If you live in Switzerland and want to bring in foreign family members who live elsewhere, you can apply for family reunification. Depending on your nationality and your residence permit , family reunification is a right or a possibility left to the discretion of the authorities. Unlike the C permit, the B permit does not necessarily give you the right to family reunification, which may, however, also be granted by the authorities. Asylum seekers are not eligible. You cannot bring all your family members to Switzerland.
You may bring the following family members to Switzerland:. Your marriage or a registered partnership must be recognised by Switzerland. If you are part of a bi-national couple, you cannot bring your partner with you if you are not officially married. To avoid being denied family reunification, you must have large enough accommodation according to Swiss standards to house the whole family.
You must not depend on social assistance. If you are self-employed or unemployed, you must also provide proof of sufficient financial resources to support your family members. Your family members arriving in Switzerland must have:. You generally have five years to apply for family reunification, but only one year if the application concerns children over 12 years old. This is so that they can integrate more rapidly into Swiss society. If you have been provisionally admitted to Switzerland F permit , the State Secretariat for Migration can examine your application for family reunification after 18 months.
You need to contact the following cantonal immigration authorities. If the application for family reunification is accepted, your family members will obtain a residence permit the type of permit generally depends on your status. With the exception of your parents or grandparents, your family members have the right to work in Switzerland.
Only holders of a short-term residence permit L permit need to first apply for a work permit from the competent cantonal authority. Children who join you in Switzerland are required to attend free compulsory schooling in Switzerland at least until the age of The system varies from canton to canton.
