Swiss residence permit type C is effectively a permission to settle in the country, and is supposed to have no end date. However, as permit C holders know, the document itself has a validity term (5 years), and I am nearing the end of it. By unlucky coincidence, it looks like I might have to become unemployed for the first time during my stay in Switzerland very close to my permit end date. Do I need to worry? Are they going to check my employment status for extending my C permit, like they do with the B or L? How do they normally extend the C permit? Do they just issue the new one automatically or I will have to prove something in order to stay in t county?

A C permit cannot normally be revoked due to unemployment. The below link on p. 3 explains this in more detail (translated):

"The C settlement permit is unlimited in time and is granted without conditions. Persons affected do not lose their status or their permit when they become unemployed. However, if they are dependent on social assistance for a longer period and to a considerable extent, cause for revocation may be fulfilled and the permit may be revoked (Art. 63 para. 1 let. c AIG). If the integration criteria are not met (Art. 58a para. 1 AIG, including participation in economic life), the settlement permit can be replaced by a residence permit (so-called downgrading)."

https://www.ag.ch/media/kanton_aarga...illigung~1.pdf

According to this:

https://www.bdm.bs.ch/Arbeiten/Arbeitsbewilligung.html

The first renewal may be limited to one year if the person is not gainfully employed, but after that it would not be.

That would only apply to a B permit anyway (since renewing a C permit is never going to be the first renewal).

If you have a C-permit and are reasonably well integrated, then you can keep your C-permit even if you're on the social. At least that's the case in BL and BS. I know a chap in BS who's been on the social for years and retains his C-permit.

Thanks for that. So it seems that the key here is to never apply for social insurance? I was not going to - this goes against my libertarian convictions anyway) Is there any evidence that entrepreneur status/own company can help one stay in the country / get permit extension?

What would be considered 'reasonably well integrated'?

Speaking the language for one

He's got B1 in German and uses local shops and services. Maybe not sufficient where you live, but certainly is where we are.
Hmm. Wait until you've run out of assets. You don't get to go on the social on a whim.

They will not ask you for a employment letter. Just make sure that your passport is not expired by the day of renew the C-permit.

Hmm yes, haven't thought about that! Thank you.
Hanging out with smart people definitely pays off, can learn something useful every day!

Found the following document many will probably find useful, including those douchebags among us jealously proud of their deepest integration into Switzerland

https://www.eda.admin.ch/dam/countri...achweis_EN.pdf

It details the language-related integration requirements. One interesting fact is that for citizens of a number of European countries the language-related integration requirements are waved when obtaining or extending C permit (!). For people in this category the language will be tested only when applying for naturalization in Switzerland.

That is simply because there are reciprocal agreements...... nothing to do with integration if you are exempt if you are from a certain country.


Douchebag, tsktsktsk

in all my C permit renewals, nobody ever showed any interest in anything, never mind my job. so what JSOU said really

Indeed rules are often established on the basis of bilateral agreements. This is normal practice in international relations, meneer Nederlandse autochtoon sukkel wie allochtoon is geworden.

It's funny how d-bags know they are d-bags, and talk right back

:d