Glossary · Swiss and international law

Protection after dissolution of marriage (LEI art. 50)

Retention of the foreign spouse's residence right after divorce or death, subject to either a lasting conjugal union or major personal reasons.

Reference : LEI art. 50

Article 50 LEI secures the foreign spouse :

  • al. 1 let. a : conjugal union of at least 3 years and successful integration;
  • al. 1 let. b : major personal reasons : domestic violence, severely compromised return to the country of origin, best interests of a child schooled in Switzerland.

It is a sensitive point in binational divorces : the loss of the permit is never automatic. The file must be built in parallel with the divorce, with medical, school and social evidence as required.

See also