Swiss Residence Permits Explained: B, C, L, and G in Plain English

The B permit is a 1 to 5-year residence permit for people living and working in Switzerland. The C permit is permanent settlement, granted after 5 or 10 years. The L permit is a short-term permit under 12 months. The G permit is for cross-border commuters living in France, Germany, Italy, or Austria and working in Switzerland.

In this article

  • Permit B: the everyday residence permit
  • Permit C: the settlement permit
  • Permit L: the short-term permit
  • Permit G: the cross-border commuter permit
  • Family reunification
  • From B to C: the practical path
  • Common mistakes