Settlement Permit (Permit C) Checklist

For ordinary C, distinguish A2 spoken and A1 written; early C requires B1 spoken and A1 written in the national language at the place of residence. Geneva uses French; do not impose French nationwide. Use a currently SEM-recognised certificate when required. A separate test is not universal: mother tongue or qualifying schooling/education can prove competence; documented disability, serious illness or learning hardship may support a case-specific exception. The canton assesses accepted evidence and any applicable exemption.

Ordinary/early C and residence language determine level; testing is not universal. Canton assesses alternative proof and exemptions.

Geneva language table: ordinary/early C and Dérogations; supplemental SEM language list

Ordinary C: oralA2/writtenA1; early C: oralB1/writtenA1; recognised proof or assessed exception.

Use the responsible canton's current procedure. Geneva ordinary/early C examples require postal form Y, motivation letter, valid colour ID copy, work contract and last three payslips, plus debt-enforcement and non-assistance attestations less than three months old. Early C also lists a detailed CV/diplomas and, for children over 12, schooling evidence/latest report. Evidence must fit the applicant's circumstances and accepted alternatives; do not impose Geneva's form or employment documents universally nationwide. Important: the December 2025 Y form's ordinary-C instructions exempt employed applicants from the non-assistance attestation when the contract and three payslips are supplied, while the webpage lists it generally. Confirm this branch-specific difference with OCPM; early C still lists the attestation.

Competent canton’s procedure; Geneva form Y and attachments are local examples, with branch-specific exceptions.

Pièces à joindre; Déposer une demande; early branch official page; current formY p 2 ordinary exception

Geneva postal form Y, motivation, colour identity, employment/means documents, attestations under 3 months; early additionalCV and schooling over 12. FormY December 2025 ordinary branch exempts employed applicants with contract+3 payslips from non-assistance attestation, webpage general list differs; verifywithOCPM.

Residence and language alone do not establish C eligibility. The authority checks revocation grounds and integration, including public security/order, constitutional values and economic participation or education. Geneva distinguishes ordinary and early C when assessing convictions, debt enforcement and social assistance; the early route is stricter. Apply the relevant branch and documented personal circumstances with the canton; neither any past debt/assistance nor completion of five years determines the result automatically.

C settlement; ordinary and early branches separately assessed, Geneva examples only for administrative thresholds. No automated decision.

Geneva integration criteria PDF pp 1-2; ordinary and early C conditions

Absence of revocation grounds; integration/public security and order; branch-specific assessment with overall proportionality.

Ordinary C generally requires 10 years of residence with L/B, including the last 5 uninterrupted years with a durable B; not 10 years all on B. Specific treaty/reciprocity nationalities and qualifying family situations may have a 5-year route; not every EU/EFTA citizen. Early C after 5 qualifying uninterrupted years requires successful integration and authority assessment, not automatic approval. Study/training stays do not normally count in the last uninterrupted period; the exception requires 2 subsequent uninterrupted years of durable B. Verify actual permit history, absences and the applicable canton; F/N time is excluded.

Ordinary10years(L/B),last5durableB; nationality/family5year and earlyintegration routes separately assessed; study exception conditional.

Geneva ordinary C Conditions; supplemental SEM C nationality and Geneva early C

Ordinary residence total and last uninterrupted durable-B period are different; five-year routes depend on actual legal basis.