Applying for a residence permit for my family (family reunification)
3. I am a national of a non-EU/EFTA State
For whom
As a non-EU/EFTA national with a short-term, residence or establishment permit, you can apply for family reunification for:
- your spouse
- your unmarried children under 18 years of age
When
The application for family reunification must be submitted before entering Switzerland and within five years of the granting of your permit or the establishment of the family link. This period shall be 12 months if the application concerns children over 12 years of age.
What
Family members of holders of B or C permits (with the exception of relatives in the ascending line) who benefit from family reunification have the right to work or establish themselves as self-employed throughout Switzerland, regardless of their nationality.
Family members of L permit holders who are eligible for family reunification and who wish to work must apply for a work permit, which will be reviewed by the Foreign Labour Service.
Children have access to general education, apprenticeship or vocational training on the same conditions as the Swiss children.
Terms
Your family members should normally share your home. In addition, housing must be adequate to enable the whole family to live together.
You must not be dependent on social assistance or receive (currently or through family reunification) annual federal top-up benefits.
Finally, your spouse must be able to communicate in French.
You must have a personal e-démarches account to be able to file your application online.
Entry to Switzerland
Persons subject to a visa must apply for a visa at the Swiss representation in their place of residence abroad. They have to wait abroad for the decision.
Third-country nationals who have a long-stay visa or a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen State do not need to apply for a visa.
For further information, please consult the information provided by the State Secretariat for Migration: Entry to Switzerland.
Attachments
- 1 M form per person (including children) if the request is sent by postal mail
- colour copy of a valid I.D. for each person involved
- 1 passport-sized photo with full names on the back for each person concerned
- copy of the lease or written attestation from the landlord in accordance with form AL (with copy of the main lease and the I.D. of the landlord and the sub-tenant)
- proof of financial means
Depending on the situation, the following documents must also be attached:
- copy of the marriage certificate (with official translation if necessary)
- copy of the birth certificate of each of the children concerned (with official translation if necessary)
- evidence of parental authority (if family renunification concerns only children) or Form EM
- certificate of French or certificate of enrolment in a French course
Depending on your situation, the administration reserves the right to ask you for additional documents.
Price
For online applications, payment is made online as well.
For applications sent by post, payment is made by invoice.
Processing times
Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch
Help to fill in the online form
See our fact sheet: Practical help to announce your arrival in Geneva online or to apply for a residence permit with or without activity at the OCPM | ge.ch
Your application can be done either online or by postal mail.