Change of Canton 

During a pending asylum procedure and after a final allocation decision, an asylum seeker can apply to the SEM at any time for a change of Canton.

A change of Canton is approved by the SEM:

1. if the applicant is entitled to unity of the family;

2. in the case of serious danger to the applicant or other persons.

On the other hand, if there is no claim to family unity or serious danger to the asylum seeker or other persons, the requested change of Canton can only be granted with the consent of the two Cantons concerned.

The two Cantons concerned are requested in writing by the SEM to give their consent to the requested change of Canton. If the target Canton does not respond within the set deadline, the rejection is suspected and the change of Canton is denied.

For removed persons, to whom the SEM has set a departure deadline after completion of the ordinary procedure, a change of Canton is in general excluded.

 This is only a short summary. Please find all details on Drive → Know How → Kantonswechsel.

 Please find a template for an application for change of Canton on Drive → Templates → Kantonswechsel.

A change of Canton is approved by the SEM:

1. if the applicant is entitled to unity of the family;

2. in the case of serious danger to the applicant or other persons.

On the other hand, if there is no claim to family unity or serious danger to the applicant or other persons, the requested change of Canton can only be granted with the consent of the two Cantons concerned.

The two Cantons concerned are requested in writing by the SEM to give their consent to the requested change of Canton. If the target Canton does not respond within the set deadline, the rejection is suspected and the change of Canton is denied.

 This is only a short summary. Please find all details on Drive → Know How → Kantonswechsel.

 Please find a template for an application for change of canton on Drive → Templates→ Kantonswechsel.

A change of Canton is approved by the SEM:

1. if the applicant is entitled to unity of the family;

2. in the case of serious danger to the applicant or other persons.

 In addition to the constellations above, provisionally admitted refugees are entitled to a change of Canton to the same extent as a settled foreign national (= C permit) in accordance with a decision of the Federal Administrative Court. The change of Canton can only be denied if the conditions of art. 63 AIG are met (particulary if the applicant is permanently and to a significant extent dependent on social assistance).

On the other hand, if there is no claim to family unity, serious danger to the applicant or other persons or on the basis of the refugee status, the requested change of Canton can only be granted with the consent of the two Cantons concerned.

The two Cantons concerned are requested in writing by the SEM to give their consent to the requested change of Canton. If the target Canton does not respond within the set deadline, the rejection is suspected and the change of Canton is denied.

 This is only a short summary. Please find all details on Drive → Know How → Kantonswechsel.

 Please find a template for an application for change of canton on Drive → Templates→ Kantonswechsel.

The law grants a legal right to change of Canton if the conditions are met. The claim to change of Canton is based on the permit (here B permit). Conditions are met:

• if applicant is not unemployed and

• if there are no reasons for revocation under art. 62 AIG (in particular art. 62 lit. e AIG: dependence on social assistance).

However, the authority has the discretion to approve the change of Canton even though the person is dependent on social assistance.

 This is only a short summary. Please find all details on Drive → Know How → Kantonswechsel.

 Please find a template for an application for change of canton on Drive → Templates → Kantonswechsel.

If a person gets a final negative asylum decision, they are allocated to one canton for the execution of removal. This is also the canton paying the emergency aid (Nothilfe) for the time they stay in Switzerland. In this situation, no change of canton is possible at all - on the contrary, often times territorial restrictions are implemented which do not even allow the persons concerned to leave the canton (or even a town / region).