Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration plus implementing ordinance.
Last reviewed
03.06.2026
Statute as of
01.01.2024
Statute citations
3 linked
Reading time
29 min read
As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
AIG and OASA — Glossary of Terms in Swiss Immigration Law
Effective date: 01.01.2024 — State of federal law at the time of initial drafting.
Frequently asked
4 answers on this topic.
Concrete questions people ask about FNIA · OASA — Glossary.
The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, SR 142.20) is the key federal law for third-country nationals. The Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Employment (OASA, SR 142.201) supplements the FNIA with detailed rules. Together, they govern all permits except those under asylum law (AsylA) and the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (for EU/EFTA citizens).
: AI draft, pending review by the supervising lawyer of record (CLR — Lawyer-of-Record).
This file is the most frequently linked file in the SIP-v3 corpus. Each permit and life event article refers back to the federal statutes defined here. It contains the general statutory framework – it does not apply the law to specific individuals.
1. AIG — Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration
Subject matter and purpose
The Federal Act of 16 December 2005 on Foreign Nationals and Integration (AIG, SR 142.20) came into force on 1 January 2008. The revision of 1 January 2019 changed the former “Federal Act on Foreign Nationals” (AuG) to the current AIG; integration was made the defining and substantive element.
The FNIA governs the entry, stay and employment of persons who do not hold Swiss citizenship. It also governs the integration of the foreign resident population and the conditions for the granting, extension and revocation of residence permits.
Scope of application (Art. 2 LEI/LStrI/FNIA)
The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA) applies to foreign nationals, unless other provisions of federal law or international treaties to which Switzerland is a party apply. For nationals of EU/EFTA member states, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU (AFMP) takes precedence over the FNIA, insofar as it contains more favourable provisions (see framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md). For asylum seekers and recognised refugees, the Asylum Act (AsylA, SR 142.31) takes precedence over the FNIA, insofar as it contains special provisions (see framework/fw_asylg_glossary.md).
Structure of the FNIA
The FNIA is divided into chapters that are based on the life cycle of a stay in Switzerland:
General provisions (Art. 1–9): Subject matter, scope of application, definitions of integration and the types of permits.
Entry (Art. 5–9): Requirements, visa requirements, entry restrictions.
Permit and registration requirements (Art. 10–18): who needs which permit, registration deadlines, obligations of employers.
Admission as an employee and for gainful employment (Art. 18–25): Requirements for nationals of third countries, priority for Swiss nationals, maximum numbers (quotas).
Residence permits — types (Art. 30–35): hardship case, L short-term permit, B residence permit, C settlement permit, G cross-border permit.
Extension and procedure (Art. 33 para. 3, Art. 40, Art. 41): Requirements for extension, competent authority, foreign national’s identity document.
Family reunification and family life (Art. 42–52): Spouses and children of Swiss nationals, holders of C residence permits, holders of B residence permits, dissolution of the family unit, indications of a marriage of convenience.
Integration (Art. 53–58b): promotion of integration, integration criteria, integration agreement.
F provisional admission (Art. 83–88): F status, requirements, transition from F to B.
Extinction, revocation and termination (Art. 61–64): Grounds for extinction, grounds for revocation, removal.
Data processing (Art. 102–111): SEM databases, cantonal data processing.
Criminal provisions (Art. 115–120): illegal entry, illegal stay, aiding and abetting, circumvention of marriage requirements.
Key principles
The FNIA is based on a small number of guiding principles that shape every decision made by the authorities:
Principle
Provision
Meaning
Dualism EU/EFTA vs Third States
Art. 2 para. 2 AIG
For EU/EFTA citizens, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons applies; the AIG is only applicable subsidiarily. For third-country nationals, the AIG is the primary source of law.
A third-country national may only be admitted to work if no person with priority (Swiss nationals, EU/EFTA citizens, third-country nationals residing in Switzerland with access to employment) can be found.
Integration is a prerequisite for the extension and transition of status; it is assessed on the basis of several criteria.
2. Types of permit — Definitions
This overview explains what each permit is. It does not explain who is entitled to which permit – the assessment in individual cases is not the subject of this glossary and is not the task of SwissImmigrationPro (see anti-scope/fw_anti_scope_boundaries.md).
Up to one year; renewable for a total of 24 months, and in special cases, for longer (cantonal practice and OASA).
