exist;
third-country nationals must satisfy the integration criteria under Art. 58a AIG (respect for public safety and order, respect for constitutional values, language skills, participation in economic life or acquisition of education).
5.3 Dependence on social welfare as a reason for refusing an extension
Art. 62 para. 1 lit. e LEI/LStrI/FNIA expressly provides for the following as grounds for revocation and non-renewal:
“…the foreign national or the person for whom they are responsible is dependent on social welfare.”
The cantonal migration offices examine the receipt of social assistance in detail. A longer period of dependence on social assistance leads to hearing procedures with a high risk for the extension. The case law of the Federal Supreme Court makes distinctions according to the duration, amount and culpability of the receipt of social assistance.
6. Revocation and non-renewal of the B residence permit
6.1 Grounds for revocation (Art. 62 LEI/LStrI/FNIA verbatim, para. 1)
“The competent authority may revoke permits, with the exception of the settlement permit, and other rulings issued under this Act if the foreign national:
a. or their or his representative makes false statements or conceals material facts in the permit procedure;
b. has been sentenced to a longer-term term of imprisonment or has been subject to a criminal measure within the meaning of Articles 59–61 or 64 of the Swiss Criminal Code;
c. has seriously or repeatedly violated public safety and order in Switzerland or abroad, or has endangered them, or has endangered internal or external security;
d. fails to comply with a condition attached to the ruling;
e. or a person for whom they are responsible and who is dependent on social assistance;
f. in a manner that constitutes an abuse of the law, in particular in order to circumvent the provisions of this Act concerning admission and residence, has entered into a marriage with a Swiss national or a foreign national holding a residence or settlement permit, or has entered into a registered partnership;
g. fails to comply with an integration agreement without a valid reason.
Art. 62 para. 2 LEI/LStrI/FNIA prohibits the revocation if it is solely because a crime was committed for which a domestic court imposed a penalty or measure, the execution of which has been suspended in favour of the person.
6.2 Hardship clause (Art. 96 FNIA)
The competent authority takes into account the personal circumstances and the degree of integration when exercising its discretion. Art. 96 para. 1 AIG requires that the authority take account of “public interests and personal circumstances as well as the degree of integration”. The proportionality of the revocation is a key consideration.
6.3 Procedure and deadline for lodging an appeal
The revocation or non-renewal is issued by means of a ruling by the cantonal migration office. The ruling states:
in writing;
justified;
accompanied by an information on the right of appeal.
The time limit for lodging an appeal is generally 30 days from the date on which the ruling is issued (Cantonal Administrative Procedure Act; after exhausting the cantonal legal remedies, an appeal may be lodged with the Federal Administrative Court or the Federal Supreme Court in accordance with Art. 83 of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure, whereby Art. 83 para. c No. 2 of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure lays down special restrictions for decisions relating to foreign nationals).
7. Transition from B to C (Settlement Permit)
The C settlement permit (Fedlex·Art. 34 AIG) is valid for an unlimited period and is not subject to any conditions (Art. 34 para. 1 AIG). It is the goal of many B permit holders.
7.1 Ordinary grant — 10-year rule
According to Art. 34 para. 2 LEI/LStrI/FNIA, a C settlement permit may be granted if the foreign national:
has been in Switzerland for a total of at least ten years with a short-term or residence permit and has held a residence permit continuously for the last five years;
the integration criteria under Art. 58a FNIA are met.
7.2 Five-year rule with selected states
For nationals of states with which Switzerland has concluded a settlement agreement, a permit is issued after five years of uninterrupted residence with a B permit. The group of these states currently includes, in particular:
USA, Canada;
United Kingdom;
Germany, Austria, France, Italy;
Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein;
other states in accordance with bilateral agreements.
