Moving to Switzerland

EU/EFTA nationals can obtain the permit without an employment contract as well — in order to look for work. According to SEM guidance, this practice does not create any entitlement to social assistance.

The Foreign Nationals and Integration Act and the settlement treaties. According to SEM guidance, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons does not govern settlement. For nationals of the remaining EU member states there are no settlement treaties. SEM determines the earliest date from which the cantonal authorities may issue the permit.

For third-country nationals the rules are different: a permanent residence permit in the neighbouring country is required, along with residence in its border zone for at least six months, compliance with the conditions for admission to the labour market and a return home at least once a week. Such a permit is usually valid for one year and is limited to the border zone of the issuing canton, and a change of job or occupation requires approval. Source: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/aufenthalt/nicht_eu_efta/ausweis_g__grenzgaengerbewilligung.html.

Article 27 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (AIG) — residence without gainful employment for the purpose of education and further training. SEM publishes the detailed conditions in its Weisungen AIG guidance, chapter 5 “Aufenthalt ohne Erwerbstätigkeit” (PDF), which also contains the circular on the register of private schools of 16.05.2024 and the language skills form. The specific requirements on finances and documents are not set out on the page itself — check them with the cantonal migration authority.

Article 28 AIG — residence of pensioners without gainful employment. A separate ground is an important public interest or a substantial fiscal interest of the canton, for example lump-sum taxation (Aufwandbesteuerung). The numerical thresholds (the minimum age, the amount of means, the tax base under Aufwandbesteuerung) are set out in the Weisungen AIG guidance, chapter 5, and in cantonal tax law.

The deadlines and the language requirement are confirmed in the SEM FAQ: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home/themen/aufenthalt/faq.html. The procedure for third-country nationals is described in a separate SEM instruction, “Familiennachzugsverfahren von Drittstaatsangehörigen” of 04.12.2025, with an annex listing the countries (PDF on the source page).

Successful integration, familiarity with Swiss living conditions and the absence of any threat to internal and external security are required.

The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (AIG/FNIA, SR 142.20) and the Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Employment (VZAE/ASEO, SR 142.201). The number of admissions from countries outside the EU/EFTA is limited: the maximum numbers (quotas) are set by the Federal Council each year in the VZAE ordinance. The SEM page does not give the specific quota figures, it refers to the Federal Council press releases; the most recent one mentioned is that of 19.11.2025 on keeping the third-country quotas for 2026 unchanged.