Hello All

First of all I can't belive that I have been living in Switzerland (Geneva) for 5 years and have only just found this forum!

Anyway, my question regards obtaining a C permit. I am from the UK and will have been in Geneva for 5 years in february this year. For the first 18 months I had an L permit which then got transferred to a B permit (not linked to employer) which lasts until 2008. Do I need to have a had a B permit for 5 years before I can apply for a C permit or does the combined time (L and B permit) suffice?

Thanks in advance for any perspective on this.

Alex

B for 5.....but you can try....

My husband has been here since 1997 but was on L permits for the first three years. He was told he couldn't apply for the C until he'd had the B for five years. He got it last year.

Great - thanks for your replies. Much appreciated.

I recently asked the same question in my 'Gemeinde' because I received an L permit instead of a B permit (quotas for this year had already been reached). I was told the date of entry into Switzerland is essential and not the date when you received your B Permit. This means that you can apply for a C permit 5 years after your first entry date (if you are from one of the EU-15).

Best regards,

S

This is exactly what I've been told in Geneva too (I used to be on a diplomatic permit initially)

Hi I guess this has been covered elsewhere but every answer on this thread seems to be ignoring it...

Not all Ls and Bs are the same. If the initial L was for 6 months then this 6 months will not count. If it was for 12 months then it is the date of entry. Everybody seems to be going on the rules of today ie permits that are around today but a "few" years ago (pre 2005) things were different and the counting of time starts according to the old rules.

Furthermore, not all time on a B counts - this is dependent on the type of B you have and whether this is a fixed term (typically 4 years) B or annually renewable. The annually renewable type can be swapped for an L permit which can have interesting consequences - Are you aware you are supposed to inform the world if your permit type changes!!!

And then there is this belief that you need to wait 5 years before applying which is simply not true. You can apply at any time, but you will probably be rejected. It all depends on what reasons you put down if you want it before the time is up.

Richard

hmmmmm....i guess, it is very hard to get a residence permit in Switzerland. Sorry to interrupt but is there any possibility of getting C permit (permanent residence permit) for me if i am an immigrant from another country and right now i am holding B permit as an student. Please help me, if there is any possibility of getting C permit.

Well to start with you are "interrupting" a thread from 2007 .

As for your question, no, no possibility at all to go straight from a student permit to a settlement permit.

Hi Guys,

I'm non eu and changing cantons after my 4th year in Switzerland. Would it still be possible to apply for the C Permit next year (vinta) ? Or will they start counting from zero.

I checked the law and it says 5 yrs in Switzerland and the not Canton or Gemeinde.

Rg

The law is usually right .