You arrive in Switzerland
First contract, family reunification, studies or mission: your first permit sets the tone for everything else.
Residence permits · All 26 cantons B, C, L, G permits —
B, C, L, G permits —
a poorly prepared file can cost you your life in Switzerland.
Lost job, threatened lease, family blocked abroad, children's schooling suspended: a permit refusal is never just administrative. The cantonal authorities review every file with a level of scrutiny most people underestimate — 12 months of payslips instead of 3, housing calculated room by room, a CHF 200 debt certificate that blocks a renewal. Our advisors prepare your file in a transparent monthly subscription, in 7 languages.
Advisors based in Switzerland 7 languages (FR · DE · IT · EN · PT · ES · SQ) Expiry reminders included Appeal in case of refusal included
Free diagnosis · 15 min
A question about your permit?
Leave your details, an advisor based in Switzerland will call you back within 2 working hours — in French, German, Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish or Albanian.
📞 +41 77 917 24 48 ✉ info@helveticassist.ch
Your situation Your permit ties you to everything:
Your permit ties you to everything:
job, housing, family.
An incomplete file can be enough to put it all back into question.
Your permit is expiring
A B permit is renewed every year for the first 5 years. A single missing document can trigger a refusal.
You are aiming for the C permit
After 5 or 10 years of residence, you can apply for settlement. Language level, integration and tax records must be in order.
Your situation is changing
Canton move, employer change, divorce, transition to self-employment: every transition requires a file update.
Catalogue Which permit
Which permit
for which situation?
The 5 main permit types covered by our service.
Permis Pour qui Durée Cas typiques
L Short stay (< 12 months) 3 to 12 months Mission, short training, students
B Annual residence 1 year renewable Employee, student, family reunification
C Settlement Unlimited After 5 years (EU/EFTA) or 10 years (third countries)
G Cross-border commuter 5 years Work in Switzerland, residence abroad
Ci Family of IO staff Tied to spouse Family of diplomat or international civil servant
Our services 6 services
6 services
under one subscription.
Complete cantonal file
Status analysis · applicable legal framework (FNIA, AFMP) · file preparation · submission to the competent cantonal office (OCPM, SPOP, Migrationsamt…).
Deadlines secured
Reminder 90 days before expiry · full check of supporting documents (income, housing, tax, debts) · submission within the legal window.
Transition to settlement
Verification of integration conditions (FIDE A2/B1 level depending on canton) · tax and debt certificates · submission with reasoned argument.
Bring family over
Preparation of residence, income and adequate housing documents · marriage or filiation certificates · coordination with sponsor permit · compliance with legal deadlines.
Administrative transition
File update · notification to departure and arrival cantons · follow-up of permit transfer.
Defence until decision
Analysis of the decision · drafting of the appeal memorandum · submission within the 30-day legal deadline · follow-up until cantonal or federal decision.
Comparison Relocation agency
Relocation agency
or Helvetic Assist?
What makes Helvetic Assist different from classic relocation agencies.
Relocation agency Helvetic Assist
Price Package CHF 2,500–12,000 CHF 45/month
Target client Expat executives, multinationals Standard foreign resident
Languages FR / DE / EN FR · DE · IT · EN · PT · ES · SQ
Annual renewal Not their business Included, unlimited
Ongoing follow-up One-off mission 12 or 24 months
Expiry reminders ✗ ✓
Appeal after refusal ✗ ✓ included
Response time By schedule 48h maximum
Specific cases: if your case requires an appeal before the Federal Supreme Court or involves criminal proceedings related to foreigners' law, we'll point you to a suitable legal framework.
How it works Three steps,
Three steps,
one point of contact.
01
Free diagnosis (15 min)
You describe your situation and key dates. We identify the legal framework and required documents.
02
File preparation
You send your documents through our secure portal. We assemble the complete cantonal file and verify every document before submission.
03
Submission and follow-up
We submit to the competent authority. We respond to requests for additional information and chase until decision.
