Hi, have done a ton of searches but not found an answer to this one.
Circumstances:
Retired couple, living in Canton Bern. U.K. passports, granted B permit just before Brexit.
My OH does some work (ski instructor) during winter, but other than that we live on my pension and savings.
In a little under 2 years our B permits will expire. Am I correct in thinking that we’ll be offered a C permit when the Bs expire? If so, will we have an option to stay on a B? Or will we be obliged to have a C permit?
You should be able to apply for a C, which has a language requirement. If you can’t meet the language requirement you’ll stay on a B. But it’s better for you to be on a C permit.
Thanks. Why is a C better? As far as I can tell it means I need to do a language exam (no problem) and do a tax return, which would mean employing an accountant. It seems worse than a B, which was the reason for my question.
You don't need an accountant to do a tax return unless your affairs are complicated. And if they are, you use them once and then do it yourself the following years.
But the only real benefits are that you might have a vote on local issues, depending where you live and you can buy firearms.
A B-permit is always of limited duration, from 1 to 5 years, after which it expires. It can be renewed if one continues to fulfil the conditions. Typically that involves proving that one has and most likely will continue to have enough income and/or assets to be certain to never need Social Security. For those employed, that means a continuing work contract. For those retired, that means their pensions and own savings/investment.
A C-permit , on the other hand, provides considerably greater security because it confers upon the holder the right to remain in Switzerland indefinitely. It is permanent residence which can be lost only through certain severe criminal acts, or by leaving the country for longer than 6 months. Even for the latter, special permission can sometimes be obtained in advance of leaving, to freeze the C-permit during a stay abroad of longer than 6 months, so that it can be enjoyed, again, upon return to Switzerland. A C-permit is also a pre-requisite for any application for Swiss citizenship.
A C is permeant residence. Should you for example have financial difficulties in the future, they can't just revoke your permit. It also allows you to apply for citizenship which gives you even more security. We have an accountant do our tax return and it costs about 130chf.
- C- Permit would be a requirement if going for a Nationality, and of course needs a language cert', which yoiu say is no problem.
- it means you do a tax return, which is easily done online, and does mean potentially more tax deductibles which could lower your tax bill, and also you would be taxed at your local rate which may mean lower taxes if your % is lower than the Kantonal average. So potentially a nice reduction in taxes, that said, if your local taxes are higher than the Kantoal average, your taxes could rise.
Are you not required to submit a tax return already as a pensioner (i.e. was the B permit granted on the basis of being a retiree living off pension/savings) or did you enter as a worker, got granted a B permit and subsequently retired?
If the latter then your income/assets will be examined to continue living here once your current B permit expires, even to renew your B permit.
Lots of really good info in this thread - thanks everyone. Lots to think about clearly. The reason for asking the question was pretty simple; we're quite happy as we are, and therefore I wouldn’t really want to change anything unless I have to. Our Gemeinde are very helpful so I guess I can have a chat with them about it when the time comes.
Another difference, which probably doesn't affect the OP, is that family reunification after being in CH a long time is considerably easier with a C permit / citizenship.
For others, you have to apply for reunification within a year or so of arriving.
In light of the additional information provided (not retired nor of retiring age), I would think about organizing yourselves so that main permit holder is employed at a sufficient % when your B permits come up for renewal to continue enjoying the right to stay