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Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration (LEI)

Information on the Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration
The Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration (LEI) replaces the Federal Foreigners Law (LEtr)

Integration criteria
The LEI imposes legal integration criteria for the majority of foreigners living in and moving to Switzerland. They must respect public security and order and the values ​​of the Constitution, acquire basic local language skills and participate in economic life or further education. If a person has integration weaknesses, the immigration authorities will enter into an integration agreement with them. If the resident does not respect the agreement, their residence permit may be withdrawn.

New provisions on integration and a new title for the law
The amendment to the Federal Foreigners Law, which includes the introduction of new provisions on integration, entered into force on 1 January 2019. It also involves a change in the title of the law, which is now called the Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration (LEI). The LEI contains:

i) integration criteria

ii) makes the integration agreement more binding

iii) requires local language skills for families moving to Switzerland

iv) hardens the conditions for granting a residence permit C

v) makes it possible to demote a residence permit C holder into a residence permit B holder.vi) facilitates access to the labor market for recognized refugees and those admitted on a temporary basis, by replacing the procedure of authorization of employment by an announcement procedure.

The major new provisions

Integration criteria
The LEI imposes legal integration criteria for the majority of foreigners living in and moving to Switzerland. They must respect public security and order and the values ​​of the Constitution, acquire basic local language skills and participate in economic life or further education. If a person has integration weaknesses, the immigration authorities will enter into an integration agreement with them. If the resident does not respect the agreement, their residence permit may be withdrawn.

Language skills: Level A1 (spoken) for non-working spouses
Prior to their arrival in Switzerland, non-working spouses of persons holding a residence permit B, C or F must submit an inscription form to a course which will enable them to reach the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages in the language spoken at their place of residence. One year after arrival, they must prove that they have reached the required level and are able to communicate in that language.

Hardening of the conditions for granting a resident permit C
A residence permit C can only be issued to those who meet the integration criteria and who have reached A2 level in oral and A1 in writing in the national language spoken at their place of residence.

Demoting a residence permit C holder into a residence permit B holder
The residence permit C can be revoked and replaced by a residence permit B when its holder does not fulfill the integration criteria.

Facilitated access to the labor market for Provisionally Admitted Persons
The procedure of authorization of employment for temporarily admitted persons (permit F), refugees admitted provisionally (permit F) and recognized refugees (permit B) has been replaced by a simplified announcement procedure.

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