Traveling without residence card to Switzerland
I am a St. Lucia national living in St.Lucia. I am married to a Swiss national. I obtained my Swiss resident card 2 years ago and it expires in 2015. I left Switzerland last year to tend to a family emergency and did not take my card, I was gonna be out for more than 6 months so my husband was worried since I was not there and my health insurance and other documents started arriving. He returned it thinking that it would be somehow on hold. I would like to return but do I need to apply for another Schengen visa to re-enter since I do not have my card?
To obtain a new copy of the card I need to be there in person, they would not give it to my husband.
Best Answer
The customs official can look you up on the system and verify that you are a residence permit holder. He will not turn you back when you go back to Switzerland. Worst thing that can happen is that he asks you to step into an office while they check the status of your permit, specially if you have a rather common name and/or your passport number changed since you applied or the permit.
If you want to make sure, ask your spouse to take a photo of the card and the other documents and send it to you by email. You can then show the photo to the customs officer so they can refer to the registration number on the card to speed up the process.
Source: I am a holder of a Swiss residence permit and crossed the border before without it. Customs officers asked me about my permit without me showing it to them, so they knew I have one from their IT system.
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Can I travel to Switzerland with ID?
You must have a valid passport or national identity card to enter Switzerland. In some instances, Switzerland will accept a travel document that has expired.Can I travel in Europe without residence permit?
Other travellers Nor do you have a valid residence permit or valid provisional residence permit (MVV). In that case you sometimes need a visa to travel in the Schengen Area. This can be a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.Can I travel to Switzerland with residence permit?
If you have one of the following residence permits, you do not require a visa to enter Switzerland or another Schengen country for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies regardless of your nationality: B permit (residence permit) C permit (settlement permit)Do I need a residence permit in Switzerland?
Residence and citizenship in SwitzerlandEvery foreigner staying in Switzerland for longer than 90 days/three months needs a residence permit, even EU/EFTA citizens. No non-EU/EFTA citizen has a right to residency, and each case is decided on individual circumstances.Can We work in Switzerland with UE Card ? | Europe immigration News | Spain immigrants News
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Answer 2
While the immigration official can look your residence permit data, I'm not sure if this applies to your situation for the card was returned (if I understand correctly) and you've been out of the country for longer than 6 months anyways. And even then, the airline most likely won't let you board without visa or residence permit on hand.
If you want to make sure, refer to the relevant Swiss embassy (in Caracas, I think).
Answer 3
The good News is St Lucians no longer need a Schengen visa for up to 90 days per 180-day period. Otherwise you would have a problem, not with Swiss passport control, but with the airline letting you board the flight.
You'll be fine - the Swiss authorities have you in the database.
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