Family, partner and childcare pointers (student permits)

Last checked: 5 Oct 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

Companion to Permit & commune registration and Travel before permit card. This is orientation only, not immigration advice. Confirm every step with Service de la population (SPOP) and your commune before you book tickets or sign a lease for family members.

What this page is for

Short pointers if you study in Vaud on a B or L permit and want a spouse / registered partner and/or child to join you, plus where EPFL and Lausanne point for childcare. Paths differ sharply by nationality (EU/EFTA vs third country) and by whether the main permit is for studies or for work. Paths differ by nationality and permit type; the third-country student B/L track below is discretionary under federal and Vaud rules, not a right.

Start with the federal picture (SEM / ch.ch)

EU/EFTA students (SEM free-movement factsheet)

SEM’s English factsheet on family reunification under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) states that EU/EFTA nationals with a Swiss residence or short-stay permit may bring family members. For students and persons in training, reunification is limited to:

spouse, and
dependent children (own children or spouse’s children under 21 or receiving support).

Students cannot bring dependent parents under that student track. Suitable accommodation is required. Self-employed or economically inactive persons (SEM treats students in this group for means tests) must show the financial means to support the family. Family members’ right to stay is derived from the main person’s right and generally lasts as long as that right. Spouses and eligible children who join under AFMP have the right to work anywhere in Switzerland (ascending relatives who join under other AFMP tracks do not).

Source: SEM, Family reunification (AFMP factsheet PDF)

All nationalities (ch.ch overview)

ch.ch, Family reunification summarises who can join Swiss, EU/EFTA and third-country nationals, and the usual conditions: recognised marriage or registered partnership, large enough accommodation by Swiss standards, not depending on social assistance, and identity / relationship documents (plus language enrolment for some spouses). Time limits on that page: generally five years to apply, one year for children over 12. Applications go to the cantonal migration authority. Health insurance is compulsory for each family member.

Bi-national / unmarried partners: ch.ch states that if you are not officially married (or in a partnership Switzerland recognises), you cannot bring a partner under ordinary family reunification. Vaud points unmarried / unrecognised unions to a separate “stay with cohabiting partner” (séjour auprès du concubin) track (see Vaud links below).

Marriage and partnership recognition (official rules)

Foreign marriages: under the Federal Act on Private International Law (LDIP / PILA), a marriage validly solemnised abroad is generally recognised in Switzerland (Fedlex LDIP art. 45, with anti-circumvention limits). It must usually be transcribed into the Swiss civil-status register via your Swiss representation / cantonal civil-status office.
Registered partnerships: Switzerland recognises foreign registered partnerships that create a civil-status link comparable to marriage (“strong” partnerships). Federal civil-status instructions (BJ, Marriage for all) state that weak foreign unions that do not change civil status (examples named: French PACS, Belgian legal cohabitation, Luxembourg registered partnership) are not recognised as Swiss marriage or registered partnership and are not entered in the civil-status register.
Vaud SPOP: for couples whose foreign marriage, same-sex union, legal cohabitation, PACS, etc. is not recognised in Switzerland, Vaud’s EU/EFTA family pages redirect to the séjour auprès du concubin track (separate from ordinary regroupement familial). Same-sex spouses / strong registered partners are covered under LEI art. 52 / LPart. Vaud also points to the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (ISDC) opinions listing which foreign partnerships may be recognised.

Foreign certificates (apostille, legalisation, translations): see Getting documents accepted: apostille, legalisation and translations.

Ask état civil / SPOP whether your foreign certificate is recognised before you file for reunification. Do not assume a PACS or local civil union equals a Swiss marriage.

Sources: Fedlex, LDIP (PILA) · EDA, Marriage for all (provisions in force) · Vaud EU/EFTA reunification pages below (ISDC avis + concubin redirect)

The civil-status procedure for marrying in Vaud: see Getting married in Vaud.

