Originally posted by dlincke
A C permit is pretty much the equivalent of a green card. It never expires (unless you give up residency in CH for an extended period of time) and allows you to do pretty much everything (starting your own business etc.) except to vote. A B permit is tied to a specific employment contract and needs to be renewed every couple years. An A permit is for seasonal workers mostly from southern eureopean countries and requires the holders to leave the country for at least three months after each nine month stay if I remember right.
The cost of living is definitely high in CH. I used to live in NYC (Manhattan) and my grocery bills here are quite a bit higher. Especially meat prices are beyond any resonable level due to government price guarantees, subsidies and other protectionist measures.
what's involved in obtaining a C permit?
edit found it:
SWITZERLAND
Residence in Switzerland
For financially independent individuals, business investors and entrepreneurs it may be possible to become resident in Switzerland. There are generally two ways to establish resident status:
a) Through the re-location of businesses from outside Switzerland or the establishment of a new business in
Switzerland which will create employ-ment and help the economic development of Switzerland. Depending on the
canton and region, tax breaks and government subsidies maybe possible if the business is going to be substantial.
Residence permits for the foreign director/owner and his or her family are normally granted without delay.
b) If the applicant is over 55 years of age, financially independent and can show close
connections to Switzerland. In this case, there is the interesting possibility of negotiating lump-sum taxation instead of the usual taxation on worldwide income. This special taxation regime - as well as the granting of the permit - is negotiated on an individual basis and at the discretion of the authorities. The possibility of lump-sum taxation makes Switzerland one of the most attractive places in the world for wealthy individuals.
Residence in the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia may occasionally also be a viable option to practically establish yourself in Switzerland, but without paying its taxes.
The following is an overview of the various types of permits issued to foreigners resident in Switzerland:
Annual Residence Permit ("B" permit)
The "B" permit is the standard residence permit issued to foreigners during their first years of residence in Switzerland. After 5 or 10 years respectively (depending on bilateral conventions) the "B" permit will be changed into a permanent resident permit ("C" permit).
Permanent Residence Permit ("C" permit)
The "C" permit is issued after 5 or 10 years (depending on the citizenship of the foreigner and respective bilateral conventions between Switzerland and the foreigner's country of citizenship) to holders of a "B" permit. The "C" permit gives its holder full residence status with the same rights as Swiss citizens except political rights.
Seasonal Work Permit("A" permit)
With a Seasonal Work Permit, residence is limited to 9 consecutive months within a 12-months period.
Border Commuter Work Permit ("L" permit)
A Border Commuter Permit is issued to foreign nationals with minimum residence near the Swiss border of 6 months.
Swiss Citizenship
After 12 years of residence in Switzerland a foreigner with permanent resident status may apply for Swiss citizenship. For children the years spent in Switzerland between the age of 10 and 20 years count double. The conditions for granting citizenship depend primarily on the Canton and the community where the foreigner is resident. Generally, the applicant has to be acquainted with Swiss customs, must be well integrated in the Swiss society and should usually speak one of the national languages fluently. 10 and 20 years count double. The conditions for granting citizenship depend primarily on the Canton and the community where the foreigner is resident. Generally, the applicant has to be acquainted with Swiss customs, must be well integrated in the Swiss society and should usually speak one of the national languages fluently.
Switzerland is often perceived as a very expensive country and accessible only to wealthy individuals and large companies. However the overall cost of living and doing business in Switzerland compares very favourably with Germany, France, the Netherlands or the USA. But what matters most is what you get: State-of-the-art transport, telecommunications, and energy supplies cost no more in Switzerland than the price paid elsewhere for traffic congestion and environmental degradation.
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