Obtaining Swiss Family Reunification Visa through German wife from New Zealand

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi everyone,

I have a slightly complicated visa situation that I’d appreciate any thoughts on.

My wife and I currently live in New Zealand and are looking to relocate to Zurich next year. I have a NZ & UK passport, my wife has a German passport. I have received a job offer for a role in Zurich under the condition and understanding that I will obtain a visa to live and work in Zurich on my own accord. Am I right in my understanding that through my German wife, I will be able to receive a Swiss Family Reunification Visa and if so, am I also correct in understanding that the process for us relocating to Zurich will be a tedious set of sequential steps due to the requirement that my wife must already be living in Zurich before I can apply for the visa? Tedious set of sequential steps being:

Step 1: German wife receives job offer in Zurich (she must have a job offer in order to get swiss residency).

Step 2: German wife rents an apartment.

Step 3: German wife registers with the local authorities to obtain her residency permit .

Step 4: I apply for a family reunification visa to essentially “join” my wife in Zurich (even though we are technically relocating together).

Step 5: Once visa is approved, I can now begin to work.

Have I understood this correctly? Is there anything obvious I am missing? Is there an easier way?!

Much appreciated!

Josh

2

Welcome to the forum.

If you have a New Zealand passport then no, you don’t need to do that.

Nationals of the following states do not require a visa to enter Switzerland under any circumstances: Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

However, the competent Swiss authority will issue a prior authorisation of a residence permit in the following cases:
a) for a stay of more than 90 days, or
b) a stay involving gainful employment:
lasting more than eight days, or
from the first day of work in the primary or auxiliary construction sectors, the hospitality sector, industrial or private cleaning services, surveillance and security services, itinerant sales and services or erotic services.

This prior authorisation of a residence permit is issued directly to the foreign national, or to a third party (employer), by the cantonal migration authority. The Swiss diplomatic or consular mission is not involved in this procedure.

You/the employer needs to contact the Zurich cantonal migration office to get a permit sorted out for you.