Work permits for all non-Swiss

Regulations for EU citizens

In principle, EU citizens have the right to enter, stay and work in Switzerland. In addition, they have the following rights: free choice of place of residence and work and the right to family reunification. Work permits are usually issued within 7 to 14 days.

Without a work permit, EU citizens are not allowed to work as self-employed in Switzerland. Companies from the EU area are not allowed to provide their services in Switzerland without obtaining work permits for their employees. Even if you are registered as self-employed in an EU country or are active as an EU company, you need a work permit for activities in Switzerland.

Short-term residence permit L-EU

Employees who have an employment contract of up to four months will receive a short-term residence permit which is not subject to the provisional maximum numbers.

Employees who have an employment contract between four months and less than a year are entitled to a short-term residence permit, limited to the duration of the employment contract within the framework of the available quotas. The short-term residence permit can be renewed upon presentation of a new employment contract.

B-EU residence permit

This permit is valid for five years. It is issued to employees who have an employment contract that is limited to more than one year or an open-ended contract.

Residence permit C-EU

It is of unlimited duration and not subject to any conditions. European citizens generally receive a permanent residence permit after a five-year stay in Switzerland.

Family reunification

The spouse and children of EU / EFTA nationals who have been admitted within the framework of family reunification have a legal right to access the labor market, regardless of their nationality. This applies even if the EU / EFTA national from whom you derive your right of residence is not permitted to work.

Regulations for non-EU citizens

As a rule, a work permit is only issued to highly qualified specialists or if it can be proven that the vacant position cannot be filled by a domestic employee. The Swiss authorities have very limited quotas for non-EU citizens and it can take 4 to 6 weeks before a work permit is issued. Of course you can count on our support here.

Short-term residence permit L

Employees with a contract of up to 12 months receive a short-term residence permit L for a maximum of 24 months. These permits are limited and the employee is not allowed to change canton or employer unless he can present good reasons to the authorities.

Residence permit B

The B residence permit is valid for one year and can be renewed annually, provided the employee can keep his job. A B permit is only issued if there is an employment contract for more than 12 months or an unrestricted contract. Holders of B permits have more rights than employees with an L permit. But they too have to report to the authorities if they intend to change canton or employer. The quotas for B permits are very limited.

CH (EN)

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