Switzerland plans to tighten rules on family reunification permits

The government has announced plans to enforce new rules and restrictions on those moving to Switzerland from abroad. The new regulations are a response to the No 10 Million Switzerland! Initiative, which threatens to restrict migration severely if passed.

Mandatory career counselling for some migrants to Switzerland

In future, those who come to Switzerland to work temporarily or reunite with family will be subject to stricter rules, the Federal Council has confirmed. In a statement released on June 25, they argued the measures will ensure that more expats find jobs and help reduce social security payments.

Firstly, new rules will be imposed on those who claim residence permits on the grounds of reuniting or remaining with family - typically the partners of Swiss citizens or expats in work. According to the latest data, of the 170.607 people who claimed residence in Switzerland last year, 24,9 percent of permits were granted on grounds of family reunification, the second most common reason behind filling a job.

In future, it will be mandatory for cantonal and local authorities to report these new migrants to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI). Migrants will then be required to attend careers, academic and vocational counselling services. The Federal Council hopes that this will encourage family reunification migrants to find work, even though it isn’t strictly a requirement of their residence permit.

Rules on temporary residence permits to be enforced ridgidly

Second, the government will clamp down on the number of people being granted B-residence permits, despite only being employed by staffing agencies on temporary work contracts. “A survey of the cantons showed that (B-) residence permits are sometimes granted even though these are generally for less than a year's employment, which would require a short-term (L-) residence permit,” the government wrote. 

Under the reforms, each Swiss canton would have to follow the same rules when granting permits to temporary workers. In this case, the Federal Council hopes that it will reduce the amount of social security benefits paid to expats who, technically, should have received a shorter residence period. These measures will be drafted at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026, and then be submitted to parliament.

Switzerland scrambles to respond to SVP referendum

The Federal Council said the stricter rules are a response to the No 10 Million Switzerland! or Sustainability Initiative. The referendum, submitted by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), would force the government to radically limit immigration should the population grow by around 500.000 residents before 2050 - regardless of the impact on the economy and Switzerland’s relationship with the EU.

Though the government will not submit a direct counter to the referendum, it is trying to enact policies that are less damaging but still likely to placate enough SVP supporters for the vote to fail. This tactic has also been seen in parliament, with some political parties calling for an “immigrant tax” to try and take the wind out of the SVP’s sails.

However, many others have argued that the No 10 Million Switzerland! Initiative can be defeated without having to find a compromise. Speaking at the end of 2024, Green Party president Lizza Mazzone argued that the “isolation the SVP wants to impose” can be defeated at the ballot box by simply highlighting the wide benefits immigration pays for, the looming demographic crisis and its impact on Swiss pensions, and ongoing worker shortages.