Nationality scope
Both third-country nationals and EU/EFTA citizens; in the case of EU/EFTA citizens, the L permit is linked to a fixed-term employment contract of less than one year (AFMP logic).
Employment
Linked to the specific purpose of stay (employment contract, training, treatment). A change in the purpose of stay requires a new permit.
Detailed information
permits/permit_l_short_stay_subclasses.md — Subcategories: au pair, trainee, artists, short-term internships, medical treatment.
Initially issued for one year (third-country nationals) or five years (EU/EFTA citizens with an employment contract of indefinite duration or at least one year's duration), in accordance with the AFMP logic. Renewable pursuant to Art. 33 para. 3 AIG.
Nationality scope
Both third-country nationals and EU/EFTA citizens.
Employment
Permitted, whereby the permit is linked to a purpose of stay (e.g. work, family reunification, study, cohabitation). A change of employer for third-country nationals may require a new cantonal permit (see life-events/le_employer_change.md).
Requirements for renewal
Continued existence of the purpose of stay, no grounds for revocation pursuant to , integration pursuant to .
Unlimited; every five years, the foreign national's identity card is checked (identity verification; not a substantive review of the permit).
Nationality scope
Typically issued after ten years of uninterrupted stay with a B permit; for certain nationalities (e.g. EU/EFTA citizens from states with a settlement agreement, US citizens under the 1850 Settlement Agreement), it is issued after five years. For Swiss spouses, it is reduced to five years (Art. 42 para. 3 AIG).
Employment
Free, without being tied to an employer or a specific purpose of stay. Change of employer or self-employment without the need for cantonal authorisation.
Expiry
After six months of absence without an application for an extension of the validity period ().
Ci permit — Residence permit with the right to work for family members of international organisations
Field
Content
Federal legal basis
Host State Act of 22 June 2007 (HSG, SR 192.12) and the Host State Ordinance (V-HSG, SR 192.121); subsidiarily the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration.
Maximum validity
Linked to the duration of the main person's mission or employment; extension upon renewal.
Nationality scope
Spouses, registered partners and children up to 25 years of age of persons working in Switzerland for international organisations, permanent missions or as employees of foreign embassies and consulates and who hold a Carte de Légitimation status from the EDA.
Employment
Permitted — and this is the specific function of the Ci permit: it enables the accompanying persons, under the conditions of the Headquarters Agreement and the V-HSG, to engage in their own paid or self-employed work.
Twelve months, renewable each time (Fedlex·Art. 85 AIG). The F permit is formally a substitute for enforcement, not a residence permit in the strict sense — it is issued when the enforcement of a removal order is not permissible, not reasonable or not possible.
Nationality scope
Persons from third countries whose asylum application has been rejected or against whom a removal order exists, but the enforcement of which is blocked (non-refoulement, individual risk, humanitarian reasons, technical impossibility of enforcement).
The duration of the pending asylum proceedings. The N status ends upon completion of the proceedings (grant of asylum, issuance of an F permit, removal).
Nationality scope
Persons who have filed an asylum application in Switzerland and are awaiting a decision on the proceedings.
Employment
Restricted: according to Fedlex·Art. 43 AsylG, employment is permitted no earlier than after a three-month waiting period and after a request from an employer; during proceedings before the Federal Administrative Court, it may be further restricted.
Permit S — Persons in need of protection (temporary protection)
Field
Content
Federal legal basis
Art. 66 ff. AsylA (SR 142.31) — temporary protection in the event of mass exodus. The Federal Council activates the status by resolution (Protection Ordinance).
Maximum duration
Dependent on the Federal Council’s decision; currently (as of 04.11.2025) extended for persons from Ukraine until 04.03.2027.
Nationality scope
Currently activated for persons from Ukraine and their family members, as well as certain third-country nationals entitled to protection in Ukraine.
Employment
Permitted without a waiting period; employers must register the employment with the cantonal migration office.
Political volatility
The Federal Council can revoke the status by political decision, usually with a transitional period.
Permit G — G cross-border permit
Field
Content
Legal basis in federal law
Art. 35 AIG; for EU/EFTA citizens: in conjunction with AFMP Annex I Art. 7.
Maximum validity period
For EU/EFTA citizens: five years if the employment contract is for at least one year or of indefinite duration; one year for shorter contracts. For third-country nationals: one year, linked to the employment contract, with stricter requirements.
