I live here · Family reunification
Bring your family over — before the deadline shuts them out.
A spouse and unmarried children under 18 can join you. Whether that is a right or a decision left to the authority's discretion depends on your permit — and a clock quietly runs from the moment you are here.
This page describes family reunification under the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act — for relatives of Swiss citizens, of settled (C) holders, and of residence (B or L) holders. EU/EFTA nationals bring family under free movement: a broader frame, with different deadlines. Asylum, F, and S status follow their own, stricter rules.
Who can come
The permit your reunification hangs on
Who can join you, and how securely, depends on your own status. The circle is the same everywhere — a spouse and unmarried children under 18 — but the difference between a right and discretion changes everything.
Relatives of Swiss citizens
A rightThe spouse and unmarried children under 18 of Swiss citizens have a legal right to the residence permit, provided they live together.
- The only basic condition: living together.
- Other relatives (children up to 21, dependent parents) only through a durable permit of a free-movement state.
Relatives of settled (C) holders
A rightThe spouse and unmarried children under 18 of a settlement-permit holder have a right — if the five conditions are met.
- A right, but tied to housing, financial independence, and language.
- For children under 18, the language proof is not required.
Relatives of residence (B / L) holders
DiscretionFor holders of a residence or short-stay permit, the permit “may” be granted — a decision left to the authority's discretion, not a right.
- The same five conditions, but with no guaranteed right.
- The authority weighs it up; the permit is not guaranteed.
“A right” means: if the conditions are met, the authority must grant it. “Discretion” means: it may, but need not. You can read this difference off your own permit.
The five conditions
What must be met for reunification
For relatives of settled holders and residence holders (Art. 43 and 44), five conditions apply. They must all be met together.
Living together: the family lives together — except where there are important reasons for separate homes.
Suitable housing: a home large enough for the family.
No social assistance: the family does not depend on social assistance.
Language: the spouse can communicate in the national language spoken at the place of residence. For the first grant, enrolling in a language course suffices; for the later renewal, oral skills of at least A1 must be proven.
No supplementary benefits: the sponsoring person does not draw annual supplementary benefits and would not draw them because of the reunification.
For unmarried children under 18, the language condition falls away. For relatives of Swiss citizens (Art. 42), only living together is required. Separate homes remain possible for important reasons, as long as the family community continues.
The deadline
Five years — and only twelve months for older children
The right to family reunification is time-limited. Let it lapse and you can bring family only for important family reasons afterwards — and the bar is high.
5years
Spouse and children
12months
Children over 12
The clock starts when your permit is granted — or, if the family forms later, with the marriage or birth.
The twelve-month window for children over twelve is the most common trap: it runs out far faster than the five years. Miss it, and only the child's welfare reopens the door.
What you file
The documents you gather
Exactly which papers are required is set by the canton. These are almost always part of it — plan for legalisation and translation early.
- Marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership.
- Children's birth certificates, with proof of custody where needed.
- Tenancy agreement or housing proof showing the number of rooms.
- Pay slips or proof of sufficient financial means.
- Proof of language skills or enrolment in a language course.
- Passports of all family members joining you.
Foreign documents need, depending on the country of origin, an apostille or legalisation and an official translation. The cantonal migration authority is authoritative.
Where other rules apply
Three cases this page does not cover
If one of these applies to you, different rules apply — here is the right path.
EU/EFTA nationals
If you bring family under free movement, the circle is wider and the five-year deadline does not apply in the same way. The overview shows which track is yours.
Back to the overviewAsylum, F or S
For provisionally admitted persons, people seeking protection, and refugees, family reunification follows its own, stricter conditions and waiting periods.
Help and contact pointsOver 18, parents, or after a separation
Adult children, parents, or residence after a separation follow special rules this page does not cover. Describe your situation to Clara.
Ask Clara
Where this information comes from
Last reviewed on 10.06.2026
General information, not lawyer-reviewed legal advice. Deadlines and conditions vary by canton and individual case; the competent migration authority prevails.
Sources
Not sure whether your reunification is a right?
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Ask ClaraGeneral information, not a substitute for legal advice in an individual case.