If you are a foreign national and are subject to a residence requirement for a specific location, you can have this residence requirement lifted or changed under certain conditions if you wish to move to another state. To do so, you must submit a corresponding application to the relevant immigration authority.

The requirements may also be met by a family member of the applicant.

A person granted asylum, a refugee, or a person recognized as in need of subsidiary protection

• Employment subject to social security contributions (at least 15 hours per week and a net income of at least 820.00 (as of April 2022)) or an income sufficient to cover living expenses
• A place in a vocational training or academic program
• The person with whom you are married, your registered domestic partner, or a minor child to whom you are related and with whom you live or have lived as a family resides at a different address
• Avoidance of hardship (e.g., humanitarian reasons)

Other foreign national subject to a residency regulation

• An income sufficient to cover living expenses
• Educational or academic program
• Your spouse, your registered domestic partner, or your minor child lives at a different residence

Other humanitarian reasons

• If you wish to apply to have the residence requirement on your residence permit modified or waived, you must first submit an application to your local immigration office.
• Please check in advance which documents you need to include with your application.
• The immigration office will review your application and will generally request approval from the immigration office in your new place of residence.
• Once the review is complete, you will receive a corresponding decision.

• An in-person interview is required.
• You may not move until you have received approval from your current immigration authority. Therefore, please do not move until you have received this approval.

• Appeal
• Lawsuit before the Administrative Court

Fictitious approval

If the immigration authorities at the new place of residence do not respond to the request from the immigration authorities at the current place of residence within four weeks, approval is automatically granted and the applicant is permitted to move.

The duration depends on the immigration authorities.

The immigration/foreigners' registration office responsible for your place of residence in the district or independent city.

The required documents always depend on the specific reason for the requested move. You must provide proof that you meet the requirements. The requirements may also be met by a family member of the applicant. In addition to the documents listed below, the responsible immigration authorities may request further documents from you on a case-by-case basis.

Persons granted asylum, refugees, or persons recognized as in need of subsidiary protection

• Employment
  • An employment contract or job offer for employment subject to social insurance contributions totaling at least 15 hours per week, generating an income of at least the average monthly subsistence level for a single person as defined in Book II of the Social Code
• College or vocational training program
  • Apprenticeship contract or certificate of enrollment
• Residence of your spouse, civil partner, or minor child
  • Certificate of residence
  • Marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate
• Other reasons to avoid undue hardship
  • Detailed justification
  • Medical certificate
• Integration measure
  • Certificate of participation in an integration course, a vocational language course, a qualification program lasting at least three months that leads to professional recognition, or a continuing education program in accordance with Book III of the Social Code

Other foreign nationals subject to residency regulations

• Gainful employment
  • Employment contract
  • The last three pay stubs
• Enrollment in a degree program or vocational training program
  • Apprenticeship contract
  • Confirmation from the employer that the training position has been started
  • Certificate of enrollment
  • Integration courses
  • Vocational language courses
  • Skills development programs
  • Continuing education programs
• Residence of your spouse, civil partner, or minor child
  • Certificate of Residence
  • Marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate
  • Acknowledgment of paternity
  • Joint custody declaration
• Other humanitarian reasons
  • E.g., medical certificates
  • Detailed written justification

Cost (variable): from 0 to 50.00

Prepayment:

Description of costs:

Note:

If you receive social benefits, this application is free of charge.
For exemptions and reductions, see the Residence Ordinance.