I have read in a multitude of sources that the C-Permit allows the holder to work and live anywhere in Switzerland without any restrictions.
That they can also take up employment or self-employment without restriction.
But what about unemployment?
Once gained, can a C-Permit holder “take up unemployment” without restriction?
i.e. Can one VOLUNTARILY retire early, and not look for work, whilst existing wholly on one’s own savings (without applying for RAV or any other form of assistance)?
I assume it would not be looked upon favourably when applying for citizenship – but might this cause the loss (or downgrading to B-Permit) of the C-Permit eventually?
I ask purely hypothetically – as a B-Permit holder I have no intention of doing such if/when gaining the much-coveted C-Permit.
But I MIGHT want to take some time off between jobs.
Or perhaps to enrol on a university course or similar.
And there is always the possibilty of winning the lottery (very remote as I don’t play it!)
When I ‘retired’ at 57 I had a “C” permit for about 12 years. I didn’t apply for RAV as not eligible (long story) nor have I collected anything* from the CCC (Commune, Canton, Country).
I became Swiss a few years later and there was no questions about why I wasn’t employed.
But did you have sufficient pension to retire? I think one of the criterion for becoming Swiss is ‘economic integration’ which from what I can tell in practice means that you are not going to sponge off the state.
It’s worth pointing out that RAV is not in any way a state ‘benefit’, so can have no impact whatsoever on residency or nationality issues. They become, in effect, your employer for the period you’re unemployed.
Similarly your employment and education history will have little or no impact - I mean it may be relevant as part of the ‘integration’ for citizenship, but that’s all.
As for financial means, yes of course for citizenship you need to show that you have sufficient means to live for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t have to be a job or a pension, could be cash in the bank, other investments, etc.
re RAV:
I also ‘retired’ at 57 or so with a full-time working spouse a few years younger. I took two years on the RAV which I do very much regret. They held me back from pursuing some training opportunities and and unpaid hand-on training development role which could have re-started my career in another direction, gave no practical help whatsoever and forced me over and over and over and over to apply for jobs that I would not get, was overqualified for and which would be paying a lot less than I’d previously been on. Even then there were simply not enough jobs I could even be considered for to fulfil the requirements, so I had to apply for many others where my CV wouldn’t even have passed the first cursory screening.
Also barred me from taking time out (unless signed off and back on again) to do more Ski Instructor training.
Yes, 400 working days or whatever brought in 100+ grand (or more, I really can’t be arsed to check) but I effectively lost two years of my life - would definitely not recommend for someone in my situation, i.e. end of career as we know it, might like to try something new but definitely not wanting, or needing, to go back to the daily grind.
Like most insurance really. If you can afford the consequences then why insure against them? Sadly not an option with RAV.
For example I would have fully comp (vollcasco) insurance on a brand new car for the first couple of years of ownership, then drop it to a much lower model with a high excess after that. If I can replace the car out of funds then why let someone else profit off the ‘risk’ they’re taking?
In Schwyz canton they ask unemployment certificates (RAV) for the past 5 years for citizenship application, how it is looked upon who knows, in Zurich canton seems it wasn’t asked. In terms of C-permit no problem to be unemployed as long as you want, if you can afford living here just like this, means you are rich
There is a general requirement to establish economic viability for permanent resident status. For most people this is not an issue - savings, employment and so on. However if you’ve spent your time gaming the system then you may be sent home. My neighbours were sent home becasue of this. They had been taking staggered minimum wage jobs for long enough to qualify for benefits, then get themselves fired, collect unemployment for as long as possible and then repeat. After 20 years the authorities decided enough is enough.
Not sure how that would work, TBH. Eligibility for RAV payments would only be available after a specified period of employment, and even then would be calculated based on earnings during that time. So they’d be living on less than minimum wage (although there is actually no such thing except in a couple of cantons) on average for the whole 20 years. Unless they were failing to declare earnings, which of course is fraud, so not simply playing the system.
If you’re talking about means-tested social security ‘benefits’ then that’s a completely different thing and is most certainly a standard factor taken into account for a C permit or citizenship.
So I believe it is the case that once the C-Permit is gained, unemployment can have no effect upon it – RAV aside, as long as no benefits/social assistance are claimed.
(Citizenship application MIGHT be another matter.)
i.e. In the case discussed by bob & Ace, if the neighbours had survived without claiming benefits the authorities would not have shown any interest?
