Family reunification permit for non married partner

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi,

My partner lives in Switzerland, is an EU citizen, has a B permit and a well paid job. I'm English and would like to move to Switzerland to live with him.

I'm hoping someone might be able to advise if I will be able to get a permit if we are unmarried? I'm going to the local canton office in Biel to apply in a couple of weeks but it would be good to know if I have a chance and what I might need to provide.

Thanks!

2
I spent a couple of years doing that dance and got nowhere, eventually married and all the paperwork was done in 2 weeks. This was about 5 years ago, unless things have changed much I would say the chances are very slim, good luck anyway.

3

Welcome to the forum.

The thing is it isn’t a family reunification permit. What you’d have to try and get is a concubine permit (yes, that’s its name) and your partner needs to check if they’re available in Bern canton, because not all cantons issue this type of permit. As far as I know only Geneva, Vaud, Neuchatel and Zurich do. He would need to agree to be financially responsible for you for 5 years. If Bern doesn’t issue them, then there’s no chance of getting a permit unless you marry or get a job here yourself; difficult as a non-EU national since Swiss/EU nationals have priority.

4
... which is why it is, perhaps, a lesser risk to get married. If things don't work out, it's at least possible to divorce and settle things, without having to bear the financial responsibility for another person for 5 years.

5
Hello

Have a look at the Kanton Zürich rules:

"Ein Bewilligungsanspruch für Konkubinatspaare ergibt sich erst, wenn die partnerschaftliche Beziehung seit langer Zeit eheähnlich gelebt wird oder konkrete Hinweise auf eine unmittelbar bevorstehende Hochzeit hindeuten.

Die Beziehung der Konkubinatspartner muss in ihrer Art und Stabilität einer Ehe gleichkommen. Demnach ist die Zulassung von Konkubinatspartnern nur möglich, wenn:

eine gefestigte und mindestens seit drei Jahren dauernde Partnerschaft besteht;

wichtige Gründe, weshalb das Paar nicht heiraten kann, vorliegen;

das Paar bereits in einem gemeinsamen Haushalt gelebt hat und

eine enge Bindung aneinander, etwa durch Kinder oder die Übernahme von wechselseitiger Verantwortung, besteht."

https://www.zh.ch/de/migration-integ...aetigkeit.html

Honestly, I would suggest to marry, otherwise you will need to be very well prepared why you cannot or do not want to marry, and you can expect a very long procedure. I guess the rules more or less similar in Kanton Bern too, if possible at all. I do not agree with the system, but that is how it is...