Record Number of Permits in Europe: What Do We Know About Switzerland?
Az Eurostat 2026 szeptemberében közölt rekordadatai nem tartalmazzák Svájcot, mivel az ország nem tagja az Európai Uniónak. A svájci tartózkodási engedélyekről a SEM és a BFS/OFS vezet statisztikát, eltérő módszertannal és kategóriákkal. Magyar állampolgárként az EU–Svájc személyek szabad mozgásáról szóló megállapodás vonatkozik Önre, ezért a harmadik országbeliekre érvényes kvóták főszabály szerint nem alkalmazandók.
What do the latest European and Swiss statistics show?
According to data published by Eurostat in September 2026, the number of residence permits issued in the EU has reached a record high. This is an aggregate overview covering EU Member States.
Switzerland is not included in this dataset. The country is not a member of the European Union, so Eurostat does not include Swiss permits in the EU figures.
Two official sources handle Swiss data:
Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM): keeps statistics on foreign nationals (Ausländerstatistik).
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): produces population and demographic data.
The figures from the two sources do not always match exactly. One known reason for the discrepancy is that stays of less than 12 months are treated differently in the statistical definitions. As a result, two slightly different figures may be reported for the same phenomenon—depending on which authority is cited.
This is an important warning when reading any “record” headline: the methodology is always behind the figure, and in Switzerland it does not follow the same logic as in the EU.
Why is EU data not the same as Switzerland’s situation?
In short: the legal framework, the registering institution and the definition are all different.
Switzerland is linked to the EU through the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA, 1999), but it is not an EU Member State. Consequently, the Swiss permit system is based on its own categories, which cannot be mapped directly onto the EU’s statistical breakdown.
Swiss permit types (Ausländerausweis) include:
L permit (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung L): a short-term residence permit, typically for shorter, fixed-term employment.
B permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung B): a fixed-term residence permit, typically for longer-term employment or settlement.
C permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung C):settlement permit, issued for an indefinite period.
S status:protection status, constituting a separate legal category.
An EU “record” headline therefore covers, in part, different types of permits, different groups of citizens and a different statistical breakdown from those used in Switzerland. Comparing the two datasets on its own can therefore be misleading.
This is compounded by the definitional difference mentioned above: because stays of less than one year are treated differently, even internal comparisons of Swiss figures require caution.
How will the number of Swiss residence permits develop in 2026?
The number of Swiss permits and net immigration (Nettozuwanderung) are reported by SEM and BFS/OFS — these are the official, continuously updated sources.
The exact, up-to-date figures should always be checked in these primary sources because:
statistics are updated annually or at regular intervals;
different types of permits (L, B, C) and the permanent foreign resident population (ständige ausländische Wohnbevölkerung) are listed as separate categories;
the way short stays are defined affects what is included in a given figure.
The practical takeaway is this: whenever a “record” figure appears in the media, always check which institution it comes from, which year it refers to and which types of permits it includes. This is particularly important in Switzerland, because EU and Swiss data cannot be used interchangeably.
What quotas and rules apply to third-country nationals?
In Switzerland, immigration quotas (Zuwanderungskontingente) primarily affect third-country nationals — that is, nationals of countries outside the EU/EFTA. In their case, the number of permits linked to employment and residence may be limited and is determined within the regulatory framework of the Federal Council (Swiss Federal Council).
The most important message for Hungarian readers here is: as a Hungarian citizen, you are an EU citizen, and it is covered by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA). This is fundamentally a different situation from that of third-country nationals.
In practice, this means that:
The narrow quotas applicable to third-country nationals generally do not apply to you. As a Hungarian citizen and EU/EFTA national, you enter the Swiss system.
The legal basis for residence is typically employment or self-sufficient means of support. The type of permit (L or B) depends on the duration and nature of the employment contract.
News about EU permit records do not directly affect the conditions for Hungarian citizens entering Switzerland. They follow separate legal tracks.
This distinction is one of the most common sources of misunderstanding: EU immigration news and quota debates often concern third-country nationals, while Hungarian citizens moving to Switzerland are protected by a completely different—and more favourable—legal framework.
