Legal representation in migration law: residence, family reunification and asylum in Zurich
Residence permit refused, family reunification rejected, removal threatened or asylum decision negative? We represent you before migration offices, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the Federal Administrative Court. In writing, with a clear deadline plan, multilingual and with transparent costs.
Initial assessment within 24 hours · Confidential · Also possible with limited means (legal aid may be available)
Swiss migration law: our services
We support individuals and companies in all proceedings concerning residence, family, work and citizenship, and continue to act in asylum law.
Residence and settlement permits
Extension, conversion and issuance of residence and settlement permits.
Family reunification
Applications for the admission of close family members under asylum and immigration law.
Hardship applications
Applications for a residence permit after a long stay in Switzerland and particular integration.
Naturalisation
Ordinary and facilitated naturalisation: reviewing requirements, preparing the application and appealing in case of refusal.
Visa, removal & revocation
Objection to a refused visa and appeals against removal, revocation or non-renewal of a permit.
Asylum law & appeal proceedings
Appeals to the Federal Administrative Court against negative asylum, removal and non-entry decisions, as well as reconsideration requests, including assessment of legal aid.
What is migration law?
Migration law governs entry, residence, work, family reunification, naturalisation and removal of foreign nationals in Switzerland. The most important statutes are the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (AIG), the Asylum Act (AsylG) and the Citizenship Act (BüG).
The most important permits at a glance
| Permit | Meaning | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| L | Short-stay permit | up to 12 months |
| B | Residence permit | usually 1 year (non-EU/EFTA) or 5 years (EU/EFTA), renewable |
| C | Settlement permit | unlimited, usually after 10 years, earlier with good integration |
| F | Provisional admission | renewed in each case for 12 months |
| N | Asylum seekers in ongoing proceedings | until the asylum decision |
| S | Protection Status S | limited, as long as protection is needed |
As of: October 2026. General information, not legal advice in an individual case. Legal bases: AIG, VZAE, AsylG. Authority: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
Note: Statutes are cited by their German abbreviations (AIG = Foreign Nationals and Integration Act, VZAE = Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Activity, AsylG = Asylum Act, BüG = Citizenship Act, SR = Systematic Compilation of Federal Legislation). Fedlex links lead to the German originals.
Describe your caseWho we are
Our firm, based in Zurich, supports individuals and companies in migration law, from residence permits and family reunification to hardship cases and naturalisation, removal and asylum proceedings. We know the procedural logic, the deadlines and the practice of the migration offices, the SEM and the Federal Administrative Court.
We work in writing, in a structured way and with clear deadline plans. Where needed, we hold meetings by phone or video, so that you can work with us regardless of where you live.
Get in touchWe are continuously looking for legal reinforcement
Are you interested in migration law and asylum law and value structured, written case work? We look forward to your unsolicited application. Location independence and flexible working hours are possible with us.
When do I need legal representation?
Practical articles on the most common questions in migration law, explained clearly.
After years in Switzerland: the path to a hardship permit
A long stay alone is not enough. We explain which integration criteria are decisive for a hardship application.
Read article → Family reunificationBringing family members to Switzerland despite a pending procedure
Under which conditions an application for family reunification can succeed and which evidence the authorities require.
Read article → Skilled workersResidence permit for skilled workers from third countries
Quotas, priority for domestic workers and the requirements for employers and employees.
Read article → CitizenshipOrdinary naturalisation: the path to a Swiss passport
10 years of residence, settlement permit and the integration criteria under Art. 12 BüG.
Read article → RevocationRevocation of the residence permit: grounds and defence
The most common grounds for revocation under Art. 62/63 AIG and the proportionality test.
Read article → VisaVisa refused: objection and deadlines
30 days: how the objection works and what hosts can do.
Read article → ProcedureProcedural stay explained simply
May I stay in Switzerland while my application is pending? Rules, examples and mistakes.
Read article → Corporate migrationRelocating a company to Switzerland
Legal support for international companies with relocation and permits for employees.
Read article → Global mobilityPosting of employees and intra-company transfer
Requirements and procedure for the intra-company transfer of executives (Art. 46 VZAE).
Read article → Corporate & private clientsFamily reunification for executives
Deadlines and evidence for family reunification for posted executives and wealthy individuals.
Read article → Private clientsTaking up residence for wealthy individuals
Residence without gainful employment and lump-sum taxation: requirements and cantonal differences.