Scope of nationalities
Persons who maintain their residence in a neighbouring country (or in the EU/EFTA area) and commute to Switzerland for work.
Commuting requirement
Regular return to the country of residence is a fundamental requirement: for EU/EFTA citizens, at least once a week; for third-country nationals, typically daily. Cessation of commuting activities leads to the obligation to apply for a standard residence permit.
3. OASA — Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Employment
Function and relationship to the LEI/LStrI/FNIA
The Ordinance of 24 October 2007 on Admission, Residence and Employment (VZAE, SR 142.201) is the central implementing ordinance of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration. It specifies the abstract legal requirements – in particular, procedural steps, formal requirements, evidentiary requirements and maximum numbers. In French law, it is known as OASA («Ordonnance relative à l'admission, au séjour et à l'exercice d'une activité lucrative»), and in Italian as OASA («Ordinanza concernente l'ammissione, il soggiorno e l'attività lucrativa»).
Where the OASA goes beyond the FNIA: in the procedural details. While the FNIA defines hardship cases in Art. 30 only briefly, Art. 31 OASA lists seven criteria for assessing a serious personal hardship case (see life-events/le_haertefall_art30.md). While the FNIA stipulates the obligation to register in Art. 12, Art. 9 OASA regulates the operational deadlines and modalities of registration.
Structural Overview
The OASA follows the system outlined in the LEI/LStrI/FNIA:
Chapter 2 — Registration and Notification Obligations (in particular, Art. 9 ff. OASA — registration of arrival, deregistration, change of address).
Chapter 3 — Admission with the right to work (maximum numbers, clarification of the priority for nationals, requirements for wage comparison).
Chapter 4 — Residence without gainful employment (retirees, students, medical treatment).
Chapter 5 — Family Reunification (Articles 73 ff. of the OASA elaborate on Articles 42 ff. of the LEI/LStrI/FNIA, in particular regarding housing standards and language requirements).
Chapter 6 — Integration (in conjunction with the Integration Ordinance, IntV, SR 142.205).
Chapter 8 — Procedure, issue of permits, data (types of foreign nationals’ permits, data processing).
4. Key terms — Glossary of terms
Each term is presented with the relevant legal provision, a concise definition and cross-references to the detailed files in the SIP-v3 corpus.
B residence permit vs C settlement permit
The residence permit (Permit B, Fedlex·Art. 33 AIG) is a temporary permit for a specific purpose of stay. Its renewal requires that the purpose continues to exist and that the integration criteria are met.
The C settlement permit (Permit C, Fedlex·Art. 34 AIG) is a permanent permit that is not tied to a specific purpose of stay. It is granted after several years of uninterrupted stay with a B residence permit; the requirements include integration, financial independence and no significant criminal record entries.
The legal difference is not only temporal but also structural: the C permit is no longer linked to an employer, a spouse or a family situation. A C permit generally expires only after six months of absence from the country (Fedlex·Art. 61 AIG) or through revocation (Fedlex·Art. 63 AIG, high threshold).
Gainful employment (definition for the purposes of the LEI/LStrI/FNIA)
The concept of gainful employment is broadly defined in the LEI/LStrI/FNIA. It covers both dependent (employee) and independent gainful employment, short-term contract work, paid internships and apprenticeships.
Art. 11 AIG stipulates that individuals who wish to engage in gainful employment in Switzerland require a permit, regardless of the duration and level of remuneration, unless an exception applies (e.g. the eight-day notification requirement for posted EU/EFTA employees).
Family reunification (right to family reunification)
Family reunification governs the right of family members to obtain their own residence permit in Switzerland. The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration makes a strict distinction based on the status of the family member joining the family in Switzerland:
Discretionary decision by the authorities, with stricter requirements (accommodation, financial means, language certificate)
L short-term permit
The shared household is a constitutive element: family reunification requires the actual establishment of a shared household at the place of residence of the main resident (Art. 49 AIG — exceptions apply in cases of important reasons). The language requirement for spouses joining the family (A1 level in one of the official languages before entry or confirmation of registration for a language course) has been in effect since the revision of 01.01.2019 (Art. 43 para. 1 lit. d AIG for spouses of C permit holders; Art. 44 para. 1 lit. d AIG for spouses of B permit holders).
The five-year deadline (Art. 47 AIG) for asserting the right to family reunification, starting from the moment the right arose, is strict; failure to comply generally results in the loss of the claim, except in special hardship cases.