Do the chances of obtaining a residence permit vary from canton to canton?
Yes. In Switzerland, implementation takes place at cantonal level, so practical experiences may differ. Permits are handled by the cantonal migration offices (Migrationsamt); the federal legal framework is common, but administration is local.
Popular destinations for Hungarians—Zürich, Basel, Bern and Genève—have large, experienced offices. In smaller cantons such as Uri or Appenzell, procedures and administrative capacity may differ.
What should be kept in mind:
The federal legal basis is the same, but local administration may differ (deadlines, requested documents and communication).
As a Hungarian EU national, your actual “chances” primarily depend on your employment and proof of means of support, not on cantonal discretion.
Housing and the local labour market vary considerably from canton to canton — this is often a more significant factor than the permit process itself.
Source limitations and details to verify
This article deliberately does not state a specific Swiss permit figure linked to the EU record, because the two are not comparable datasets.
The following should always be verified against the primary source:
The exact, up-to-date Swiss permit figures (SEM Ausländerstatistik, BFS/OFS).
A breakdown for the given year and permit type (L, B, C, S).
The treatment of short stays, which may account for discrepancies between the figures published by SEM and BFS/OFS.
Official statistics are updated regularly, so any news report claiming a “record” should always be checked against the original institutional publication.
Sources
Eurostat —
The Local (Switzerland) —
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Foreign Nationals Statistics —
Related Articles
What do the latest figures show about immigration to Switzerland in 2026?
Swiss residence permits in 2026: L, B and C permits for Hungarians
B permit in Switzerland for Hungarians: requirements and application
C permit in Switzerland for Hungarians: requirements and application
Working and naturalisation in Switzerland: what should be checked?
In Brief
Eurostat’s record figures from September 2026 concern EU Member States; Switzerland is not included because it is not an EU Member State. Swiss permit data is published mainly by SEM and BFS/OFS, based on different definitions and categories, so EU and Swiss figures cannot be directly compared.
Key Takeaways
- Do not automatically equate the EU record figure with the number of Swiss permits, as the two datasets are based on different legal and statistical frameworks.
- When verifying Swiss data, check whether it was published by SEM or BFS/OFS, which year it covers, and which permit categories it includes.
- Distinguish between the L, B, C and S categories, as they represent different grounds for residence.
- As a Hungarian citizen, verify the requirements demonstrating employment or sufficient independent means, as the legal basis for residence is generally linked to these factors.
- Before dealing with the authorities, review the procedure of the competent cantonal migration office, as local deadlines and documentation requirements may differ.
- Always trace “record” claims back to the primary institutional source, particularly because stays shorter than 12 months may be treated differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Switzerland included in Eurostat’s 2026 residence permit statistics?
No. The Eurostat aggregate in question concerns EU Member States, whereas Switzerland is not an EU Member State. Swiss data is published separately, primarily by SEM and BFS/OFS.
Can the EU record figure be compared with the number of Swiss permits?
Not directly. The EU and Switzerland use different legal frameworks, permit categories and statistical definitions, and the treatment of stays shorter than 12 months may also differ.
What are the main types of Swiss residence permits?
The L permit relates to short-term, fixed-duration residence. The B permit is generally issued for longer-term residence, while the C permit is for settlement. S status is a separate protection category.
Do quotas for third-country nationals apply to Hungarian citizens?
As a Hungarian citizen, you are an EU citizen and are therefore covered by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. As a general rule, the limited quotas for third-country nationals do not apply to Hungarian citizens.
What determines a Swiss residence permit for Hungarian citizens?
The legal basis for residence is generally demonstrated employment or sufficient independent means. Among other factors, whether an L or B permit is issued depends on the duration and nature of the employment contract.
Can the requirements differ between Swiss cantons?
The federal legal framework is common, but administrative procedures are handled at cantonal level. Deadlines, requested documents and communication may therefore differ, while the underlying eligibility is primarily based on demonstrated employment and means of subsistence.
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