Do Unmarried Partners Qualify for Family Reunification in Switzerland?

For couples in committed relationships, being able to live together is a natural and important part of building a shared life. In Switzerland, the rules around family reunification are well established for spouses and registered partners. However, for those who are not married or in a legally recognised partnership, the legal position is far less straightforward. There is no specific Swiss unmarried partner visa or Switzerland cohabitation visa, and unmarried couples do not benefit from the same entitlements as those with formalised legal status. Even so, in certain cases, it may still be possible for an unmarried partner to join their loved one in Switzerland - although doing so requires meeting a high threshold, usually under an exceptional legal route.

The Legal Framework: No General Right for Unmarried Partners

Under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA), the family reunification provisions apply to spouses, registered partners, and minor children. Unmarried partners are not expressly included in these categories. As a result, there is no automatic right for a foreign national in an unmarried relationship with a Swiss citizen or foreign resident to obtain a residence permit on that basis alone.

Unlike some other jurisdictions that recognise long-term cohabitation as a ground for family reunification, Swiss immigration law remains more restrictive. There is no formal application process for a Swiss partnership visa, and requests by unmarried partners are not dealt with under routine immigration categories. Instead, they fall into a different category entirely: that of discretionary, humanitarian requests.

Humanitarian Exceptions Under Swiss Law

In cases where the standard legal requirements are not met, Article 30(1)(b) FNIA allows the Swiss authorities to grant a residence permit on an exceptional basis where there are serious personal hardships. The authorities also take into account Switzerland’s obligations under international law, particularly Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects the right to respect for private and family life.

While these provisions offer a possible route for unmarried partners, the threshold for success is high. The relationship must be stable, longstanding, and comparable in nature to a marriage or registered partnership. The authorities will also look closely at whether the couple could reasonably live together in another country, and whether the hardship caused by separation would go beyond the emotional difficulty that comes with living apart. Each application is assessed on its individual merits, and success depends on the strength of the evidence presented and the circumstances of the couple.

In practice, how these humanitarian provisions are applied can vary between cantons. Some cantonal authorities may adopt a more cautious interpretation of personal hardship, while others may be more receptive to arguments based on integration, vulnerability, or the impossibility of relocation. In some cases, decisions may also reflect relevant rulings by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court or the European Court of Human Rights, especially where Article 8 ECHR is invoked in support of family life protection. As a result, humanitarian applications by unmarried partners require not only strong factual evidence, but also a careful understanding of how different authorities apply the law in practice.

Establishing a Strong Application

To be considered for a residence permit on humanitarian grounds, the couple must provide evidence of a genuine and committed relationship. This might include proof of cohabitation, joint financial arrangements, regular contact over a significant period of time, and shared plans for the future. The authorities will also expect to see reasons why the couple cannot simply live together outside Switzerland—for example, due to work, health, or legal obstacles.

For example, a Swiss national and their partner may have spent several years living together abroad, jointly renting a home and supporting one another financially. If the couple then returns to Switzerland and finds that the foreign partner cannot remain due to lack of a qualifying visa, they may consider making a humanitarian application. If returning to the partner’s country is not viable - perhaps due to political instability, employment restrictions, or personal vulnerability - the authorities may be asked to consider an exception to the general rules.

At the same time, applicants need to demonstrate that refusing the residence permit would result in serious personal hardship. This could relate to a partner’s health, caring responsibilities, strong integration in Switzerland, or other factors that make separation particularly difficult or unreasonable. The hardship must be compelling and must go beyond what is ordinarily expected when a couple lives in different countries.

A Discretionary and Unpredictable Process

Unlike standard family reunification applications, there is no fixed process for submitting a request as an unmarried partner. Applications are usually made to the cantonal migration authority in writing and supported by documents that demonstrate both the nature of the relationship and the reasons why an exception to the normal rules should be made. Some cases may also require approval at the federal level from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

Decisions can take time and may vary between cantons. Where an application is refused, it is often possible to appeal, provided that the case raises issues of law or proportionality.

However, appeals may also take several months, and it is generally advisable to make the strongest possible application at the outset to avoid unnecessary delay or complication.

Some couples in this situation consider marriage or registered partnership as a way to regularise their status and access the standard family reunification route. In many cases, this may offer a clearer and more predictable path. However, this is not always possible. Legal or practical barriers - such as inability to marry due to home country laws, limited time in Switzerland, or personal circumstances - may make formalisation unfeasible in the short term. Where marriage is not an immediate option, a humanitarian request may offer the only viable route forward.

A Narrow Route, But Not an Impossible One

While there is no dedicated Swiss unmarried partner visa, and no ordinary route for unmarried couples to live together in Switzerland under the family reunification framework, a limited path does exist through humanitarian exceptions. Although these applications are subject to discretion and require thoughtful preparation, they can succeed where the relationship is well documented and the individual circumstances are compelling. Swiss authorities do consider applications from unmarried partners seriously - particularly where relocation is not a realistic option and separation would lead to genuine hardship.

The success of such an application depends not only on the facts of the relationship, but also on how those facts are presented. A structured and well-supported application can make a significant difference, helping the authorities to understand the couple’s situation and assess whether it falls within the intended scope of humanitarian discretion. The absence of a formal category does not mean that the door is closed - rather, it means that the door must be carefully and convincingly opened.

Some couples may also consider formalising their relationship through marriage or registered partnership, either before arrival or after reunification under a different immigration route. In some cases, this may offer a clearer and more predictable legal path. However, where marriage is not immediately possible, or where legal or practical obstacles prevent formalisation, the humanitarian route remains a valid and lawful alternative.

At Richmond Chambers Switzerland, we assist couples in preparing and submitting humanitarian residence permit applications, including those involving unmarried partners. We help clients assess the strength of their case, gather appropriate supporting evidence, and present a coherent and well-reasoned application. If you and your partner are exploring the possibility of living together in Switzerland and would like guidance tailored to your situation, we would be pleased to assist.