Migrationsamt letter explained in English
Migration office. The office of your canton that handles residence permits for foreigners.
Letters you may get
- Verlängerung der Aufenthaltsbewilligung — a form to renew your permit
- Rechtliches Gehör — they plan a decision about your stay and let you explain first
- Verfügung — a decision about your permit
What to do
- Your permit card shows an end date. Ask for a renewal before that date — many cantons send you a form for it.
- Answer letters about rechtliches Gehör in time. What you write can change the decision.
- Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Verfügung
- Formal decision by an office. It becomes final if you don’t object in time.
- Rechtliches Gehör
- Your right to give your view before an office decides about you.
Questions
What is the Migrationsamt?
Migration office. The office of your canton that handles residence permits for foreigners.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Migrationsamt?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert” — they mark the deadline. In Switzerland, a legal deadline starts the day after you receive the letter. A registered letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered on the 7th day after the collection notice (Abholungseinladung). To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”).
Can I read a Migrationsamt letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Switzerland
Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung · Gemeindesteueramt · RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) · Arbeitslosenkasse · Einwohnerkontrolle / Einwohneramt · Krankenkasse · Serafe AG · Betreibungsamt