You did register as self employed with the canton Zurich social security office?
https://svazurich.ch/unsere-produkte...rwerbende.html

Soon he’ll have no permit as well as no passport

No, not yet. I didn't know about this rule.

This can happen. I know a Pakistani who became a Christian and fled to China with his wife. The embassy there wouldn't renew their password. (He ended up a German citizen in the end).

Refugee is fine. It's asylum seeker that's a pain. Refugees can work.

In that case, not having a passport to travel to FR/DE it the smallest of your problems. The residence permit allows you to study in CH, don't endanger it.

The rules about students working as employees are: max 15 hours per week during semesters, 100% during holidays. And you need to inform the university about this in written form. The spirit of the law is that if you work more than 15 hours, not enough attention is given to the university education, therefore the university resources are wasted (taxpayer money).

Also as Medea pointed, look the back of your permit. If it contains these words selbst erwerbstätigkeit ist bewilligungspflichtig they mean self-employment requires a permit. Meaning freelancing is illegal with a student permit. Of course, freelancing is not illegal per se, but you need a different permit.

Are we not going to get an answer to this? Hard to help more then!

Important, either take photocopies of the pages or photos, so you have a back up. Keep back up copies of anything until matter resolved.


I suggest you make appointment with passport office of the embassy/consulate of your country's representative in Switzerland.


Take that old passport and any documentation you have of the process you did to get the new passport, that you did not get.


They may require passport appropriate photos for new passport or they may have a digital system to do it or use another agency to do it their behalf. Some countries require cash payment, some cheques, on-line or plastic card payment. If you paid before bring the receipt. Be prepared to pay again.


Do not cross the border without a valid passport, unless your intention is to return to your home country.


As this thread has advised you, you should now be aware you were doing some things incorrect, working/student – correct that.

Switzerland can issue a Passeport pour étrangers:"to foreigners without national travel documents but either in possession of an annual residence permit B or a permanent residence permit C."

https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/si...states_en.xlsx

This Swiss Federal government link provides additional information on obtaining a Swiss travel document for document-less foreigners with a B or C permit:

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home...dokumente.html

How are you paying social security and income tax on the income you are making as a "freelancer"?

I wonder why it's often people who do things in grey areas who get in trouble and then scream wolf

I don’t believe this story.. the OP isn’t even willing to say what country he comes from!

My guess is they're not since they say they didn't know they needed to register here for such things.