Settled foreign nationals are foreign nationals who have been granted a settlement permit after five or ten years’ residence in Switzerland. The right to settle in Switzerland is not subject to any time restrictions or conditions. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) determines the earliest date from which the competent national authorities may grant settlement permits.
In the case of EU/EFTA nationals, the issue of settlement permits is governed by the provisions of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act and the settlement treaties. This is because the Free Movement of Persons Agreement does not contain any provisions relating to settlement permits. If they meet the required conditions, nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden as well as EFTA nationals (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) are granted settlement permits pursuant to settlement treaties or reciprocal agreements after five years’ regular and uninterrupted residence in Switzerland. No such treaties exist for nationals of the other EU member states.
Documentation
Last modification 01.03.2021
