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Are you an international student wanting to settle in Switzerland? Are you asking yourself- Can I get PR after study in Switzerland? You have come to the right place. This blog covers everything you need to know about Switzerland PR. You will learn if Switzerland has PR criteria for international students, how you can get a PR, and who can get citizenship in the country. Keep reading to get your answers!
This Blog Includes:
- Can I get PR after Study in Switzerland? An Overview
- How Can I Get PR After Study in Switzerland from India?
- Is It Easy to Get PR in Switzerland as an International Student?
- What are the Conditions for Swiss PR?
- Is Switzerland Good for Indians to Settle?
- Is it Hard to Get PR in Switzerland?
- Can International Students Work in Switzerland after Graduation?
- How Much Time Does It Take to Get PR in Switzerland for Students?
- What are the Switzerland PR Benefits?
- How Long Does it Take for Swiss Citizenship?
- FAQs
Can I get PR after Study in Switzerland? An Overview
International students who have completed studies in Switzerland can stay back in the country for 6 months. During this time, they can search for employment. Switzerland also offers employment opportunities to qualified students. However, getting a PR is not an easy task.
To get a Switzerland PR (C permit) you have to fulfill the following conditions-
- You must stay in the country for 10 years (If you are a non-EU national), or 5 years (for EU/EFTA national).
- Demonstrate integration requirements (For example, you must have a national language proficiency)
As a non-EU national (For example, if you are an Indian) you can get a PR if you come under the following categories.
- You are a family member of an employee of the diplomats or inter-governmental organisation
- You are a provisionally admitted foreigner (been ordered to leave the country but cannot leave).
- You are an asylum seeker
- Need protection
- Resident in a foreign border zone
If you are an international student who has stayed in the country and meets these conditions you may get a PR.
- You have stayed in the country for 10 years
- Meet the integration requirements
How Can I Get PR After Study in Switzerland from India?
Can I get PR after Study in Switzerland? You cannot easily get a PR in Swizerland. If you are from India. However, these are the steps that you can take to get a PR in the country.
Complete Education in Switzerland
First, complete your education in Switzerland. Enroll in a top educational institution in the country. You can get an acceptance letter from the university and apply for a student visa (Type D). Once you reach the country you will also need a residence permit to stay in the country. The permit you receive is called a B permit. The time you spend on a B permit is not counted for PR.
Apply for a Post Study Permit
Switzerland does not have a post-study work permit. However, the country gives you 6 months after graduation. You can extend your permit for 6 months to stay and look for jobs. This permit will allow you to search for employment, or learn to set up a business.
Get a Work Permit
Can i get pr after study in switzerland? As an international student, you must look for jobs that are related to your studies. A work permit is an authorization to work. The employer is supposed to apply for a work permit. As an international student, you may get a work permit if your work is of scientific or economic interest.
Moreover, a Work Permit (Permit-B) is only valid for 1 year. You need to renew this permit. These are certain facts about work permits for Non-Eu nationals (Indians)
| Switzerland Work Permit Conditions for Non-EU National | Description |
| Apply for top jobs only | You can get a work permit only for senior management positions, specialists, or another qualified professional role. The permit is granted based on the overall interest of Switzerland. |
| Work Experience | Generally, you need to have several years of professional experience to get a work permit or must have special training. |
| No EU/EEA national to take up the job | You will only get a work permit if no EU/EEA national is available |
| Quota system | The number of work permits issued is restricted |
On the positive side, you will get the same salary and benefits as a Swiss national
Other Residency Options
Can I get pr after study in Switzerland? These are some residency options for non-EU nationals. This can help you stay in the country for a longer period
| Switzerland Residency Options for Non-EU Nationals | Description |
| Permit Ci (residence permit with gainful employment) | You are a family member of an employee of the diplomats or inter-governmental organisation |
| Permit F (provisionally admitted foreigners) | You have been ordered to leave the country but cannot leave. |
| Permit N (permit for asylum-seekers) | You are an asylum seeker |
| Permit G (cross-border commuter permit) | You are a resident in a foreign border zone |
| Permit S (people in need of protection) | You need protection from the government |
Switzerland Perment Residence Permit (C Permit)
The Switzerland government has not provided any information regarding permanent residency. Neither the B permit nor the L permit (granted for shorter stays) will lead to PR in the country. Therefore, this means as an Indian citizen you cannot easily get a PR. To get the PR, most likely you will have to stay in the country for 10 years. It is difficult to stay in the country for 10 years because the number of work permits issued is restricted. Therefore, we recommend you go for citizenship.
Apply for Citizenship
As a non-Eu national you can apply for Switzerland citizenship if you hold any of the following permits.
- B permit for 10 years
- C permit (permanent residency) in the country
It is easier to get citizenship in the country. Moreover, you can get ‘dual citizenship’. This means you do not have to revoke your current citizenship to get a new one!
Understand How You Can Get a Work Visa in Switzerland as an Indian
Is It Easy to Get PR in Switzerland as an International Student?
Can I get PR after study in Switzerland? Getting a PR in Switzerland is a difficult, and lengthy process. There are many reasons why you might find it difficult to get a PR.
- Limited time to search for employment– You only have 6 months to search for employment. You can also only work in fields that are related to your degree.
- Difficulty in obtaining the work permit– The work permits are mostly issued for senior management or professionals. It is difficult to obtain the same.
- Short work permit validity– THe work permit is only issued for 1 year at a time
- Limited long-term residence permits– The residence permit issued in the country is for certain categories only. For example, refugees, and asylum seekers.
- Easy citizenship– If you stay in the country for 10 years you can apply for PR or citizenship. This makes citizenship an easier pathway for permanent settlement.
Therefore, we can say that Switzerland is not a PR-friendly country for international students. However, it is an excellent country to study abroad or to work and gain experience.