The concept of integration has two functions in the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration:
As a national objective (Art. 4 AIG): integration should promote the coexistence of the local and foreign populations and is a task for the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities, together with the social partners.
As a condition for granting a permit (Art. 58a AIG): when extending a residence permit and when transitioning from a B permit to a C permit, the authorities assess integration based on the following criteria:
a. respect for public safety and order;
b. respect for the values of the Federal Constitution;
c. language skills; and
d. participation in economic life or in acquiring education.
The operational language thresholds (A1, A2, B1, B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) are specified in the Integration Ordinance (IntV, SR 142.205) and in the SEM guidelines. For the renewal of a B residence permit, an A1 level is typically required orally; for the transition from a B residence permit to a C settlement permit after ten years, an A2 level is typically required orally and an A1 level in writing; for the facilitated transition from a B residence permit to a C settlement permit after five years or for ordinary naturalisation under the Swiss Citizenship Act, a B1 level is typically required orally and an A2 level in writing.
Hardship case (Art. 30 para. 1 lit. b LEI/LStrI/FNIA)
The hardship case regulation allows cantonal migration offices to grant a residence permit in cases of serious personal hardship, even if the ordinary admission requirements are not met (Art. 30 para. 1 lit. b AIG). The granting of such a permit is at the discretion of the authority and is subject to the approval of the SEM. The criteria are specified in Art. 31 VZAE (integration, respect for the legal system, family relationships, financial situation, length of stay, state of health, possibilities of reintegration in the country of origin).
There is no legal entitlement to a hardship permit. The assessment is made on a case-by-case basis. See detailed information: life-events/le_haertefall_art30.md.
Priority for Nationals (Art. 21 FNIA)
When admitting third-country nationals to employment, the principle of priority for nationals applies (Art. 21 AIG). A third-country national may only be admitted if it can be demonstrated that no person with priority (Swiss nationals, EU/EFTA citizens, third-country nationals residing in Switzerland with access to employment) could be found for the position. The employer must provide evidence of this, typically through documented job advertisements and recruitment efforts.
The principle of priority for domestic workers does not apply to EU/EFTA citizens, because their admission is governed by the AFMP. It also does not apply to highly qualified specialists within the meaning of Art. 30a LEI/LStrI/FNIA (e.g. top talents with recognised special qualifications), for whom a simplified procedure without applying the maximum number is possible.
Priority of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA)
For nationals of EU and EFTA states and their family members, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU of 21 June 1999 (FZA, SR 0.142.112.681) and the EFTA Agreement take precedence over the AIG, insofar as the FZA contains more favourable provisions. Specific consequences:
No priority for the employment of EU/EFTA nationals over Swiss nationals.
B residence permit for five years, subject to an indefinite or at least one-year employment contract.
Family reunification from day 1, also for family members who are nationals of third countries.
Priority of the AFMP in the event of conflicting interpretations.
Detail article: framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md.
Cantonal jurisdiction (Art. 40 AIG)
Art. 40 AIG governs the allocation of permit issuance between the Confederation and the cantons:
The cantonal migration offices are generally responsible for issuing, extending and revoking residence permits, as well as for issuing foreign nationals’ identity cards.
The SEM has powers of approval and supervision in certain situations – in particular, when granting initial authorisation to nationals of third countries, when making decisions on hardship cases (Fedlex·Art. 30 AIG) and when assessing maximum quota limits.
The municipalities handle the registration of arrivals and maintain the register of residents, and forward the registrations to the cantonal migration office.
Cantonal practice varies considerably – processing times, document requirements and discretionary powers differ. The cantonal case files in the corpus (cantonal/ca_*.md) document these differences.
Duty to register and obligation to register within 14 days (Art. 12 FNIA, Art. 9 OASA)
Art. 12 AIG stipulates the obligation to register: foreign nationals who take up residence in Switzerland must register with the competent authority before the expiry of the period for which they are allowed to stay without a permit (typically three months) and before commencing any gainful employment. The applicable deadline is, in established practice and in the SEM guidelines, 14 days from the date of entry; this is specified in the cantonal enforcement ordinances and in Art. 9 VZAE.
Deregistration upon moving away is also a requirement. Change of address within the same municipality or when moving to another municipality or canton must be reported to the relevant residents’ registration office within 14 days (Fedlex·Art. 12 AIG in conjunction with cantonal registration regulations).
