C settlement permit after five years — treaty or reciprocal nationalities

Settled foreign nationals  are foreign nationals who have been granted a settlement permit after five or ten years’ residence in Switzerland. The right to settle in Switzerland is not subject to any time restrictions or conditions.

The settlement permit is granted for an unlimited duration and without conditions.

In the case of EU/EFTA nationals , the issue of settlement permits is governed by the provisions of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act and the settlement treaties. This is because the Free Movement of Persons Agreement does not contain any provisions relating to settlement permits. If they meet the required conditions, nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden as well as EFTA nationals (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) are granted settlement permits pursuant to settlement treaties or reciprocal agreements after five years’ regular and uninterrupted residence in Switzerland. No such treaties exist for nationals of the other EU member states.

Under agreements concluded with the respective states, nationals from an EU-15/EFTA state who have orderly resided in Switzerland for five continuous years are granted a settlement permit (C-permit) if they meet the required conditions.

While holders of a settlement permit are entitled to stay for an unlimited period of time, their permanent residence status needs to be confirmed every five years.

If a foreign national leaves Switzerland without giving notice of departure, a short stay permit expires after three months, and a residence or settlement permit after six months. On request, a settlement permit may remain valid for a further four years.