Residence permit

The Agreement on the Freizügigkeitsabkommen with the EU/EFTA allows you to live and work in Switzerland. A permit is required if the stay lasts longer than 3 months in a calendar year.

The following EU/EFTA permits are available:

• L permit (short-term residence permit)
  
• Permit B (residence permit)
• C permit (settlement permit)
• G permit (permit for Grenzgänger )
  

Detailed information can be found here: EU/EFTA Canton St.Gallen Permits

After entering Switzerland, you must register in person at the Einwohneramt your municipality of residence and submit the application for a foreigner permit (form A1).

The application will be reviewed and as soon as it has been approved, the Migrationsamt will issue the foreigner's identity card.

Submit an application

The application will be reviewed and you will receive a notification from the Migration Office.

For persons from other countries (Drittstaaten ), the regulations for entry into Switzerland are more restrictive. 

It depends on how long your stay will be and for what purpose you want to enter Switzerland: for example, tourism, visiting, employment, family reunification or studying.

Detailed information can be found here: Permits for third countries

Before you enter the country, submit an application:

Submit an application

The permit must have been issued before entering Switzerland. 

You must submit your application for an extension of the residence permit directly to the Migration Office. 

Enclose the following documents with the application:

• Current approval
  
• Passport of the country of origin (this must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the end of the period of stay)
• Notification from the cantonal migration authority that the permit is expiring (if you have received a notification)

You must submit the application for an extension at least 2 weeks before the expiry of the validity .

Did you come to Switzerland via family reunification? Your residence permit may not be renewed if the person who is the reason for your residence permit dies. The same applies if you divorce.

If you have a settlement permit (C permit), you can stay in Switzerland.

You can also stay in Switzerland with a B permit under certain conditions:

EU/EFTA nationals

You can apply for a residence permit in your name if you are employed or have sufficient financial means to support yourself.

Third country nationals

You can have your residence permit extended if:

• you have been married to your partner (Swiss or foreign) for at least 3 years and have lived together
• You are well integrated in Switzerland (good oral language skills and be willing to work or study)
• an extension of the stay is necessary for important personal reasons (e.g. marital violence  or difficult return to the country of origin).

People who have been displaced from Ukraine due to the war receive Schutzstatus S in Switzerland.