Dependence on social welfare (Art. 62 and 63 FNIA)
Dependence on social welfare is a ground for revocation of residence permits under the AIG — it is not generally a condition or a ground for termination.
Art. 62 para. 1 lit. e AIG provides for the revocation of a B residence permit if the person or a person for whom they are responsible is permanently and to a considerable extent dependent on social assistance. The thresholds vary at cantonal level and are further specified in the case law of the Federal Supreme Court.
Art. 63 AIG governs the revocation of the C settlement permit – the threshold here is significantly higher: permanent and substantial receipt of social assistance is only a ground for revocation if the person has not yet resided legally in Switzerland for ten years or if there are serious breaches of public safety and order.
When extending the B residence permit, the authority assesses, in accordance with Art. 33 para. 3 AIG, in light of the integration criteria set out in Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG, whether dependence on social assistance will lead to a non-extension. Short-term dependence on social assistance due to circumstances that are not the applicant’s fault (e.g. illness, childcare during a separation phase) is typically assessed more leniently than long-term dependence.
The instructions issued by the State Secretariat for Migration are administrative directives that the SEM issues, on the basis of its supervisory powers (Fedlex·Art. 124 AIG), to ensure uniform application of the AIG, the VZAE and the AsylA. They are binding on the cantonal migration offices within the scope of federal supervision. They do not directly bind migrants and their representatives, but they are the most important source for predicting the practice of the authorities.
The key instruction corpora are:
AIG I Directives — Admission and residence (procedures, types of permits, requirements for gainful employment, specific rules for third-country nationals);
Guidelines AIG II — Integration (implementation of Fedlex·Art. 58a AIG, language certification, integration agreement, cantonal integration programmes KIP/PIC);
Guidelines on family reunification — Detailed provisions on Articles 42–52 LEI/LStrI/FNIA, language skills, housing standards;
Instructions on Citizenship — Implementation of the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA, SR 141.0).
According to Fedlex·Art. 40 AIG, the issuing of residence permits is the responsibility of the cantons. Each of the 26 cantons operates its own migration office (in French-speaking Switzerland, «Office cantonal de la population et des migrations», and in Ticino, «Sezione della popolazione») with its own processing procedures, forms, processing times and discretionary powers within the framework of federal legal requirements.
The cantonal practice can vary considerably in:
Processing time (between 3 weeks and 8 months for comparable types of application).
Document requirements (in particular for language certificates, proof of address, and proof of income);
Exercise of discretion in cases of hardship recommendations, in integration assessments, and when determining eligibility for social assistance;
Fee practice;
Language accessibility at service points and in correspondence.
For each canton, the SIP-v3 corpus contains a file cantonal/ca_<canton_code>.md with contact details, opening hours, online procedures and canton-specific features. Detailed article index: framework/fw_cantonal_acts_index.md.
7. Common Confusions of Terms
This collection brings together common points of confusion between terms from the AIG/VZAE and related areas of law – in factual form, without applying them to a specific case.
AIG vs AsylA
The FNIA governs the stay of all foreign nationals who are not in asylum proceedings or have not been in asylum proceedings. The AsylA (SR 142.31) governs the asylum procedure – asylum application, hearing, removal procedure, temporary protection. Transitions are possible: a rejected asylum application may lead to an F permit (Art. 83 FNIA), recognised refugee status may lead to a B permit with asylum, and a person who has been provisionally admitted for a long period may be transferred to a B permit under hardship considerations (Art. 84 para. 5 FNIA in conjunction with Art. 30 FNIA).
Glossary mapping: framework/fw_asylg_glossary.md.
Permit vs. Status
A permit (B, C, L, F, Ci, G) is an administrative document that grants the right of residence and access to employment. A status (S protection status, refugee status, provisional admission) is the underlying legal qualification of the person, from which the right to a specific permit arises. Status and permit can be separate – for example, when a recognised refugee holds a B permit with the endorsement "asylum" (status: refugee; permit: B).
B residence permit vs. C settlement permit
See above for the definition of “B residence permit vs C settlement permit”. In practice – including in official documents – the two terms are not always used with strict precision; the code designation B or C on the foreign national’s identity document is the definitive indicator.
Family reunification vs. family reunification under the FZA
For Swiss citizens and their family members, as well as for C permit holders and their family members, the provisions of the FNIA (Art. 42 or 43 FNIA) apply.
