After finally having gotten her Italian passport, the next step for Mei-Lin would be to acquire a Swiss C permit (she has currently a B). This would be helpful for her, not only because of taxes, but also because we have the impression tha finding a job on a B permit is much harder than on a C.
What does she have to do in order to get the C permit? Well (surprise-surprise), it’s not so simple.
First of all: the procedure for getting a C permit is easier for EU/EFTA citizens. Or at least, it used to be this way. In my case, for example, I received the C permit as soon as my 5-years B permit expired, beginning 2022. And I didn’t have to do anything special for that, I just had to fill a form and pay. But apparently I was lucky: the law changed just a couple of months after that! Now everyone who applies for a C permit must first pass an official language test! I’m not sure whether the requirements change from canton to canton (except the language must be the official one of the canton of residence of course), but in the case of Zerneve, the rule is: Minimum written level A1, and spoken A2. So, pretty low, but still Mei-Lin has to find an accredited institution, pay a shitload of money, and pass the exam.
The other requirement is, time spent in Switzerland under a B permit. In general it’s 10 years (!!!), but for EU/EFTA citizen it’s only 5 years. Mei-Lin is now Italian, but she acquired citizenship only recently. So, how is the time counted? Luckily, it seems that the date of acquired citizenship is not relevant: when Mei-Lin’s B permit expires (somewhere beginning 2027), she will be able to apply for a C permit as Italian citizen, provided she has the language attestation.
There is actually another route, connected to the fact that she is married to a C permit holder and resident in Switzerland. The rule is: 5 years since the date of marriage or 5 years since the entry in Switzerland (typically under a family reunion visa, as in our case, so somewhere before getting the B permit), whichever is later. BUT: if opting for this shortcut, the applicant must show “proof of good integration”, which typically translates in higher linguistic requirements: in the case of Zerneve, B1 written and A2 spoken, it’s also more expensive.
Doing the math, the second route would allow us to apply just a few months earlier, somewhere end 2026, so it’s probably not convenient. We have to wait, and Mei-Lin has to pass another language test.
Finally, a tiny, tricky, demonic detail.
Mei-Lin’s B permit is bound to her passport, that is: the one she had when she applied (Taiwan). She still has that passport, but from now on we will probably travel all together with the Italian passport only (unless going to Taiwan). And this can create issues, because when re-entring Switzerland from abroad (especially if we visit a non-EU country), the border authority might complain that the entry permit to Switzerland is not valid without showing the Taiwanese passport!
This is actually a plausible scenario that I foresaw just because I am smart I have experienced horrible traumas so many difficult bureaucratic situations. A call to Zerneve’s city department confirmed my suspicion. The solution: Mei-Lin must go to the townhall office and request a renewal of the B permit under the new passport. The new permit will have the same number and the same expiration date, but will show her Italian passport number. 55 CHF for that.
Are You Fucking Kidding Me 