Immigration
Foreign residents charged more for residence certificates in Swiss city
Foreign residents in a Swiss city are charged more than Swiss nationals for some certificates of residence, according to The Local. The difference concerns fees for issuing official documents.
Foreign residents face higher charges for some official paperwork in a Swiss city, The Local reported on 9 November 2026. The difference applies to fees for issuing documents, including certificates of residence, and sets a higher price for foreign residents than for Swiss nationals.
The charge concerns an everyday administrative document, but the distinction is direct: residents’ nationality affects what they pay for at least some certificate services. The Local’s report identifies the fee difference as part of the city’s schedule for issuing official documents.
See how the fee applies
The fee schedule covers the issuing of official documents. The Local reports that, in some cases, foreign residents pay more for this service than Swiss nationals. The residence certificate is the document at the centre of the reported difference.
That makes the fee distinction concrete for people who need the certificate: the amount charged can depend on whether the applicant is a foreign resident or a Swiss national. The report places the difference within the city’s document-issuing fees, rather than describing it as a charge for a separate service.
Keep the distinction in view
The reported distinction is limited to some services. The Local describes a broader fee schedule for issuing various official documents, while reporting that foreign residents pay more than Swiss nationals in certain cases. The certificate of residence is the example highlighted in the article’s headline.
The report therefore points to a difference in the cost of obtaining official paperwork, not a general claim that every municipal service carries a higher fee for foreign residents. For residents dealing with certificate applications, the stated issue is the price charged for issuing the document.
Track the cost of official paperwork
For residents seeking a certificate, the fee difference makes nationality relevant to the cost of the paperwork. The Local reported the disparity on 9 November 2026, naming Helena Bachmann as the author. Its account links the charge to the city’s schedule for issuing official documents.
The finding concerns a specific public service: issuing certificates of residence and other official documents covered by the reported fee difference. Residents seeking such paperwork are the people directly affected by the higher charge described in the report.