Residence permits Switzerland

Last week, the Federal Council looked again at residence permits and adopted new rules, which were accepted by parliament in 2016, according to the newspaper Le Matin.

Refugee integration in Switzerland

The new rules, which will be introduced at the beginning of 2019, will help foreigners integrate and remove permits from those who donâ€™t.

To aid integration, the special income tax levied on refugees and asylum seekers will disappear – the tax was designed to recoup the costs of supporting and processing asylum seekers.

In addition, procedures for accessing the job market will be simplified for refugees and asylum seekers and permit extensions will be available for those making progress on integration.

Swiss farm job programme for asylum seekers a success (Le News)

At the same time, those failing to integrate will put their permits at risk. The authorities will only be able to extend residence permits if certain integration requirements are met.

These requirements include: respect for the constitution and its values, respect for public order, participation in the workforce or education, and competency in the local language.

Failure to comply could mean, for example, someone on a C-permit gets demoted to a B-permit.

Refugees and asylum seekers on welfare could be required to participate in integration or work programmes. Those who donâ€™t could have their welfare reduced.

The federal government will provide cantons with CHF 6,000 per person to help fund integration, a sum which might rise to CHF 18,000.

More on this:
Le Matin articleÂ (in French)Â â€“Â Take a 5 minute French test now

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Last week, the Swiss government opened discussions on new rules on the integration of foreigners, part of its carrot and stick approach to improving integration and lowering the high rates of unemployment among this group.

According to Le Matin, changes, adopted last December and due to come into force on 1 January 2018, are the first step. These are aimed at improving professional integration and include removal of a special tax paid by refugees on provisional visas.

The next lot of rules, planned for summer 2018, will replace an administratively heavy work authorization process with a simple notification for those onÂ F permits, a provisional 12 month visa typically granted to refugees.

Other new rules will introduce ‘carrot and stick’ provisions. If someone shows favourable progress on integration a permit can be granted for two years. If integration is not progressing well then heavy sanctions could be imposed. Integration will be measured by looking at respect for order and public security, participation in economic life or education, and language acquisition.

Those showing no desire to integrate can be required to sign integration agreements setting out what is expected of them. Failure to live up to the agreement could affect permit renewal. For example, someone with a C permit – a visa granting permanent residence – not meeting integration requirements could find themselves downgraded to a B permit.

Refugees and temporary permit holders receiving welfare could be required to attend integration programmes. If they refuse with no valid reason they could see their benefits cut.

More on this:
Le Matin articleÂ (in French) -Â Take a 5 minute French test now

For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us onÂ FacebookÂ andÂ Twitter.

Poorly integrated foreigners will soon risk losing their permits

Poorly integrated foreigners risk losing residence permits

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