Hello,
We’re planning a move to Zurich, where the parent is a EU citizen, and the child (under 18) is non-EU (US citizen). I cannot find information on whether the child will need a D visa to enter the country. It seems that we can apply for the D Visa only after the move and the registration of the parent with the cantonal immigration authority. But then, is the child supposed to wait for a few months in the origin country? Can someone share their experience? How does this work?
Thanks
Are they a legal resident in an EU country?
No. The parent is a EU Citizen, but resident of a Non-EU country before moving.
Hello and welcome.
Fellow forum member ( @Zaffer ) arrived recently with children. He should have up-to-date experience. Hope he sees this thread soon.
Type D visa is for entry with the purpose to stay longer than 90 days, this covers family reunion. So, if the visa is needed, it should be obtained before arrival. But, no idea about your specific case.
I suggest you get in touch with the Swiss embassy or consulate in the EU country where you are living. They may be able to issue the D visa but it might be the Swiss embassy or consulate where the child lives.
Not in an EU country. 
Contact the Swiss embassy/consulate in your country and tell them you want to apply for family reunification and your child needs a Type D visa as well. You will likely need to show you have suitable accommodation big enough for everyone and that you’ll have enough income/assets to support them.
Thanks everyone.
My problem is that family reunification is for someone that’s already in Switzerland to bring family that’s outside of Switzerland. But we all want to move there together…
To be clear, we’re all residents of the same non EU country before moving to Switzerland.
You still need to apply for family reunification I think, contact the cantonal authority to be sure and your child will still need a type D visa to be able to stay in Switzerland for more than the 3 month tourist limit.
Could you please clarify, as this sounds contradictory. In one sentenace you say someone is already in CH and in another you say all of you are residents of a non-EU country.
If one person is already resident here, that person initiates the paperwork to bring the rest of the family. The local municipality would be good place to start to ask for information, as ultimately the whole family will be registered there. Explain the situation, the nationalities involved and ask what paperwork is needed.
I could be totally off-base here, but it sounds like a blended family situation where one parent is EU and the other parent and the child are non-EU. If that’s the case, there may be extra paperwork to prove that the non-EU parent has full custody rights and permission to move the child to Switzerland.
Hello,
Family arrives together at the same time. That’s clear. However, from the government perspective it’s still “family reunification for an individual with a valid residence permit”. Therefore, the sequence of paperwork would be Type D Visa for child > move to Switzerland > residence permit for a parent > family reunification for child.
Once you arrive to Switzerland, it’s possible to applying for your residence permit and family reunification at the same time. See thread 1, or thread 2.