7.3 Early C permit (Art. 34 para. 4 LEI/LStrI/FNIA)
The C settlement permit can be granted to all third-country nationals with a B residence permit after five years, provided that:
they have successfully integrated (Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG, in particular, they have reached level B1 orally and A2 in writing in the local language at their place of residence);
Cross-link: A more detailed explanation can be found in permits/permit_c_settled.md.
8. Change of Canton and Change of Address
8.1 Change of canton with a B permit for nationals of third countries (Art. 37 FNIA)
Third-country nationals with a B permit who wish to move to another canton must, in accordance with Art. 37 para. 2 AIG, apply for a new permit in the canton to which they are moving. The permit will be granted if:
no grounds for revocation exist;
the applicant is not dependent on social welfare.
Important: A change of canton is not guaranteed. The new cantonal authority exercises its own discretion.
8.2 Change of canton with B EU/EFTA permit
EU/EFTA nationals holding a B residence permit are entitled, under the AFMP regime, to move to another canton. They must register with the new canton, and the cantonal migration office will issue the new permit. A refusal would only be permissible if there were serious grounds for revocation (public safety, public order).
8.3 Change of address within the canton
Changes of address within a canton must be reported to the local authority responsible for the place of residence (registration in accordance with the municipal law and the population register ordinance). The cantonal migration office will usually be informed automatically.
9. Family reunification
9.1 B Third-country nationals — family reunification under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (Arts 42–52)
Art. 43 FNIA governs family reunification for spouses and children of B residence permit holders:
“Foreign spouses and unmarried children under the age of 18 of persons holding a residence permit are entitled to the issue and extension of a residence permit if:
a. they live with them;
b. suitable accommodation is available;
c. they are not dependent on social assistance;
d. they are able to communicate in the local language spoken at their place of residence …»
Requirements in detail:
Entitled persons: Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 18.
Cohabitation: a requirement under Art. 43 para. 1 lit. a LEI/LStrI/FNIA.
Needs-based housing: Size in square metres and number of rooms in accordance with cantonal practice.
No dependence on social welfare: Lit. c.
Language skills: At least level A1 in spoken language or registration for a language support course (Art. 43 para. 1 lit. d FNIA; Art. 73a OASA).
Family reunification deadlines must be observed in accordance with Art. 47 LEI/LStrI/FNIA:
for spouses: within five years;
for children under 12: within five years;
for children between 12 and 18: within twelve months.
The deadlines begin with the date of the family relationship or the issue of the B residence permit to the person joining the family.
9.2 B EU/EFTA — Family reunification under the FZA (Art. 3 Annex I)
As already explained in section 4.4, the family reunification provisions under the AFMP are broader and also cover relatives in the descending and ascending line. The deadlines under the AFMP are less restrictive than the deadlines under the FNIA.
Cross-link: Detailed marriage procedures and birth registration are documented in the life-event dossiers (life-events/le_marriage_in_ch.md, life-events/le_marriage_abroad.md, life-events/le_birth_in_ch.md).
10. Travelling with a B residence permit
10.1 Re-entry
The B permit is a valid residence permit for the duration of its validity, and it entitles the holder to re-enter Switzerland. The following are required:
valid passport from the country of origin;
valid B residence permit;
where applicable, a visa for nationals of third countries when re-entering via certain third countries (the visa is not required when re-entering Switzerland, as the residence permit is recognised as a residence document).
10.2 Schengen mobility (90/180-day rule)
Third-country nationals with a B residence permit may, in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code, stay in other Schengen states besides Switzerland for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days without an additional visa. The 90/180 rule is calculated cumulatively across all Schengen states – stays in Italy, Germany and France are counted together.
For longer stays in another Schengen state, a national residence permit of the destination country is required.
10.3 Longer absence from Switzerland
According to Art. 61 para. 2 AIG, the B residence permit expires if the foreign national has been abroad for more than six months continuously. An extension of this period may be granted upon request if the foreign national applies for it before the six-month period expires (Art. 61 para. 2, last sentence, AIG).