What are the Conditions for Swiss PR?
Can I get pr after study in switzerland? It is not easy to obtain a PR in Swizerland. The reason? Switzerland is not a PR-friendly country. Long-term immigration is restricted. However, you may be able to get a PR if you fulfil the following conditions-
| Switzerland PR conditions | Description |
| Nationality | EU/EEA citizen, Non-EU |
| Duration of stay | 5 years (EEA/EU citizen), 10 years (Non-EU nationals) |
| Permit | Hold a B permit |
| Language | You respect the laws and the culture of the country |
| Financially independent | You can take care of your expenses |
| No criminal record | You have a clean criminal record |
| Swiss laws and culture | You respect the laws, and the culture of the country |
Note- These are just the general requirements. The exact requirements might vary.
Understand the Cost of Living in Switzerland: Updated Prices, Comparison with Other Countries
Is Switzerland Good for Indians to Settle?
Are you wondering- how can i get pr after study in switzerland? The truth is, that Switzerland is not a good country for Indians to settle in. There are many reasons for this. Some of these reasons are provided below-
Restricted immigration
Switzerland is not a PR-friendly country for non-EU nationals. You can only get a PR if you have stayed for 10 years. The only way you can stay for 10 years is by holding a B permit. The B permit for work is only issued for a year and is difficult to obtain and renew. Therefore, you need a long-term residency to stay. The long-term residency is only available if you are related to a diplomat or an employee in an international organisation.
Long Time For PR or Citizenship
Generally, most EU countries provide PR within 5 years of stay to non-EU nationals. However, in Switzerland, if you want to get a PR you have to stay for 10 years! In 10 years you can also get a dual citizenship! This is a long time, and you may not be able to stay in the country for such a long time unless you are highly qualified and are related to an EU citizen, or employee of a diplomat, or an international organization.
To learn more about Switzerland’s work permits, watch this video:
Is it Hard to Get PR in Switzerland?
Can i get pr after study in switzerland? The difficulty level in obtaining a Swizerland PR depends on your nationality.
- EU nationals can easily get a PR if they are an EU/EEA citizen. The reason? You can stay in the country for 5 years and get a PR. Thereafter you can apply for citizenship
- Non-EU nationals– can find it extremely difficult to get a PR. There is no provision long long-term residency in the country for non-EU nationals like Indians. You may get a PR if you stay in the country for 10 years. It is easier to get a PR in the US than in Swizerland. In Swizerland you need to be related to a citizen, diplomat, etc to get a PR.
Can International Students Work in Switzerland after Graduation?
Yes. International students can work in Swizerland after graduation. After graduation, you can extend your residency permit for 6 months. During this time, you can search for employment. However, you need to look for jobs that are related to your studies. Moreover, if you are a non-EU national you can only get top-level jobs like management positions.
How Much Time Does It Take to Get PR in Switzerland for Students?
Can i get pr after study in switzerland? You cannot directly get a PR. However, you can get a PR if you stay in the country for the following period.
| Nationality | Time taken to get a Swizerland PR |
| EU national/ EEA national | 5 years |
| Non-EU national (Indians) | 10 years. (A PR may not be available) |
What are the Switzerland PR Benefits?
Can i get pr after study in switzerland? No. You cannot directly get a PR after completing your studies. You need to stay in the country for 10 years (non-EU) to get a PR. If you do get a PR, these are the benefits you can get-
- You can stay in the country for an indefinite period
- You can work or study without restrictions
- Travel to other Schengen countries without getting a visa for up to 180 day
- You can work for any employer you want, and even set up your business
- Access to the healthcare system, social security benefits, and educational opportunities
- You can own property in Swizerland
- Reunite with your family members
- Pathway to citizenship
However, you cannot vote or stand up in elections for public office.
How Long Does it Take for Swiss Citizenship?
Can I get pr after study in Switzerland? No. You cannot directly get a PR in Switzerland in the country. You can get a PR only after you have stayed in the country for 10 years. The PR is a pathway to citizenship.
You can get Swiss citizenship if you have stayed in the country for 10 years. You must also fulfil the citizenship requirements. Some of the requirements for citizenship are as follows-
- You must hold a C permit (PR) or a B permit
- Stayed in Switzerland for 10 years
- Stayed in a Cantio (state) for 2 to 5 years
- Is familiar with the Swiss way of life
- Is not a threat to the national security
- Approved by the Canton to give you a citizenship status
You can get dual citizenship in Switzerland.
FAQs
There are different pathways to get a PR. You need to stay in Switzerland for 10 years if you are a non-EU national like an Indian citizen. Otherwise, you can stay for 5 years. You can also get a PR though family reunification, self-employment, or get citizenship through naturalization.
You will only get a PR if you have stayed in the country for 10 years. To stay in the country for 10 years, you must be related to a diplomat or an employee of an international organisation. This is the only way you will get a residence permit. The B permit given to workers is only valid for a year. It is renewable. However, it is difficult to renew the same for 10 years straight.
The duration of a Switzerland post study work permit is 6 months. During this time, you can search for employment in a field related to your studies.
No. You cannot directly get a PR. Switzerland restricts immigration. The government has not provided any information regarding PR for non-EU nationals. However, it is assumed by many that a non-EU national can also get a PR in 10 years.
It will take you 10 years to get citizenship in Switzerland. The PR can be obtained in 5 years if you are an EU/EEA national.
After completing a master’s in Switzerland you can stay for 6 months. During this period, you can search for employment. You need to search for employment in a related field.
Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and Malta are some of the easiest countries to get a PR. You can also get a PR easily if you stay in Portugal or Ireland.
We hope you now have the answer to your question- Can i get pr after study in switzerland? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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