Can spouse and children hold a family G permit? (cross-border guide)
Answered with official sources — Permits G, B and residency
Answer
Yes. AFMP Annex I art. 3 allows family members (spouse, children under 21 or dependents, dependent parents) of EU/EFTA cross-border workers to work in Switzerland and obtain their own 5-year G permit source: Fedlex AFMP SR 0.142.112.681. No minimum contract duration is required. The migration notification is identical to the main holder's. The spouse keeps Italian residence and withholding taxation (or ordinary above CHF 120,000). If the family member works in Italy they don't need a Swiss permit. Without employment, spouse and children do not get an automatic G: they need family reunification to a B or C permit.
Official sources
1Other questions on this topic
- Can I have two Swiss employers with one G permit?
Yes. OLCP art. 12 allows G permit holders to hold multiple Swiss employments simultaneously. Each employer notifies the hire and withholds tax on its share.
- Is the 20 km / 45 minutes rule for cross-border workers still in force?
In a different form. For EU/EFTA nationals SEM states that border zones no longer exist: the G permit requires no maximum distance or travel time, only a return home that is normally daily or at least weekly. The border zone still applies to third-country nationals.
- Must I register with AIRE if I hold a G permit?
No. AIRE (Italian Citizens Resident Abroad Register) applies to Italians moving residence outside Italy for over 12 months. The G permit holder keeps Italian residence, so does NOT register with AIRE.
- Can I bring my family to Switzerland under the G permit?
The G permit does not give an automatic family reunification right in Switzerland because it is not a residence permit (FNA art. 42 applies to settlement permits).
- How long is the G permit valid and how is it renewed?
The EU/EFTA G permit lasts as long as the employment contract, up to 5 years (FNA art. 35 para. 2, OLCP art. 7). Open-ended contracts are issued a 5-year permit, automatically renewed while employment continues.
- How do I switch from G permit to B permit?
You must effectively move to Switzerland (FNA art. 33). Procedure: (1) find a Swiss dwelling and sign a lease; (2) notify the Municipal registry office within 14 days of arrival with passport, work contract and lease; (3) the Commune…
- If I change employer do I need to change the G permit?
The G permit is personal, not tied to a specific employer. The new employer must notify the Cantonal Migration Office within 8 days via EasyGov, indicating the existing permit number (OLCP art. 9). No new issuance procedure is required.
- What is the difference between G and B permits?
The G permit (cross-border) is issued to EU/EFTA nationals working in Switzerland who return to Italy at least weekly (Foreign Nationals Act art. 35, OLCP art. 7). It does not give Swiss residence rights.