Permit B – Residence Permit
The B permit is a temporary residence permit for people who live in Switzerland for a longer period.
It is granted, among others, to:
- employees
- students
- persons joining family members
- recognized refugees
- certain EU/EFTA nationals
- persons benefiting from hardship regulations
A hardship permit may be granted to persons who are in a particularly difficult situation and are allowed to remain in Switzerland despite lacking a regular residence status.
Factors such as integration, duration of stay, or family situation play an important role.
The permit must be renewed regularly.
Permit C – Settlement Permit
The C permit is a permanent settlement permit and offers more security than the B permit.
It is generally granted after several years of lawful residence, usually after:
- 10 years of residence
- or already after 5 years for certain nationalities
Persons holding a C permit enjoy a more stable residence status and fewer restrictions.
Permit L – Short-Term Residence Permit
The L permit applies to short-term stays of less than one year.
It is often granted for:
- temporary employment contracts
- internships
- seasonal work
- short training or study stays
The permit is limited in time.
Permit G – Cross-Border Commuter Permit
The G permit is intended for persons who live abroad but work in Switzerland.
Cross-border commuters must regularly return to their place of residence abroad.
Permit N – Asylum Seekers
The N permit is issued to persons who have submitted an asylum application in Switzerland and are waiting for a decision.
This permit allows residence during the asylum procedure.
However, rights are limited, particularly regarding travel or access to the labor market.
Permit F – Temporary Admission
The F permit is issued to persons whose removal has been ordered, but whose return is currently impossible, unlawful, or unreasonable.
There are:
- temporarily admitted refugees
- temporarily admitted foreign nationals
Legally, the F permit is not considered a regular residence permit, even though many affected persons live in Switzerland for years under this status.
Permit S – Protection Status S
Protection status S was created for persons fleeing war or violence who need rapid protection.
It became especially well known through the protection granted to refugees from Ukraine.
Persons with status S do not need to undergo the regular asylum procedure and quickly receive residence rights as well as access to work, school, and medical care.
Sans-Papiers
Sans-papiers are persons without a valid residence permit.
They live in Switzerland despite lacking legal status – often for many years – and frequently work in sectors such as domestic work, cleaning, or hospitality.
Even without a permit, they still have certain fundamental rights.