Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Swiss court backs residency request of welfare recipient

swiss permits
The migration office had claimed that the man's welfare payments spoke against the level of his family's integration. Keystone

The Federal Administrative Court has overturned the decision of the State Secretariat for Migration to refuse residence permits to the children of a foreigner who received social assistance while studying in Switzerland.

In a verdict published on Thursday, the court judged that the welfare payments received by the man of Ukrainian and Syrian origin was insufficient grounds to deny residency permits to his children.

Having arrived in Switzerland almost 15 years ago, the man subsequently received state benefits for four years while he studied to become an engineer. He then found work and supported his family without assistance.

+ Read more about naturalisation and citizenship in Switzerland

However, the State Secretariat for Migration reckoned that this receipt of benefits was a sign of mediocre integration and opposed the wishes of the family’s home canton by refusing to grant residence permits to the man’s children.

In its verdict overturning this decision, the St Gallen-based Federal Administrative Court recognised that the social benefits had allowed the man to find a job and become financially independent. It also said the amount in question – CHF200,000 ($200,000) – was not substantial.

The man said he was prepared to pay back the money, although he is not obliged to do so.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Property prices continue to rise

More

Swiss property prices continue to rise

This content was published on Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.

Read more: Swiss property prices continue to rise

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR