Country Reference
Switzerland
Visa news and reference for Switzerland — the L short-term and B initial residence permits issued to third-country nationals under the federal annual quota system, the C settlement permit granted after five to ten years of residence, the G cross-border commuter permit, the S protection status established under the Foreign Nationals Act in 1998 and activated for Ukrainian nationals from 12 March 2022, and the AFMP Free Movement framework that governs labour mobility for European Union and European Free Trade Association citizens. Switzerland is a Schengen Area member from 12 December 2008 but is neither an EU nor EEA member; it operates a quota-based admission system for non-EU/EFTA workers under the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act of 16 December 2005 (Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz, AIG / FNIA), in force since 1 January 2008.
Last verified: May 28, 2026
Key facts
- Primary immigration framework
- Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA / AIG) of 16 December 2005, in force from 1 January 2008; Asylum Act of 26 June 1998 governs international protection
- Primary agency
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM / Staatssekretariat für Migration), part of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP / EJPD)
- Cantonal authorities
- Residence-permit applications, renewals, and cantonal-change requests are processed by the migration office of each of the 26 cantons under federal framework
- Annual third-country quota
- Federal quota of 8,500 places set by Federal Council ordinance, split into B and L permit tranches and allocated quarterly across cantons; quota year runs 1 January to 31 December
- AFMP / Free Movement
- Bilateral Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons with the European Union and EFTA, signed 21 June 1999, in force from 1 June 2002 — governs labour mobility for EU and EFTA citizens outside the third-country quota system
- Schengen status
- Member of the Schengen Area from 12 December 2008; not an EU or EEA member
- Currency
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- Demonym
- Swiss
Visa types covered
- Schengen C visa (short-stay — up to 90 days for tourism, business, family visits)
- National D visa (long-stay — over 90 days for residence, study, employment, family reunification)
- L permit (short-term residence — initial duration up to 1 year, renewable to maximum 24 months)
- B permit (initial residence permit — typically 1 year, renewable; converts to C after qualifying residence)
- C permit (settlement permit / permanent residence — generally after 10 years; 5 years for EU/EFTA citizens or with integration agreement)
- G permit (cross-border commuter — for workers residing in EU/EFTA neighbour states)
- S permit (protection status — temporary protection under Article 4 FNIA; primary cohort Ukrainian nationals from 12 March 2022)
- F permit (provisionally admitted foreigner)
- N permit (asylum-seeker pending status decision)
- Ci permit (residence with gainful employment for family members of intergovernmental-organisation personnel)
- AFMP Free Movement of Persons (EU and EFTA citizens — bilateral agreement track, separate from third-country quota)