SwitzerlandFamily
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
For a third-country sponsor: the spouse or registered partner and unmarried children under 18.
If you are a citizen from a third country You may bring the following family members to Switzerland: your spouse or registered partner; your unmarried children under the age of 18.
The sponsor must hold a residence permit (B); reunification of the spouse and unmarried children under 18 is discretionary (they "may be granted" a residence permit), unlike the C permit.
The foreign spouse and unmarried children under 18 of a person with a residence permit may be granted a residence permit or an extension thereof if:
Unlike the C permit, the B permit does not necessarily give you the right to family reunification, which may, however, also be granted by the authorities.
Family members must have a certificate from the country of origin proving the relationship, and for dependants a certificate proving dependency or cohabitation; the marriage must be recognised by Switzerland; if authorities suspect grounds to annul the marriage the reunification request is suspended.
Your family members arriving in Switzerland must have:
a certificate from the country of origin proving your relationship; for dependants, a certificate from the authorities of the country of origin or provenance proving that they are dependent on you or were living with you;
Your marriage or a registered partnership must be recognised by Switzerland. If you are part of a bi-national couple, you cannot bring your partner with you if you are not officially married.
If, on assessing the reunification of spouses in accordance with Articles 42–45, the competent authorities have reason to believe that there are grounds under Article 105 numbers 5 or 105 a of the Civil Code (CC) 78 for the marriage to be annulled, they shall report this to the competent authority under Article 106 CC. 79 The request for the reunification of spouses is suspended until this authority makes its decision. If the authority raises an action for annulment, the request is suspended until a legally binding judgment has been issued.
Suitable housing must be available, the family members must not depend on social assistance, and the sponsor must not claim supplementary benefits (SBA) or would not be entitled to them due to the reunification. Health insurance is compulsory for each family member.
suitable housing is available; c. they do not depend on social assistance; d. they are able to communicate in the national language spoken at their place of residence; and e. the family member they are joining is not claiming supplementary benefits according to the SBA 74 or would not be entitled to claim such benefits due to family reunification.
Health insurance is compulsory and private in Switzerland. Don't forget to conclude a contract for each member of your family.
Applications are made to the cantonal immigration authority. The right must be exercised within five years (children over twelve within twelve months). Family members of residence-permit holders may work on a salaried or self-employed basis anywhere in Switzerland. The official source does not state the permit duration or a path to independent or longer-term status.
You need to contact the following cantonal immigration authorities.
The right to family reunification must be exercised within five years. Children over twelve must be reunified with their family within twelve months.
The spouse and children of a Swiss national or of a person with a settlement permit or a residence permit (Art. 42–44) may work on a salaried or self-employed basis anywhere in Switzerland.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.