Why us What makes
What makes
the difference.
26-canton specialists
Each canton has its own deadlines, forms and practices. We know OCPM (GE), SPOP (VD), Migrationsamt (ZH, BE, LU), Ufficio della migrazione (TI)…
Do you speak Portuguese, Spanish, Italian or Albanian?
Most firms only work in French, German or English. Our advisors also support you in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and Albanian — linguistic precision matters when your status is on the line.
Follow-up until decision
Not just a filled form. We handle chases, additional requests and appeals until cantonal or federal decision.
Confidentiality & compliance
Data hosted in Switzerland · no third-party sharing · FADP and GDPR compliant.
Testimonials They nearly lost their status —
They nearly lost their status —
we got them back on track.
« Two months before expiry I discovered my lease had been modified by the agency with a surface area error — enough to block my renewal. The advisor sorted it all out in Portuguese, for CHF 45/month. »
« My first C application was refused: language level too low and an old debt I thought was cleared. I was about to lose 2 years of waiting. Helvetic Assist prepared me for the FIDE in Albanian and negotiated the debt with the debt office. C obtained on the second attempt. »
« Two refusals on my income alone — each time for technical reasons. My eldest daughter was about to fall out of the legal deadline. Helvetic Assist recalculated to the cent using the CSIAS method and found the right adjustments. Both my daughters arrived 8 months after submission. »
Who it's for Is this service
Is this service
for you?
For you if
- You live and work in Switzerland with an L, B, G, or soon-to-be C permit
- You have a renewal planned in the next 3 to 12 months
- You want to bring family over (family reunification)
- You are changing canton, employer or status
- You prefer a real advisor in your language over an online form
Not for you if
- You are an asylum seeker (contact OSAR, SAJE, CARITAS — free and specialised)
- Your case is before the Federal Supreme Court (you need a bar-registered lawyer)
- You are an expat executive sent by a multinational (your employer pays for a relocation agency)
Pricing Included in
Included in
your subscription.
Residence permit assistance is included in our plans:
• Individual — CHF 45/month (12 months) or CHF 40.50/month (24 months)
• Family — CHF 79/month (12 months) or CHF 71.10/month (24 months)
Includes: residence permits · LAMal & subsidies · tax · cancellations · official correspondence · advice.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need to have a permit already to contact you?
No. We intervene for first applications, at arrival or even from abroad (depending on the permit type).
How long before expiry should I contact you for a renewal?
Ideally 90 days before. The renewal application is filed in the 3 months preceding expiry.
Which documents do I need to get started?
Passport, employment contract (or proof of income), housing certificate, residence registration. The full list depends on the permit — we send it to you after the diagnosis.
What happens if my application is refused?
We analyse the decision and prepare the appeal within the 30-day legal deadline. Appeals are included for files we have prepared.
Do you operate in all cantons?
Yes, all 26 cantons. Enhanced expertise in Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern, Zurich, Ticino.
Can I get a C permit after an F permit (temporary admission)?
Yes, under strict conditions (10 years of continuous residence, proven integration, no criminal record). We assess eligibility at the diagnosis.
My spouse is Swiss, am I automatically naturalised?
No — marriage does not grant nationality automatically. Facilitated naturalisation is a separate path (5 years of marriage + 3 years of residence). We also support that process.
How long does an application take?
It varies by canton and permit type: 4 to 12 weeks for a renewal, 3 to 9 months for a first application or a C permit.
Can I work if my permit is being renewed?
Yes — if the application was filed before expiry, you keep your residence and work rights until decision.
Is Helvetic Assist a law firm?
No. We are an administrative support service. For matters requiring representation before a court, we collaborate with specialised lawyer partners.
Your status in Switzerland —
don't leave it to chance.
A refused or expired permit is a job gone, a lease at risk, a family separated. You've built your life here: a free diagnosis call to protect it, and CHF 45/month to never face it alone again.
Start my diagnosis — free