Read article → Investor migrationStarting a business: permit for investors
Requirements for a permit for self-employment under Art. 19 AIG.
Read article → InvestorsInvestor in Switzerland: residence and pitfalls
What Art. 23 para. 3 AIG requires and which mistakes become expensive before the application.
Read article → Arts and cultureArtists and musicians in Switzerland
Permits for performances, the eight-month rule, notification duty and the most common pitfalls.
Read article → SportProfessional athletes and coaches in Switzerland
Which permit athletes and coaches from third countries need and where things get stuck in practice.
Read article → Internships and apprenticeshipsInternships and apprenticeships in Switzerland
Trainee agreement, compulsory internship and vocational apprenticeship: routes, deadlines and pitfalls.
Read article → Au pairAu pair in Switzerland
The seven conditions under Art. 48 VZAE, the twelve-month limit and typical mistakes.
Read article → ScienceDoctoral students, postdocs and academic guests
Admission for further education, gainful employment under Art. 40 VZAE and pitfalls with financing and visas.
Read article → RemovalRemoval order and departure deadline
7 to 30 days: when an extension is possible and when immediate enforcement threatens.
Read article → Provisional admissionPermit F: rights and the path to a residence permit
Requirements for provisional admission and when it can be converted into a residence permit.
Read article → ReconsiderationNew evidence after a final decision
If the situation in your country of origin changes or new evidence emerges, an application for reconsideration may make sense. We show when this step is worthwhile.
Read article → Appeal proceedingsNegative asylum decision — what now?
After the asylum procedure has ended with a negative SEM decision on your asylum application, a short appeal deadline before the Federal Administrative Court begins to run. We explain which steps are needed in which order and what matters in the grounds of appeal.
Read article → Protection Status SFamily reunification under Protection Status S
Spouses and minor children under Art. 71 AsylG: requirements and limits.
Read article → Protection Status SProtection Status S: rights, obligations and what comes next
Legal basis, rights during protection and the options if protection is lifted.
Read article →Frequently asked questions
Answers to what clients ask us most often.
Legal aid exempts you from the costs of the proceedings and allows a legal representative to be appointed at no cost to you, provided you lack the means and your case is not considered to have no prospect of success. We will assess, without obligation, whether these requirements are met in your case and file the application if they are.
For clients who finance the engagement privately, we generally work with a flat fee per procedural step, which we record in writing before the engagement begins. This way you know the costs from the start and are not surprised afterwards.
After you contact us, we get back to you within 24 hours for a short initial assessment. If your case appears to have good prospects, you will receive a written authorisation and an overview of the procedure and costs. We then take over the correspondence with the authorities and keep you informed of the status of the proceedings.
The appeal and application proceedings we conduct are generally in writing. Our personal attendance at official hearings is regularly not required in these proceedings; where needed, we prepare you for them in writing.
The duration of the proceedings depends on the instance and the complexity of the case and can range from a few months to more than a year. At the start of the engagement we will tell you the realistic duration to expect.
We conduct cases in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian or Persian. In complex cases an interpreter can also be called in. All other languages, for example Arabic, Turkish, Russian or Tigrinya, are possible with an interpreter if needed; simply ask us about it.
No. Authorities and courts decide on permits and appeals, often at their discretion. A reputable legal representative therefore cannot guarantee success. We do guarantee an honest assessment of your chances before the mandate begins, careful and timely representation, and clear costs.
Permit L applies to temporary stays of up to 12 months, permit B to longer stays, for example for work, family or education. Permit C is unlimited and is usually granted after 10 years of residence, earlier with good integration. Which permit applies to you depends on nationality, purpose and length of stay. We clarify this in the initial review.
For ordinary naturalisation, the Citizenship Act generally requires a settlement permit C and a total of 10 years of residence in Switzerland (Art. 9 BüG). Years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double. Cantonal and municipal requirements also apply, and the length of the procedure varies by canton.
There is usually a legal remedy against negative decisions, but deadlines are short: for a refused visa it is 30 days to object to the SEM, for many other decisions also 30 days, and in asylum proceedings sometimes only 5 or 7 working days. Therefore send us the decision immediately. We check the deadline and the prospects of success.
Yes. We support companies with permits for skilled workers, secondments and intra-company transfers, and with relocating to Switzerland.