Divisions

Division I has jurisdiction over cases relating in particular to the following areas of law: freedom of information, data protection, state liability, laws concerning the personnel of the Confederation, military affairs, infrastructure (electricity grid, national highways, aviation facilities, railways), traffic and transportation, energy and water management, expropriations, postal and telecommunications services, radio and television, as well as taxes levied by the Confederation (value-added tax, customs duties, withholding tax, stamp duties) and international administrative assistance in tax matters. Division I also handles proceedings concerning information gathering measures requiring authorization and orders for cable monitoring under the Intelligence Service Act. 

Division I is subdivided into twelve specialized areas.

Division I also deals with authorization procedures in agreement with the Federal Act on the Intelligence (ISA). As a rule, judgments rendered by Division I may be appealed before the Federal Supreme Court (FSC).

Division II handles primarily cases pertaining to economic affairs, competition and education. Division II is comprised of 8 sections dealing with the following domains:

Division III handles cases with a focus on social security and public health.

Among other things, this primarily involves cases relating to invalidity insurance and old age and survivors insurance for people living abroad, but also special matters relating to occupational pensions (e.g. partial liquidation of occupational pension funds), health insurance (e.g. hospital planning or fees), accident insurance (e.g. company policies) and health remedies (e.g. licencing).

Division IV is responsible for matters pertaining to asylum. 

Like Division V, Division IV handles complaints filed against decisions of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) (e.g. decisions to discontinue examination of an asylum application, to reject an asylum application as well as to issue and enforce removal orders). Division IV is also responsible for handling appeals against decisions to revoke temporary admission within the framework of asylum proceedings or against preliminary decisions to deny entry or to require individuals to remain in a designated area within the airport. Moreover, Division IV handles decisions on the denial or revocation of temporary protection.

Unlike the other three divisions of the FAC, Divisions IV and V rule in the last instance. Their judgments cannot be appealed before the Federal Supreme Court (FSC). A characteristic of the Asylum Act (SR 142.31) is that it authorises substantive judgments to be rendered by a single judge, with the consent of a second judge, in certain cases.

Division V is responsible for matters pertaining to asylum. 

Like Division IV, Division V handles complaints filed against decisions of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) (e.g. decisions to discontinue examination of an asylum application, to reject an asylum application as well as to issue and enforce removal orders). Division V is also responsible for handling appeals against preliminary decisions to deny entry or require individuals to remain in a designated area within the airport, assign asylum seekers to specific cantons, deny family reunification, revoke asylum status, revoke temporary admission within the framework of asylum proceedings or order detention pending deportation.  

A characteristic of the Asylum Act (SR 142.31) is that it authorises substantive judgments to be rendered by a single judge in certain circumstances. Divisions IV and V rule in the last instance; their judgments cannot be appealed before the Federal Supreme Court (FSC).

Division VI handles matters in law concerning foreigners and citizenship.

For instance, this includes entry, preventing entry, residence, temporary admission and identity documents. Division VI also deals with cases in the following areas: recognition of statelessness, police anti-terrorism measures, social assistance for Swiss citizens residing abroad, and parts of asylum law (e.g. managing reception centres, assigning asylum seekers to specific cantons, asylum costs).