Fees in Swiss Immigration Law — Overview 2024 / Current as of 2026

Effective date: As of 01.01.2024 (federal law); cantonal values last verified on 2026-05-19. Status: AI draft, pending review by the supervising attorney of record and by cantonal bar reviewers, as per ADR-013.

Purpose of this overview

Administrative fees in immigration proceedings consist of three layers: federal fees (laid down by the OASA, uniform for all cantons), cantonal fees (laid down in the respective cantonal migration office tariff, vary), and third-party fees (document authentication, translations, apostille). This file documents all three layers transparently. It is not exhaustive; additional fees may apply in special proceedings (e.g. hardship case application, regularisation of undocumented persons).

1. Federal Fees – OASA Art. 8 (uniform for all cantons)

The OASA sets a maximum limit for the fees in immigration permit procedures. The cantons apply this limit differently; the following figures are the maximum values set by the OASA (CHF, as of 1 January 2024).

2. Cantonal Permit Fees (Focus Cantons)

The cantons set their own fees within the federal framework. The following figures are the standard cantonal rates based on publicly available fee regulations, as of 2026-05.

Canton of Zurich (ZH)

Canton of Geneva (GE)

Canton of Bern (BE)

Canton of Basel-Stadt (BS)

Canton of Zug (ZG)

Canton of Vaud (VD)

3. Naturalisation fees

Naturalisation involves three levels of fees: federal (SCA/SVO), cantonal, and municipal. The federal fee is fixed; cantonal and municipal fees vary considerably.

Federal Fee (uniform)

Cantonal and Municipal Fees (Selection of Focus Cantons)

The amounts are standard fees; for higher incomes, the canton and municipality may charge higher fees based on a lump sum or cost-based tariff (often up to CHF 5,000 for an individual).

Note on flat-rate vs. cost-based fees: Some cantons (e.g. Zurich, Vaud) allow municipalities to charge fees on a cost basis in individual cases – in the case of wealthy applicants, this can result in fees of up to CHF 5,000 or more. Information on this can be found in the relevant municipal fee regulations. This practice is not contrary to federal law (BGE 142 I 152), but may be subject to an appeal on the grounds of proportionality.

4. Document fees (apostille, legalisation, authentication)

5. Court fees in appeal proceedings

An appeal in immigration law can be lodged at up to four levels (cantonal — FAC — Federal Supreme Court; in the case of asylum, directly: SEM → FAC → Federal Supreme Court). Court fees represent a significant cost factor.

Cantonal administrative court fees (selection)

Federal Court Fees

Advance on costs and legal aid

• Before the FAC and the Federal Supreme Court, an advance payment of costs is required before proceedings can begin (Art. 63 para. 4 VwVG, Art. 62 BGG). Amount: typically equivalent to the expected fee.
• Legal aid (Fedlex·Art. 65 VwVG, Art. 64 BGG): can be applied for if the applicant is without means and there is a prospect of success. It is granted restrictively in immigration proceedings. The application should be submitted with the appeal.

6. Special Cases

Hardship case application (Art. 30 FNIA)

• No separate federal fee; the issue is subject to the permit fee (initial issue of B permit).
• Cantons often charge a processing fee of CHF 300-800 for in-depth hardship case proceedings.
• Geneva "Papyrus" procedure: processing fee CHF 350-650, depending on the effort involved.

Regularisation of undocumented migrants

• Procedures such as hardship cases (see above).
• Additional fees for the late payment of AHV contributions (separate authority, cantonal compensation fund).

Family reunification from third countries

• Visa fee at Swiss foreign representation: typically CHF 75-90 per visa (Schengen short-stay; national visa D approximately CHF 100-160).
• Additional translation and apostille costs for foreign documents (birth, marriage, and criminal record certificates): typically CHF 200-800 per family member applying for reunification.

7. What this overview does NOT include

• Solicitors’ fees — see framework/fw_cantonal_acts_index.md

8. Updating Protocol

• Federal fees (OASA, SCA) are reviewed annually, effective 1 January. Verification takes place each January using Fedlex (responsibility: SENIOR COUNSEL agent).
• Cantonal fees are verified quarterly against the relevant cantonal website (responsibility: respective CANTONAL-PRACTICE-SPECIALIST).
• Court fees are reviewed annually, effective from 1 January (responsibility: SENIOR COUNSEL).

Related files

• procedure/pr_deadlines_table.md — Deadlines
• procedure/proc_extension_pathway.md — Extension procedure: a step-by-step guide
• procedure/proc_appeal_pathway.md

HARD GLOSSARY — non-negotiable Swiss federal codes / agency names.

Last updated: 19.05.2026 — Initial AI draft. This file must be reviewed by the lead attorney of record and by one bar reviewer per key canton (ZH/BE/BS/ZG/VD; GE directly by CLR) before its first live deployment. Quarterly updates of the cantonal values are mandatory.