For EU/EFTA B permit holders, more generous regulations apply regarding stays abroad under the AFMP regime – however, the practice remains linked to the actual maintenance of their centre of interests in Switzerland.
11. Taxes and Social Security
11.1 Withholding tax (third-country nationals B)
Third-country nationals with a B residence permit are generally subject to withholding tax, unless they have a different residence status:
The tax is deducted directly by the employer from the gross salary.
If the gross annual income exceeds CHF 120,000 (as of 1 January 2024 for most cantons), a subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) will be carried out.
In the case of joint taxation with a Swiss spouse or a holder of a C settlement permit, withholding tax does not apply; instead, ordinary taxation applies.
11.2 EU/EFTA-B and Taxes
EU/EFTA nationals with a B residence permit are subject to the same withholding tax rules. Double taxation agreements with the country of origin may provide for additional regulations in special cases (cross-border workers, relocation, etc.).
11.3 Swiss social security schemes — compulsory
All holders of a B permit who are resident in Switzerland are compulsorily insured in:
AHV (Old Age and Survivors' Insurance);
IV (Disability Insurance);
EO (Earnings Replacement Ordinance);
ALV (unemployment insurance, if in employment);
UV (accident insurance, provided by the employer);
BVG (Occupational pension scheme / 2nd pillar), provided that the annual income exceeds the entry threshold (as of 01.01.2024: CHF 22,050).
Health insurance (basic health insurance under the KVG) is compulsory for all persons residing in Switzerland and must be taken out within three months of taking up residence (Art. 3 KVG).
12. Common Misunderstandings and Errors
12.1 A B permit is not a C permit.
The B permit is always temporary and always tied to a specific purpose. The C permit (settlement) is of unlimited duration and not tied to a specific purpose. Anyone who holds a B permit is not considered to be «settled» — they are authorised to reside in Switzerland.
12.2 A third-state national is not an EU/EFTA national.
The two schemes differ fundamentally in:
Aspect
B permit for third-country nationals
B permit for EU/EFTA nationals
Legal entitlement
No (at the discretion of the authorities)
Yes (if the requirements of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons are met)
12.3 A person with B refugee status is not the same as a person with a standard B permit.
A recognised refugee with asylum status receives a B residence permit for refugees in accordance with Art. 60 AsylA. This is legally distinct from the “standard” B permit:
it will not be revoked as long as the asylum status remains valid;
it grants enhanced social and integration rights;
it is linked to the travel document function for refugees (Fedlex·Art. 59 AIG, Art. 1 Travel Document Ordinance).
Cross-link: Detailed information on refugee status can be found in permits/permit_a_recognised_refugee.md.
12.4 A B permit is not a G (cross-border) permit.
The G cross-border permit (Fedlex·Art. 35 AIG) is issued to persons who work in a Swiss border region but retain their residence in the neighbouring country. It is not a residence permit, but a work permit with a daily or weekly obligation to return.
12.5 B is not Ci (family members of international staff)
The Ci permit (Art. 22 para. 3 GSG; Ordinance on the Employment of Foreign Nationals in International Organisations) is granted to spouses and children of persons with diplomatic accreditation or employees of international organisations. It allows gainful employment but is linked to the status of the main person.
13. Cantonal procedures and contact points
The granting, extension and revocation of the B permit are a cantonal responsibility (Fedlex·Art. 88 AIG, in conjunction with Fedlex·Art. 121 BV). Each canton has a migration office / Office cantonal de la population / Ufficio della migrazione or a similarly named body. The federal competence arises from Art. 121 para. 1 BV, which assigns the legislation on entry and exit and on residence permits to the Confederation; the implementation, however, is the responsibility of the cantons under the supervision of the SEM (Fedlex·Art. 109 AIG).
The cantonal procedures differ in several respects in practice:
Registration of residence: in most cantons, registration must take place within 14 days of taking up residence (Fedlex·Art. 12 AIG, Fedlex·Art. 9 VZAE). In some cantons, the deadline has been reduced to 8 days — failure to comply may result in an administrative fee and, in the event of repeated offences, an entry in the migration file.
