A summary of the restrictions and requirements for securing a work and/or residence permit for EU/EFTA nationals as well as 3rd state citizens looking to move to Switzerland.

1. Work & Residence
Permits in
Switzerland
www.experis.ch

2. The Offices
Local Town Hall Federal Office of Economics and
Labour
Migration Office
Residential Registry Office Work Permits Residence Permits
L-Permit for EU27/EFTA Work Permits for 3rd state nationals G-Permit for EU27/EFTA
B-Permit for EU27/EFTA C-Permit for EU27/EFTA
Residence Permits for 3rd state
nationals
EU27/EFTA members
only need to register at
the Local Town Hall
3rd state nationals
members need to be
permited to WORK in
Switzerland first.
Once the Fenderal
Office of Economics
and Labour approve
their work application...
... They forward all documents to
the Migration Office, to make sure
that they issue a residence permit.
Only when BOTH offices approve
the registration, the 3rd state
nationals are allowed to live and
work in Switzerland.

3. Europe according to Switzerland
EU27/
EFTA
Encircled: Romania and Bulgaria (until 1st June 2019):
• Restrictions for B Permits (max. 996)
• L-Permit = no restrictions
Crossed: Croatia
EU 27 are allowed to work
in Switzerland without (m) any restrictions

4. Europe – Online registration for 90 days
Online registration In a nutshell
What is it for? Short-term contracts for less than
90 working days
Who needs to organize
it?
The employer
Where to get it? Online at EJPD (password
protected)
When to get it? 8 days prior to their first day of work
Validity 90 working days or days, depending
on what we insert
Documents needed • Passport
• CRF

5. Europe – L-Permit „Short-term residents“
Short-term residents are foreign nationals who
reside in Switzerland for a limited period of time,
usually less than a year, for a certain purpose with
or without gainful employment.
EU-27/EFTA nationals are entitled to this permit
provided they are in possession of an employment
contract valid from three up to twelve months.
Employment contracts of less than 3 months’
duration within a calendar year are not subject to a
permit but are regulated via a registration
procedure. The period of validity of the permit is
identical to the term of the employment contract. It
can be extended for a total period of less than
twelve months. Provided the new quota has not
been exhausted, the permit can be renewed after
an overall stay of one year without foreign nationals
having to interrupt their residence in Switzerland. L
EU/EFTA permits without gainful employment are
granted to job seekers from all EU/EFTA states.
However, this practice does not create an
entitlement to social insurance.
L-Permit In a nutshell
What is it for? Short-term contracts for less than 1
year
Who needs to organize
it?
The employee
Where to get it? Local town hall
When to get it? Within 14 days of arrival in
Switzerland
Validity 1 year or less
Documents needed • Employment contract
• Passport
• Passport picture
• Rental agreement

6. Europe – B-Permit „Resident foreign nationals“
Resident foreign nationals are foreign nationals
who reside in Switzerland for a longer period of
time for a certain purpose, with or without gainful
employment.
The residence permit for EU/EFTA nationals is valid
for five years. It is issued if the foreign national is in
possession of an employment contract of at least
twelve months’ duration or of unlimited duration.
The residence permit will be renewed for another
five years if the foreign national satisfies the
requirements. First-time renewal of the permit can
be limited to one year, however, if the holder has
been involuntarily unemployed for more than twelve
consecutive months. Nationals from all EU/EFTA
member states without gainful employment are
entitled to a B permit if they can prove they have
sufficient financial means and adequate health and
accident insurance.
B-Permit In a nutshell
What is it for? Long-term- and unlimited contracts
for more than 1 year
Who needs to organize
it?
The employee
Where to get it? Local town hall
When to get it? Within 14 days of arrival in
Switzerland
Validity 5 years
Documents needed • Employment contract
• Passport
• Passport picture
• Rental agreement

7. Europe – C-Permit „Settled foreign nationals“
Settled foreign nationals are foreign nationals who have
been granted a settlement permit after five or ten years’
residence in Switzerland. The right to settle in Switzerland
is not subject to any time restrictions or conditions. The
Federal Office for Migration (FOM) determines the earliest
date from which the competent national authorities may
grant settlement permits.
In the case of EU/EFTA nationals, the issue of settlement
permits is governed by the provisions of the Foreign
Nationals and Integration Act and the settlement treaties.
This is because the Free Movement of Persons Agreement
does not contain any provisions relating to settlement
permits. EU-17 (except Cyprus and Malta) and EFTA
nationals are granted settlement permits pursuant to
settlement treaties or reciprocal agreements after five
years’ regular and uninterrupted residence in Switzerland.
For Cyprus, Malta, the EU-8 member states, Romania,
Bulgaria and Croatia there are no such treaties.
C-Permit In a nutshell
What is it for? Settled foreign nationals who have
lived in Switzerland for five or ten
years
Who needs to organize
it?
The employee
Where to get it? Migration Office
When to get it? After B-Permit expires and
Migration office grants you a C-
Permit.
Validity 5-10 years
Documents needed • Expired B-Permit
• Permission from migration office