For EU/EFTA citizens and their family members, the AFMP (Annex I) takes precedence over the FNIA. Consequently, the five-year waiting period and the stricter language requirements of Art. 44 FNIA do not apply to EU/EFTA B permit holders – family reunification is possible from day one, even for family members who are nationals of third countries.
Legal Monopoly vs. Legal Advice
The attorney monopoly (Art. 4 LLCA, SR 935.61) applies to legal representation before Swiss courts in non-criminal proceedings. Legal advice outside of court is not covered by the attorney monopoly in Switzerland and can, in principle, also be provided by non-lawyers – although anyone who offers legal advice commercially is, in any case, liable under general liability principles (CO Art. 398, UCA Art. 3). SwissImmigrationPro strictly positions itself as an information platform, not as a provider of legal advice – and refers anyone with specific questions to lawyers in the cantonal bar register. Further details can be found here: anti-scope/fw_anti_scope_boundaries.md and ADR-014 D3.
8. Cross-references in the SIP-v3 corpus
This file is referenced by virtually all permit and life event articles. The most important links are:
This file is a glossary of terms relating to federal law, not a guidance or strategy document. It does not apply the rules set out herein to specific individuals or situations. In particular:
It does not provide information on whether a specific person is entitled to a particular permit.
It does not comment on the prospects of success of applications or appeals.
It does not replace advice from a person registered in the cantonal bar register.
It does not replace the information provided by the competent cantonal migration office.
If you have questions relating to your specific situation, the SwissImmigrationPro platform’s list of lawyers verified by BFR is the right place to go. In acute emergencies (imminent removal, arrest, family crisis with consequences for permits), it is advisable to contact a lawyer or one of the specialised support services (SOS-Asyl, OSAR, cantonal advice centre for undocumented migrants) directly.
10. Update Triggers
This file will be updated without delay when:
Entry into force of an amendment to the AIG or the VZAE,
Entry into force of a Federal Supreme Court decision of significant importance for the interpretation of one of the terms defined herein (Federal Supreme Court character),
Publication of a substantially amended SEM directive,
Entry into force or termination of a treaty under international law that affects the hierarchy of precedence (in particular, amendments to the FZA).
Entry into force of a protection order or the revocation of such an order (volatility of S protection status).
The quarterly review (see ADR-016) also covers this file as part of its routine checks. Responsibility lies with the Chief Lawyer-of-Record, as per ADR-018 D3 and ADR-020 D5.
11. Note on Binding Effect
In the SIP-v3 corpus, this file is a referenced definition source. In the event of inconsistency between a statement in a detailed article (permit file, life event file) and a statement in this glossary file, the statement in this file shall prevail, insofar as it concerns federal law. For canton-specific statements, the respective canton file shall apply. In the event of conflicts between the federal law glossary and the canton file, the federal law in the glossary file will be amended – not vice versa.
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"
Last updated: 18.05.2026 — AI initial draft. Awaiting review and approval by the supervising lawyer of record (CLR — Lawyer-of-Record) in accordance with ADR-016, ADR-018 D3 and ADR-020 D5. Do not publish publicly until approved. The exact wording of the cited articles must be validated against the Fedlex version of 01.01.2024 by the CITATION-VERIFIER agent (sections marked with VERIFY comments).
As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
Reflects the cited law as of the snapshot — not a check of current force.
Anyone who takes up residence in Switzerland for more than three months must register with the competent cantonal or municipal authority within 14 days.
Permits may be revoked in the event of permanent and substantial receipt of social assistance, serious criminal offences or violation of integration obligations.
permits/permit_c_settled.md with a focus on the transition from B to C permit.
Employment
Generally permitted; registration with the cantonal migration office is required. Since the revision of 01.01.2019, access to employment has been simplified.
Transition F→B
According to Art. 84 para. 5 AIG i.c.w. Fedlex·Art. 30 AIG, a transition to an ordinary B permit is possible if the hardship requirements are met — typically after several years of residence with particular integration.
Detailed article
permits/permit_f_provisional_admission.md.
Detailed article
permits/permit_n_asylum_pending.md. Glossary in the AsylG glossary framework/fw_asylg_glossary.md.
Detailed article
permits/permit_s_ukraine_temporary_protection.md — high update SLA.
permits/permit_g_frontalier.md
(information only in v3; full product integration in v4).