Canton of Vaud (SPOP): third-country B / L / C holders

État de Vaud’s page for family reunification with a third-country holder of a B, C or L permit:

C permit: foreign spouse and foreign children up to 18 have a right to a stay authorisation if they live in a common household (LEI art. 43). Children under 12 can have a right to a C permit (art. 43 para. 3).
B or L permit: spouse and children up to 18 do not have that automatic right (LEI arts. 44 and 45). Reunification is possible only if they live in a common household, have suitable accommodation, and do not depend on social assistance.

Deadlines (LEI art. 47): apply within 5 years; for children over 12, within 12 months. SPOP is competent; SEM approval is reserved in some cases (for example late applications). Document lists (marriage / birth certificates, lease showing how many people share the flat, financial proof, custody papers for children from a previous relationship, etc.) are on the Vaud page.

Family members of a C or B holder who take up employment are generally not subject to a prior work authorisation (LEI art. 46 / OASA art. 27). That facilitation does not apply to family members of an L holder.

Sources: État de Vaud, Regroupement familial … permis B, C ou L (third-country track); SEM, family reunification directive of 4 Dec 2025 (PDF, in French); SEM, directives on family reunification.

Honest scope for student B/L (third country): a study permit is typically temporary. Holders of a third-country B or L (including a stay for studies) may apply for family reunification of spouse / registered partner and unmarried children under 18 under LEI art. 44 (B) or art. 45 (L). SEM's procedure directive of 4 Dec 2025 (in force 1 Jan 2026) and Vaud's B/C/L reunification page cover B and L holders without excluding study-purpose permits. That track is discretionary (Kann-Bestimmung): common household, suitable accommodation, and no dependence on social assistance. It is not a right like a C-permit art. 43 case. SEM approval remains reserved in certain cases (for example late applications under OA-DFJP). Confirm with SPOP the financial and housing evidence they expect for your student file before you invite family. Do not treat worker or C-permit examples as an automatic path.

Canton of Vaud: EU/EFTA main permit holders

If the person already in Vaud holds an EU/EFTA B, C or L authorisation, Vaud has separate pages:

Family member is also from an AFMP country: État de Vaud, Regroupement familial … UE/AELE rejoignant un titulaire UE/AELE (scope: spouse and children up to 21; financial proof; commune arrival announcement from age 15).
Family member is from a third country joining an EU/EFTA holder: État de Vaud, Regroupement familial des étrangers originaires d’un Etat tiers … UE/AELE.

SEM’s student rule (spouse + dependent children only; no parents on the student track) still frames expectations for EU/EFTA students.

EU/EFTA student + third-country spouse (form path)

Use the third-country joining UE/AELE Vaud page together with the SEM student factsheet. Official steps on that Vaud page:

Before travel: the third-country family member must usually file an entry request at the Swiss consular representation nearest their home (Vaud’s “Important” box).
Documents (spouse / registered partner): passport (+ visa copy), marriage certificate / family booklet / registered-partnership deed, lasting financial-means proof (or unemployment / social-services attestation as listed).
Documents (children): birth certificates with filiation; for children from a previous relationship or born outside marriage: custody / parental-authority papers, written consent of the parent abroad (or proof of disappearance / death), and partner’s written agreement to house the child in Switzerland when required.
From age 15, if already in Switzerland: commune annonce d’arrivée.
Photos for the commune arrival report as the page describes.

SPOP is the competent cantonal authority. Confirm your exact package with SPOP; do not skip the consular entry step for a third-country spouse.

Entry / stay questionnaire hub: État de Vaud, Demander un permis …

Housing with family (EPFL)

EPFL Housing warns that the Lausanne-area apartment market is tight and that agencies often ask foreigners without a Swiss work contract for a Swiss guarantor. If you plan to come with your family, EPFL strongly recommends renting a temporary furnished flat for a few months, or arriving alone first, because finding a suitable apartment can take a long time. Students without a Swiss work contract are steered toward room / hall options rather than agency apartments.

Sources:

Suitable accommodation (legal condition): SEM’s AFMP factsheet defines suitable accommodation as housing that reflects typical living conditions of Swiss citizens. Vaud’s B/L third-country page also requires a logement approprié. A room in a student hall is rarely enough for a spouse and child. Ask SPOP what size and lease evidence they expect for your household before you file.

