Switzerland - Residence Permit

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Procedure

• To apply for a residence permit you will need to get in touch with your local Canton (see contact information below).
• Biometric data are obtained from the applicant by the corresponding authority in the Canton of residence.
• Identification of the applicant is based on his/her passport.
• Biometric residence permits for foreigners are produced centrally by a single company and are delivered or issued to the applicant by the usual means.
• Residence permit fees cover the following: application processing, issuance of residence permit and capture of biometric data.

Note: First-generation residence permits for foreign nationals (i.e. no biometric data stored) shall remain valid until the expiry date. The new biometric residence permit shall only be issued after the previous residence permit has expired or if changes in personal data require issuance of a new residence permit.

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Required Documents

• Completed application
• Passport

Office Locations & Contacts

State Secretariat for Migration
Quellenweg 6
CH-3003 Bern-Wabern

Office hours for phone inquiries:
Monday through Friday from 9 till 11 a.m. and from 2 till 4 p.m.

Reception:
Tel +41 58 465 11 11
Fax +41 58 465 93 79

Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities

Eligibility

Recipients of biometric residence permits for foreigners

• Third-state nationals
• Third-state nationals who are family members of Swiss citizens
• Third-state nationals who are family members of EU/EFTA citizens
• Citizens of EU member states that do not yet fully benefit from the provisions of the Free Movement of Persons Agreement (e.g. Croatia)

Biometric residence permits shall be issued to holders of the following categories of residence permit:

• Short-term residence permits (L)
• Residence permits (B)
• Settlement permits (C)

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

A distinction is made between short-term residence permits (less than 1 year), annual residence permits (limited) and permanent residence permits (unlimited).

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

The application procedure and issuance of a biometric residence permit are decided by the Canton of residence.

Required Information

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

If you are planning to work or stay in Switzerland for longer than three months you will need to secure a permit. Residence permits are issued by the Cantonal Migration Offices. A distinction is made between short-term residence permits (less than 1 year), annual residence permits (limited) and permanent residence permits (unlimited).

Various types of residence permits:

EU/EFTA nationals

• L EU/EFTA permit (Short-term residents)
• B EU/EFTA permit (Resident foreign nationals)
• C EU/EFTA permit (Settled foreign nationals)
• Ci EU/EFTA permit (Resident foreign nationals with gainful employment)
• G EU/EFTA permit (Cross-border commuters)

Non-EU/EFTA nationals:

• Permit Ci (residence permit with gainful employment)
• Permit G (cross-border commuter permit)
• Permit F (provisionally admitted foreigners)
• Permit N (permit for asylum-seekers)
• Permit S (people in need of protection)

Third-state nationals (L, B, C) are issued Biometric residence permits.

Following is a procedure on how to obtain Biometric residence permits for foreign nationals.

Information which might help

Embedded Microchip on the Card: A symbol on the upper left-hand side of the front of the card indicates that the residence permit contains an embedded microchip with biometric data: two digital fingerprints and a facial image. The data are stored for five years and may only be used for the purpose of issuing a new biometric residence permit without the need for additional data processing. The biometric residence permit for foreign nationals meets stringent international standards. The data are protected by a secure access control and an electronic key. The fingerprints are especially protected. The microchip does not allow a person to be located or monitored.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

https://www.ch.ch/en/renewal-overview-swiss-residence-permit

Others

More information which might help people.