Permit C: five years later, there is something to ask for

There is a question that appears regularly in the groups: "How many years do I have to be here to have a C permit?" The short answer is five years if you are an EU citizen, as the Spanish are. But the useful answer is somewhat longer. The C permit, also called the establishment permit, is the one that grants residence for an indefinite period in Switzerland. It is not renewed every year or every five years: once obtained, it is issued without a time limit, although you must update your residence data if you change cantons. The practical difference compared to permit B is significant: with permit C you have more freedom to change employers without additional notifications, you can request family reunification under better conditions and access certain social benefits with fewer restrictions. To request it, in addition to the five years of continuous residence, the authorities verify that you are integrated: without debts to the administration, without relevant criminal records, with basic knowledge of the local language and without having depended on social assistance in a significant way during the previous period. The language level required is modest (A2 written, B1 oral), although there are cantons that apply stricter criteria in practice. What many people don't know is that the C is not obtained automatically when you turn five: you have to ask for it. If you do not request it, you continue renewing the B indefinitely. And with B, a prolonged period of unemployment or any serious problem with management can complicate renewal. The C permit gives real stability. It is worth processing it as soon as the requirements are met. ---