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Easy answers about life in Switzerland
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  • Foreign nationals in Switzerland
  • Living in Switzerland
  • Family reunification
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  • Foreign nationals in Switzerland
  • Living in Switzerland
  • Family reunification

Family reunification

If you live in Switzerland and your family lives abroad, you can find more information here about the requirements for bringing your children, spouse or parents to Switzerland. 

Good to know

Recognised refugees may request to bring family members to Switzerland. This is not possible for asylum seekers.
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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. 

If you are a Swiss citizen

You may bring the following family members to Switzerland:

  • your spouse or registered partner;

  • your unmarried children and grandchildren under the age of 18 (and even under the age of 21 or dependent if they have a residence permit from an EU/EFTA country);

  • your dependent parents and grandparents if they have a residence permit from an EU/EFTA country (unless you are in education or training).

If you are a citizen from an EU/EFTA country

You may bring the following family members to Switzerland:

  • your spouse or registered partner;

  • your children and grandchildren under the age of 21 or dependent;

  • your dependent parents and grandparents (unless you are in education or training).

If you are a citizen from a third country

You may bring the following family members to Switzerland:

  • your spouse or registered partner;

  • your unmarried children under the age of 18.

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:

  • a valid identity card or passport;

  • a visa if necessary;

  • a certificate from the country of origin proving your relationship;

  • for dependants, a certificate from the authorities of the country of origin or provenance proving that they are dependent on you or were living with you;

  • for your spouse, a certificate of enrolment in a language course if they are not able to make themselves understood in the national language spoken where you live (A1 level at least orally).

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 16. The system varies from canton to canton. The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education provides an overview of the Swiss education system on its website.
Health insurance is compulsory and private in Switzerland. Don't forget to conclude a contract for each member of your family.
You will find further useful information on the page Moving to Switzerland.
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