Bringing your family to Switzerland
Step by step
- 1
Check who counts as family
For EU/EFTA sponsors under the Free Movement Agreement (AFMP/ALCP): spouse or registered partner, and descendants under 21 (or older if financially dependent). For non-EU/EFTA sponsors under the FNIA/AIG/LEI: spouse or registered partner, and unmarried children under 18. Unmarried cohabiting partners are not recognised for reunification.
- 2
Mind the non-EU/EFTA deadlines
Under Art. 47 FNIA, non-EU/EFTA family members must be applied for within 5 years of the sponsor obtaining permit or family relationship, and within 12 months for children over age 12. Missing the deadline generally forfeits the right — later applications are only granted for important family reasons. EU/EFTA reunification has no equivalent hard deadline but should be filed while the family relationship still exists.
- 3
Meet the sponsor's requirements
You must show suitable housing (cantons apply size guidelines based on the number of family members), stable income sufficient for the household without social assistance, and — for non-EU/EFTA reunification of a spouse — that the family will live together. Some cantons require basic language skills (A1) for the joining spouse under Art. 43/44 FNIA.
- 4
File at the cantonal migration office
The sponsor files the application at the cantonal Migrationsamt / Service de la population / Ufficio della migrazione. Standard documents: passports, apostilled marriage/birth certificates with certified translations, rental contract, recent payslips or employer confirmation, and current Betreibungsauszug (debt-collection extract).
- 5
Entry visa for visa-required nationals
Once the canton pre-approves, family members from visa-required countries apply for a national entry visa (type D) at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Visa-exempt nationals can travel and finalise the permit in Switzerland.
- 6
Register within 14 days of arrival
Each family member registers individually at the Gemeinde within 14 days. They receive their own residence permit — usually the same type as the sponsor (B for a B holder, C after the qualifying period).
EU/EFTA vs non-EU/EFTA: two different worlds
Under the Free Movement Agreement, EU/EFTA nationals can bring their spouse, registered partner and descendants under 21 (older descendants and ascendants if financially dependent) with a light-touch procedure and no strict deadline. Non-EU/EFTA sponsors fall under the FNIA/AIG/LEI, where the family circle is narrower (spouse and minor children under 18), housing and income are examined, and Art. 47 imposes hard time limits. Third-country family members of EU/EFTA sponsors sit in a hybrid regime that mostly follows the AFMP.
The Art. 47 FNIA time bomb
For non-EU/EFTA reunification, applications must be filed within 5 years of the sponsor obtaining the permit or of the family relationship arising, and within 12 months once a child turns 12. After that, only 'important family reasons' — a high evidentiary bar — will unlock a late application. If you know you may want to bring family later, file protective applications inside the deadline even before the practical move.
Housing and income in practice
Cantons apply their own guidelines to 'appropriate housing' (angemessene Wohnung / logement approprié) — typically at least one habitable room per person plus one. Financial sufficiency is measured against the SKOS/CSIAS social assistance benchmark plus fixed monthly costs. If income is borderline, adding a family member on a supplementary insurance policy or pillar 3a savings does not count — regular earned income is what the migration office weighs.
What happens after arrival
Reunified family members receive their own permit card in the same category as the sponsor. Children of school age are enrolled in the local public school by the Gemeinde — placement is by residence, not choice. Each family member must have their own KVG/LAMal basic health insurance within 3 months of arrival; children may be entitled to premium subsidies depending on the canton and household income.
If the application is refused
The cantonal decision letter states the appeal route — usually the cantonal administrative court within 30 days, and thereafter the Federal Administrative Court. Legal aid is available in many cantons if means are limited. Grounds most often overturned on appeal are procedural (missing hearing) or wrong assessment of the Art. 47 exception for important family reasons.
Your next step
Turn this guide into action — run the numbers for your own situation, then work through the deadlines for your canton.
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Build my free checklistNon-EU/EFTA sponsors: the Art. 47 FNIA deadlines are the single biggest failure mode. A child brought over after age 12 outside the 12-month window is almost always refused.
Reliance on social assistance is a ground for refusal or later revocation of a reunified family permit (Art. 62 FNIA).
Refusals can be appealed to the cantonal administrative court, usually within 30 days of notification — check the exact deadline printed on the decision.
People also asked
Can my reunified spouse work in Switzerland?
Yes. A spouse joining any B, C or L permit holder receives the right to gainful employment or self-employment across the whole country (Art. 46 FNIA). The employer does not need a separate authorisation for the spouse themselves.
What about registered same-sex partners and, since 2022, same-sex spouses?
Registered partnerships (eingetragene Partnerschaft / partenariat enregistré) are treated equivalently to marriage for reunification. Since 'Marriage for All' took effect on 1 July 2022, same-sex marriages contracted in Switzerland or abroad also qualify.
Do we need to prove language skills?
For non-EU/EFTA spouses of B holders, cantons commonly require A1 spoken skills in the local language, or enrolment in a language course (Art. 43/44 FNIA). EU/EFTA reunification has no formal language test.
What if the marriage ends after reunification?
The reunified spouse's permit can be kept if the marriage lasted at least 3 years in Switzerland and integration is successful, or where important personal reasons exist (Art. 50 FNIA). Contact a legal advice service before separating — timing matters.
Are the fees per person?
Yes — cantonal administrative fees apply per family member and are on top of any visa fees at the embassy. Budget for apostille, certified translations of civil-status documents and, where required, legalisations from the country of origin.
Official sources for this guide
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Register your family at the Gemeinde