Family reunion
In order for your family to be able to live with you in Switzerland, you must apply for family reunification.
The application is being examined by the authorities. It depends on what residence status you have.
With the C permit , family reunification is possible.
With the B permit , you are not necessarily entitled to family reunification. Depending on the circumstances, the authorities can still grant family reunification.
Asylum seekers cannot apply for family reunification. With the F permit , you are not necessarily entitled to family reunification. Depending on the circumstances, the authorities can still grant family reunification.
Regardless of the type of residence permit you have, you can have these family members join you:
- Spouse
- Registered partner
- Children under 21 years of age
- Relatives in the descending line, such as children over 21 years of age or grandchildren, provided that you support them.
- Relatives of you or of your wife or husband in the ascending line, such as parents or grandparents, provided that you support them.
If you are in vocational training or school in Switzerland, your spouse and dependent children may come to you in Switzerland. If you are Konkubinat , your partner will not receive a residence permit as part of family reunification.
Application forms and leaflets
Important for family reunification:
- Application for family reunification (form A2)
- Application for a foreigner permit (form A1)
- Fact sheet on family reunification EU/EFTA
- Information sheet on the integration agreement on family reunification
You can have these family members join them in Switzerland:
- Your spouse
- Your registered partner
- Your children under 18 years of age.
If you want to have your whole family join you, you must have a sufficiently large apartment so that you can live there as a family.
They must be able to prove that they have a job with enough income for the whole family. If you are self-employed or unemployed, you must provide proof that you have sufficient financial resources to support your family.
Under these conditions, you can submit an application for family reunification to Einwohneramt of your place of residence.
If the application is approved, the members of your family will receive a residence permit. It's usually the same one you already have yourself.
Application forms and leaflets
Important for family reunification:
- Application for family reunification (form A2)
- Application for a foreigner permit (form A1)
- Fact sheet on family reunification
- Fact sheet on family reunification
- Information sheet on the integration agreement on family reunification
By signing an integration agreement, your family members undertake to attend a German language course (does not apply to relatives of Swiss nationals or EU/EFTA nationals).
The adults are given permission to work in Switzerland. Parents and grandparents are exempt from this.
All your children attend compulsory school here. This is free of charge and must be attended at least until the age of 16.
It is possible that your family members will only receive a visa at the Swiss embassy abroad if you fill out a declaration of commitment.
This shows whether you have sufficient financial resources for the stay of the family members. You must fill out and submit the declaration of commitment to the municipality of residence. There your solvency will be checked.
The canton communicates the result of this examination to the Swiss embassy abroad. Then the embassy decides on the issuance of visas for your family.
Contact points
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