Types of permits
| L permit (purple) | for a temporary position and other temporary stays |
| B permit (grey) | for residents (foreigners who are in Switzerland for a specific purpose for a longer period of time with or without employment |
| C permit (green) | for permanent residents (foreigners who have received a permanent residence permit after living in Switzerland for five or ten years. There is no limit on the amount of time they may stay in Switzerland.) |
| G permit (brown) | for cross-border commuters (foreigners who reside near the Swiss border and work in Switzerland.) |
| F permit (light blue) | for foreigners permitted to stay in Switzerland provisionally. This permit is issued by the cantonal authorities based on approval by the Federal Office for Migration |
| N permit (dark blue) | for asylum seekers. This permit is issued by the cantonal authorities based on approval by the Federal Office for Migration |
| Ci permit (red) | This permit is issued by the cantonal authorities to the employed spouses and children of members of foreign consulates or intergovernmental organizations. |
| S permit (light blue) | for people in need of protection. This permit is issued by the cantonal authorities based on approval by the Federal Office for Migration. |
| Source: Federal Office for Migration | |