Related kit pages: EPFL housing · Housing scams · Rental deposit

Childcare and student parents (EPFL + Lausanne)

EPFL students with children

EPFL’s Students with children page points pregnant students and student parents to Social consultation for study/budget steps, maternity protection (notify DSE early), childcare lists, holiday activities, cantonal family benefits pointers, and associations such as Association JeunesParents. It also has a “Family reunification” heading that links onward on that site. Contact Social consultation via the kit page GP & pharmacy → Social consultation.

Campus / area nurseries (EPFL)

EPFL, Child care solutions: FAPE nurseries on the UNIL-EPFL campus (Croquignole, Croq’cinelle, Polychinelle, Primavera) prioritise children of people with a valid work contract or studying at EPFL/UNIL. Applications are centralised through Lausanne’s parent registration channel (EPFL still names BIP; Lausanne’s live pages now use the Réseau-L inscription service, next section). Private options mentioned on campus / nearby: Nanosphère (Innovation Square), L’écoline (St-Sulpice). EPFL stresses places remain scarce: register as early as possible (many communes from early pregnancy). Broader search hubs EPFL lists include vaudfamille.ch and ch.ch, Arranging childcare · FR garde d'enfants.

Emergency Red Cross childcare: EPFL’s page frames this offer for EPFL employees only (“parent employed by EPFL”, age limit 12, 40 h/year per family, contribution rules for certain grades). It does not describe an equivalent emergency offer for students without an EPFL employment contract.

Lausanne Réseau-L inscription

Ville de Lausanne centralises Réseau-L places (preschool 0-4, after-school 1-2P, family daycare 0-12). Access is reserved to children with at least one parent main-domiciled in Lausanne, pupils in Lausanne public/parapublic schools, or children of a parent in training / employed under a Réseau-L mandate. Forms go to inscription.lac@lausanne.ch or Guichet info familles, Place Chauderon 9. Confirmation in 10-15 days. Being waitlisted does not guarantee a place. Tariffs depend on household composition, income and hours (estimate tools on the city page).

Source: Ville de Lausanne, Accueil de jour - Inscription

FAPE vs other Réseau-L places: EPFL states that Lausanne’s parent office centralises applications including FAPE campus nurseries, and that FAPE prioritises EPFL/UNIL students and staff. For non-FAPE Réseau-L places, Lausanne domicile or a Réseau-L training/employer mandate is required. If you live in Ecublens / Renens / Chavannes (not Lausanne) and need a place outside the FAPE priority track, ask EPFL Equal Opportunity (bureau.egalite@epfl.ch) and your commune network; do not assume every Réseau-L structure is open to non-Lausanne students.

Monthly crèche prices are not listed here; use Lausanne’s estimator or ask the structure.

Family allowances for student parents: see Family allowances in Vaud for student parents.

How the Vaud day-care network system and fees work: see Childcare and day-care in Vaud.

Travel and permits for family members

Once family members have (or await) their own stay documents, the same re-entry traps apply as for you: a commune attestation is not a travel document. See Travel before permit card. Multi-entry visas, return visas and SPOP counters are explained there with dated CHF for return visas.

Register each person at the commune of residence when required, and complete LAMal / exemption steps for each family member (kit: LAMal).

Quick checklist

Map your case: EU/EFTA student vs third-country student vs worker/C; spouse vs unmarried partner; ages of children.
Check whether your marriage / partnership is recognised in Switzerland (or use the concubin track).
Read SEM / ch.ch, then the matching Vaud SPOP page (not a Geneva or private blog summary).
For EU/EFTA student + third-country spouse: consular entry request + Vaud document list above.
Confirm housing size and financial means with SPOP before inviting family.
Start childcare waitlists early (FAPE via Lausanne channel / commune / other networks).
Contact EPFL Social consultation if you are already studying and pregnant or parenting.
Do not travel on attestation alone; use Travel before permit card.

Sources

Unofficial student project. Confirm with SPOP / SEM / your commune before you apply or travel.