Hardship residence permit for people without status (sans-papiers), Switzerland
Article 30(1)(b) AIG allows a residence permit for people staying unlawfully and without status in Switzerland, in a serious personal hardship. It is an exception assessed case by case. No minimum stay is set in law. The SEM directive uses a guide value of 5 years for families. Long presence alone is not hardship.
Moving to Switzerland
Practical facts for newcomers, from official sources Finance Living
Finance
3
Currency
Swiss Franc
CHF
Swiss Franc
Cost of living
128
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
0.77–11.5%
Income tax (national)
VAT 8.1%
Federal direct tax only: rises in steps (marginal rate peaks at 13.2%) to a flat 11.5% on very high incomes (about CHF 794,000+ for single people, before inflation indexing); cantonal and communal taxes come on top and are usually much larger.
Living
1
Happiness
#10 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Eligibility
Who it’s for: People in Switzerland without status, including families, who may be in serious personal hardship.
Criteria
Sign in to check this route against your profile- 31 VZA
- Article
Article 31 VZAE, per the directive: integration, family situation, money, length of stay, health, and chances of reintegration in the home country. The list is not exhaustive.
Length of stay
Sign in to check this route against your profileYour length of stay is assessed case by case, with no legal minimum or maximum.
- Neither the law nor the Federal Court sets a minimum or maximum
- For families, the guide value is 5 years
Official wording
Assessed case by case. Neither the law nor the Federal Court sets a minimum or maximum. For families, the guide value is 5 years.
Integration
Sign in to check this route against your profileShow respect for public order and constitutional values, basic language skills, and taking part in work or education.
A1
Language level · per the directive
Official wording
Respect for public order and constitutional values, language (A1 as a basic minimum, per the directive), and taking part in work or education.
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- Document checklist
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- 3 documents
- 1 fee
- 2 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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