After how many years of residence can I apply for the C permit?

For non-EU/EFTA foreigners: 10 years of ordinary residence in Switzerland. For EU/EFTA citizens: 5 years. Residence is calculated from the first day of registration in the population register of the Swiss municipality. The renewal of permit B does not interrupt the counting — they are continuous years. The C permit is not automatic: the canton also evaluates integration criteria and criminal situation.

What happens if I get the C permit and then move to another canton?

The C permit remains valid throughout Switzerland. You don't have to request it again. However, you must register with the new municipality of residence within 14 days (Federal Law on Population Registration). The migration office of the new canton will update the data, but the permit does not change — C remains.

With the C permit can I work as an independent?

Yes. The C permit allows you to exercise independent activity in Switzerland, after registration with the cantonal chamber of commerce and the AVS/AI clearing house. You will have to register as an independent and pay the AVS/AI social security contributions (from which they vary according to net income) and VAT if the excess of CHF 100,000 of annual revenues is exceeded.

Do I have to pay cantonal and municipal taxes in Graubünden with permit C?

Yes. The C permit makes you an ordinary tax resident in the canton of Graubünden and in the municipality of residence. You are subject to federal direct world income tax, cantonal taxes (cantonal rate and multipliers), and municipal taxes (municipal multiplier). The amount depends on gross income, deductions, canton and specific municipality.

Does the C permit open the way to ordinary naturalization?

Yes. With a C + 10-year total residence permit in Switzerland (of which at least 5 with a C permit, double counted), you can apply for ordinary naturalisation. However, the canton of Graubünden and your municipality of residence may impose additional requirements (language, integration, behaviour). Naturalization is not automatic — it requires a separate application, cantonal/municipal assessment and sometimes a popular vote at the municipal level.

Residence permit C Graubünden: requirements and application (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 30 August 2026

Graubünden alpine valley with cantonal administration building and Swiss flags

The C permit is the permanent residence permit in Switzerland. Find out how to apply in the canton of Graubünden, the years of residence required, the tax implications, AVS/LPP and the path to ordinary naturalisation.

Context

In a nutshell

Permit C: permanent residence in Switzerland after 10 years (5 for EU/EFTA)
Managed by cantonal office Graubünden + Federal Secretariat of State for Migration (SEM)
It does not expire, unlike the B permit renewable every 5 years
Paves the way for ordinary naturalization after 10 years of full residency

Key facts

What: Residence permit C — Swiss permanent residence license
Who: Issued by Canton Grisons + Federal Secretariat of State for Migration (SEM)
Requirements: 10 years ordinary residence in Switzerland; 5 years for EU/EFTA citizens
Naturalization: Permit C + 10 years total residence + cantonal/municipal requirements
Implications: Federal-cantonal-communal taxation; AVS/AI/LPP contributions; mandatory LAMal coverage

Residence permit C is the permanent residence permit in Switzerland, issued by the canton with validation by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) at the federal level. It represents the third level in permits for resident foreigners: after the L permit (short duration, up to 1 year) and the B permit (residence, renewable on a periodic basis).

Anyone who ordinarily resides in Switzerland for a minimum of 10 consecutive years can apply for the C permit. For citizens of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EU/EFTA), the term is reduced to 5 years. In the canton of Graubünden, as in every canton, the request is submitted to the competent cantonal office, the

Operational details

The C permit transforms the tax and social security position of the resident foreigner. First of all, with the C permit you become ordinary resident in Switzerland for federal, cantonal and municipal tax purposes. The Swiss tax calculator estimates the federal-cantonal taxation accurately based on the declared income.

Federal, cantonal and municipal taxation

Direct Federal Tax (DFI) applies to the resident's worldwide income. The cantonal and municipal taxes of the canton of Graubünden follow the rates and multipliers of each municipality (the municipal multiplier applies to the cantonal tax base). Deductions may relate to AVS/AI/LPP contributions and payments to the third pillar 3a, subject to indexed annual ceilings. Each canton and municipality disseminates public tax tables: the canton of Graubünden publishes rates and multipliers for each municipality on the official website.

Mandatory social security contributions

With the C permit, the resident is required to pay contributions towards the three pillars of social security. AVS/AI/IPG requires 5.3% to be paid by the employee (10.6% total with employer). The LPP (compulsory occupational pension from first employment) applies rates by age group: 7% for 25–34 years, 10% for 35–44, 15% for 45–54, 18% for 55+ up to the reference age. The comparatore pensioni helps to estimate future rent.

Mandatory sickness coverage

Sickness coverage (LAMal/KVG) becomes mandatory within 3 months

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

How to apply for permit C in the Canton of Grisons

The process is managed at two levels: cantonal and federal. The canton is the first point of contact; the SEM validates at the national level.

Phase 1: Document preparation

Before submitting your application, gather:

A valid passport or identity document
A residence certificate from the municipality of current domicile in Switzerland
An extract from the Swiss criminal register (requestable online or at the cantonal police)
Proof of financial stability (employment contract, AVS contribution payments, recent pay slips)
Any cantonal integration certificates (if required by the Canton of Grisons)

The Canton of Grisons specifies the exact list on the migration office website. Some requirements are canton-specific; contact them directly for current details.

Phase 2: Submission at the Grisons cantonal office

Check the address and opening hours of the migration office (Kantonales Amt für Migration). The application is submitted in person or by registered mail to the office, together with the attachments. Not all cantons accept online applications — check directly before making the trip.

Phase 3: Transmission to SEM and federal decision

The cantonal office verifies the completeness of the application. If everything is correct, it forwards the file to the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration, based in Bern, Permits Section). The SEM conducts a federal check: criminal record, international data, compliance with migration rules. The decision is sent to the canton, which notifies the applicant of the outcome. Times: on average 2–6 months from submission, depending on cantonal and federal workload.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After how many years of residence can I apply for the C permit?: For non-EU/EFTA foreigners: 10 years of ordinary residence in Switzerland. For EU/EFTA citizens: 5 years. Residence is calculated from the first day of registration in the population register of the Swiss municipality. The renewal of permit B does not interrupt the counting — they are continuous years. The C permit is not automatic: the canton also evaluates integration criteria and criminal situation.
What happens if I get the C permit and then move to another canton?: The C permit remains valid throughout Switzerland. You don't have to request it again. However, you must register with the new municipality of residence within 14 days (Federal Law on Population Registration). The migration office of the new canton will update the data, but the permit does not change — C remains.
With the C permit can I work as an independent?: Yes. The C permit allows you to exercise independent activity in Switzerland, after registration with the cantonal chamber of commerce and the AVS/AI clearing house. You will have to register as an independent and pay the AVS/AI social security contributions (from which they vary according to net income) and VAT if the excess of CHF 100,000 of annual revenues is exceeded.
Do I have to pay cantonal and municipal taxes in Graubünden with permit C?: Yes. The C permit makes you an ordinary tax resident in the canton of Graubünden and in the municipality of residence. You are subject to federal direct world income tax, cantonal taxes (cantonal rate and multipliers), and municipal taxes (municipal multiplier). The amount depends on gross income, deductions, canton and specific municipality.
Does the C permit open the way to ordinary naturalization?: Yes. With a C + 10-year total residence permit in Switzerland (of which at least 5 with a C permit, double counted), you can apply for ordinary naturalisation. However, the canton of Graubünden and your municipality of residence may impose additional requirements (language, integration, behaviour). Naturalization is not automatic — it requires a separate application, cantonal/municipal assessment and sometimes a popular vote at the municipal level.