Hi everyone, I’m a bit confused and hoping someone can explain this to me:
I am a Swiss resident. I have lived in Switzerland for a total of 16 years (counting pre-18 years double):
-1999-2002: High school in canton Vaud
- 2012-2015: Master’s degree at Swiss public university in canton Vaud
- 2019-2025: working in Zurich
My mother is Swiss (since I am 4 years old), my siblings are Swiss from birth, my brother did the Swiss Army, and I’ve spent 1/3 of my life here in Switzerland.
In 2024, the migration office actually sent me a letter saying that I was eligible for the C-permit, but I didn’t have my A2 German certificate, as I am only fluent in French, and therefore I did not apply at the time (nor replied in the 15 day window provided).
Now in 2026, I finally got my A2 German certificate, so I asked again about the C-permit, but this time, the migration office replied that the 2024 letter was a “mistake” and I cannot apply for a C permit until 2028, because they only count the years after I became an EU citizen (in 2023 - 5 years from that date).
So I am confused:
- Can an official letter written by the migration office be later on called as a “mistake” and be treated as if it never created any official right or expectation?
- Would it be a good idea for me to reach out to the administration in writing to clarify this, or would it be better to just wait it out?
Thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate any insights you can share.