Foreign Nationals and Integration Act

Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA)
Federal Assembly of Switzerland
  • Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (SR 142.20)
Territorial extentSwitzerland
Enacted byFederal Assembly of Switzerland
Enacted16 December 2005
Commenced1 January 2008
Repeals
Federal Act on the Residence and Settlement of Foreigners (1934)
Status: Current legislation

The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA) (German: Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz (AIG), French: Loi fédérale sur les étrangers et l’intégration (LEI), Italian: Legge federale sugli stranieri e la loro integrazione (LStrI)),[1] previously known as Foreign Nationals Act (FNA) until 1 January 2019,[2] is a Swiss federal law that regulates the immigration, residence and integration of foreign nationals in Switzerland. It was adopted on 16 December 2005 by the Federal Assembly and came into force on 1 January 2008. It replaces the Federal Act on the Residence and Settlement of Foreigners from 1934.[3]

The primary objectives of the FNIA are to provide a clear legal framework for the admission, residence, and integration of foreign nationals in Switzerland. The law establishes the rights and obligations of foreign nationals, defines the requirements for obtaining visas and residence permits, and sets out the conditions under which foreigners may stay in Switzerland.

The FNIA also aims to promote the social, cultural, and economic integration of foreign nationals into Swiss society. To this end, the law requires foreign nationals to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge of the Swiss language,[4] culture, and values before obtaining long-term residency permits. The FNIA also encourages the participation of foreign nationals in the labor market and supports measures to combat discrimination and promote diversity in Swiss society.

  1. ^ "Fedlex". www.fedlex.admin.ch. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  2. ^ "New Law: Foreign Nationals And Integration Act - General Immigration - Switzerland". www.mondaq.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. ^ "Chronologie" (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  4. ^ "Swiss immigration". KPMG. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-03-26.