Which permit fits your situation?

The categories at a glance

Swiss residence permits

Whatever your situation, the overview helps: which permit exists, how long it is valid and what it is based on.

No title / notification

up to 3 months

Short stays without gainful activity (and, for EU/EFTA, gainful activity up to 90 days) require no permit, only at most a notification.

VZAE Art. 9

Permit L: short stay

under 12 months

For fixed-term stays of under a year, tied to purpose and contract duration.

AIG Art. 32

Permit B: residence

from 12 months

The ordinary residence title for a longer stay; valid five years for EU/EFTA, one year and renewable for third countries.

AIG Art. 33

Settlement C: open-ended

after 5 to 10 years

Open-ended right of residence, granted after several years of ordinary residence, not an entry-level title.

AIG Art. 34

Permit G: cross-border

with return

For people resident abroad who work in Switzerland and return weekly.

AIG Art. 25 / FZA Anhang I Art. 7