C permit: settlement after a lawful stay
Updated on October 24, 2026
The settlement permit, the C permit, is the most stable status in the FNIA. It is not issued on arrival. It generally requires several years of lawful uninterrupted residence, sufficient integration and respect for public order. The length required depends on the applicable agreements and on nationality. A C permit does not confer Swiss citizenship. The canton decides. Revocation remains possible in the serious cases set out in the statute.
Where the rule is
Study stays or certain provisional admissions do not all count the same way. The exact count is checked with the cantonal office and the SEM directives.