Legal Issues
What are your rights and obligations in Switzerland? On this page we have summarised the most important contacts for advice centres relating to topics like residence permits, naturalisation, family reunification, marriage, and protection against discrimination.
What are the different types of residence permits? What are my rights with my residency status?
- The Canton of Bern has more information at Hallo-Bern.ch.
- The City of Bern’s Sozialdienst explains how social assistance works. (DE)
How can I become a naturalised citizen?
The following websites have important information and contacts on this topic:
- The City of Bern (DE)
- The Canton of Bern (DE, FR)
- The Swiss Confederation (DE, FR, IT, RM, EN)
How can I bring my family to Switzerland?
- The City of Bern’s Einwohnerdienste has more information about family reunification. If you need further advice, you can make an appointment. (DE)
- The City of Bern’s Fachstelle für Migrations- und Rassismusfragen organises a regular information session on this topic. (DE)
Where can I get free legal advice?
The following institutions provide free or low-cost legal advice:
- Berner Rechtsberatungsstelle für Menschen in Not (DE, FR)
- Rechtsberatung des Treffpunkts Untermatt
- Bernerischer Anwaltsverband (DE, FR)
- Infra Bern (DE, FR, EN)
You can find a list of legal advice centres on the City of Bern’s website. (DE)
Which Swiss laws particularly affect me as a foreign national?
- The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA) (Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz AIG in German) regulates, for example, visas, entry, and residency.
- You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the FNIA on the website of the State Secretariat of Migration. (DE, FR, IT)
How can I make a difference politically as a migrant?
In the city of Bern, even if you don’t have a Swiss passport, you can submit a request directly to the city parliament. This is called a participation motion. For example, a participation motion was made asking the city of Bern to produce information in Kurdish, which it now does. (DE)
Where can I get help with conflicts with the administration?
- The City of Bern’s Ombudsstelle advises and mediates in conflicts with the city administration. (DE)
Where can I get help if I have experienced discrimination? Where can I get advice if I am a victim of racial discrimination?
Have you experienced racism or other discrimination? Do you want to support other people who have experienced discrimination? The following offices can provide you with information and advice:
- gggfon - Gemeinsam gegen Gewalt und Rassismus (DE)
- In the advice network for victims of racism (Beratungsnetz für Rassismusopfer) you will find advice centres throughout Switzerland. (DE, FR, IT)
- Support tools and tips for dealing with hate speech can be found on Stop Hate Speech. (DE, FR)
Where can I report racist abuse and other forms of discrimination?
- Report online racism is a platform run by the Federal Commission against Racism (FCR) where you can report racist remarks made online – derogatory remarks or comments based on skin colour, ethnicity, national origin or religion.
Reporting centres for other forms of racism or discrimination:
- Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organisations Switzerland FIDS (DE, FR)
- Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities SIG
What rights do I have when getting married, within a marriage or partnership, and / or when I’m pregnant?
Are you pregnant and currently employed? Mothers and pregnant people have special rights.
- You can find further information and advice centres on this topic on the website of the Familie und Quartier department of the City of Bern. (DE)
- The Unia trade union’s website has more information about your rights as a working mother. (DE, FR, IT)
Do you have questions about getting married?
- You can find more information about getting married and marriage rights at ch.ch. (EN, DE, FR, IT, RM)
- Only you decide if, whom and when you marry! Have you experienced it otherwise? The City of Bern’s website on forced marriages provides more information on this topic. (DE)
- Are you in a binational relationship? Are you new in Switzerland? The organisation Frabina offers professional counselling for people of different nationalities and cultures living together. (EN, DE, FR, ES)
- The Women's Counseling Center Infra Bern offers free, multilingual counseling on legal topics related to marriage, divorce, maternity leave and immigration law. (EN, FR)
I experience violence at home. Where can I find help?
- The Canton of Bern has a summary of different counselling centres on a convenient emergency card in many languages.
- You can find more information on this topic at the City of Bern’s website.
You suspect that someone is becoming radicalised – what can you do?
- There are various contact centres in the cantons that can provide advice if you think someone is at risk of becoming radicalised. You can find the contact centres in the canton of Bern here. (DE, FR, IT)
- Fachstelle Radikalisierung und Gewaltprävention (Office against radicalisation and violence).
Further information can be found on the City of Bern website. (DE)