Amount of fees: Initial issue, renewal and change of permits are subject to a cantonal fee (usually CHF 100–200) and a federal fee (usually CHF 90–140). The exact amounts vary depending on the canton and are regulated in the cantonal administrative fees ordinance.
Processing times: simple extensions can be processed in some cantons within 2–4 weeks; complex initial permits or changes involving an assessment of priority for nationals generally take 2–4 months.
Language of proceedings: Proceedings are conducted in the respective cantonal official language – German in German-speaking Switzerland, French in French-speaking Switzerland, Italian in Ticino, and Romansh where necessary in Graubünden.
Cross-link to the cantonal overview: Practical procedures, fees, processing times and contact details for each canton are documented in the Cantonal Cluster files (see the Canton Cluster in the table of contents).
13a. Procedural documents — what to submit with which application
The cantonal migration offices require a list of required documents to be submitted with each application (initial permit, extension, change of canton, family reunification), which can be broadly divided into the following categories:
Proof of identity: valid passport; birth certificate with apostille or legalisation; in the case of spouses, marriage certificate with apostille/legalisation and certified translation into a Swiss official language.
Proof of residence: Rental agreement or proof of ownership; confirmation from the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence.
Proof of employment (for employees): employment contract, payslips for the last three to six months, confirmation from the employer of the employment; for self-employed persons, in addition, extract from the commercial register, AVS registration, balance sheet and profit and loss statement for the last two financial years.
Proof of financial means (for non-working individuals, students, and pensioners): bank statements, confirmation of scholarship or pension, proof of health insurance.
Criminal record extract: required for initial permits for third-country nationals from their country of origin and for each country of residence during the last five years.
Proof of integration: Language certificate (fide / telc / Goethe / DELF / CELI etc.), if relevant; proof of attendance on language courses in cases of family reunification; confirmation of integration measures (e.g. participation in an initial information session), depending on the canton.
Incomplete files will result in requests for supplementary information and, consequently, delays. If the file is repeatedly incomplete, the procedure may be suspended in accordance with Art. 13 of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure.
14. Status Mosaic: Who has which B permit?
The B permit is divided into several sub-categories within the permit logic, but always indicates the right of residence within the same basic category.
B EU/EFTA — Based on the FZA.
B permit (third-country nationals in employment) — FNIA Art. 18 / 19 / 23.
B third-country nationals (family reunification) — Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration Art. 42–52.
B third-country national (studies) — FNIA Art. 27.
B third-country national (pensioner) — FNIA Art. 28.
Third-country national (hardship case) — LEI/LStrI/FNIA Art. 30 para. b.
B refugee — AsylA Art. 60.
The legal consequences of the respective B sub-category – in particular with regard to access to employment, family reunification and transition to a C permit – vary. Anyone with a specific question about extension, change or revocation should first know the sub-category of their B permit (the categorisation can be found on the residence permit).
15. Status of Sources and Stale Threshold
The content of this page is based on the consolidated federal ordinances as of 1 January 2024 (FNIA, OASA, AFMP, AsylA) and the SEM guidelines on foreign nationals and asylum matters. For individual detailed thresholds, quotas and cantonal practice information, please note the date indicated in the text – these values are adjusted annually by the Federal Council or the cantons.
The stale threshold date for this page is 90 days. Earlier versions may be superseded in the event of statutory or practically relevant changes (e.g. a new Federal Council decision on maximum numbers, a new amendment to an ordinance, significant case law from the Federal Supreme Court).
The content was drafted by SENIOR COUNSEL and reviewed by the EDITORIAL TEAM, but remains in AI-DRAFT status until signed off by CLR (Lawyer-of-Record). For legally binding matters, in particular regarding revocation, appeals and hardship cases, it is strongly recommended to consult a lawyer registered in the relevant canton.
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"