8. Europe – G-Permit „Cross-border commuters“
Cross-border commuters are foreign nationals who
are resident in a foreign border zone and are gainfully
employed within the neighbouring border zone of
Switzerland. The term “border zone” describes the
regions which have been fixed in cross-border
commuter treaties concluded between Switzerland
and its neighbouring countries. Cross-border
commuters must return to their main place of
residence abroad at least once a week.
Cross-border commuters from EU-27/EFTA member
states are granted professional and geographical
mobility. No border zones exist for them anymore.
These persons may live anywhere in the EU-27/EFTA
region and work anywhere in Switzerland provided that
they return to their place of residence abroad once a
week. The EU/EFTA cross-border commuter permit is
valid for five years in the case of a fixed-term
employment contract valid for more than one year or in
the case of a permanent employment contract. If a
fixed-term employment contract is valid for less than a
year but for more than three months, the period of
validity of the cross-border commuter permit is
identical to the duration of this employment contract. If
the period of employment is less than three months,
then no work permit is needed but the notification
procedure applies.
G-Permit In a nutshell
What is it for? People who have their residence
abroad, but work in Switzerland.
(„Residency“ = they need to go
back to their home at least once a
week, i.e. over the weekend)
Who needs to organize
it?
The employer.
Where to get it? Migration Office
When to get it? 14 days before they start working in
Switzerland
Validity 1-5 years, depending on the
contract
Documents needed • Employment contract
• Proof of residency abroad
• Passport picture
• Passport
• Name of their parents and their
nationality
Since 1 January 2017, the Agreement on the free movement of persons
between Switzerland and the EU is applicable to nationals form Croatia. A
cross-border commuter permit G EU/EFTA is issued to Croatian nationals
provided they fulfil the specific transitory provisions (Border zones and
restrictions concerning the access to the Swiss labour market).

9. The World according to Switzerland
Switzerland
divides the World
into two parts:
• EU 27 & EFTA
• The Rest = 3rd
state nationals

10. The World – Legal basis for 3rd state nationals
Restrictions
Priority 3rd state nationals may only be admitted to work in
Switzerland if a person cannot be recruited from the
labour market of Switzerland or another EU27/EFTA
member state. Vacant positions must be registered with
the Regional Employment Offices (RAV).
Salary The salary, social contributions and the terms of
employment for foreign workers must be in accordance
with conditions customary to the region and the particular
sector (prevents underpayment)
Personal Qualifications Cadre, specialists and other qualified employees will be
admitted, as well as other people with special training and
several years of professional work experience.
3rd state nationals are admitted in limited numbers to the labour market in
Switzerland, if they are well qualified and meet certain criteria.

11. The World – Permit ID Cards
Permit Card In a nutshell
What is it for? Work and Residence Permit
Who needs to organize
it?
The employer.
Where to get it? Federal Office of Economics and
Labour (Work Permit)
Migration Office (Residence Permit)
When to get it? Before moving to Switzerland. Can
take up to 6 months.
Validity 1-5 years
Documents needed • Employment contract
• Diplomas in English
• Passport picture
• Passport
• Proof that no EU27/EFTA member
could be recruited
• Other documents can be
requested on the spot

12. The World – Changing jobs within Switzerland
Because the work permit was granted for a specific
job, at a specific company, for specific reasons, 3rd
state nationals are NOT allowed to change jobs
within Switzerland UNLESS the new company and
the new Job spec meets all requirements as well!
The whole application process will start afresh.

13. The World – Family reunion „Familiennachzug“
Right here, it either says:
• Familiennachzug MIT Erwerbstätigkeit
• Familiennachzug OHNE Erwerbstätigkeit
Husbands and wives are allowed to accompany their spouse to Switzerland. They will be granted a
residence permit for sure. Depending on certain requirements, they will either receive a card that says
„With employment“ (MIT Erwerbstätigkeit) or „without employment“ (OHNE Erwerbstätigkeit).
WITH employment (MIT) WITHOUT employment (OHNE)
She/He can start working right away, without
restrictions
Following restrictions are in place in order to change
his/her permit into a „WITH employment“ card:
Salary - The salary, social contributions and the terms
of employment for foreign workers must be in
accordance with conditions customary to the region
and the particular sector (prevents underpayment)
Personal Qualifications - Cadres, specialists and
other qualified employees will be admitted, as well as
other people with special training and several years of

14. The World – Losing your job in Switzerland
If a 3rd state national loses or quits his job, he needs to move back to his home
country within a short period of time.
If he finds a new job in Switzerland, the application process starts afresh.
Main Permit Holder Main Permit Holder WITH
spouse in Switzerland
Spouse WITH employment
Needs to leave
Switzerland within a short
period of time
If the Main Permit Holder
loses his job, he/she AND
the spouse need to leave.
It doesn‘t matter if the
spouse still has a job.
If the spouse loses his/her
job, it doesn‘t affect the
main permit holder.
If the main permit holder is
still employed, she/he can
just find a new
employment

15. PERMITS – OVERVIEW
EU-17 / EFTA EU-8 EU-2 3rd state national
Belgium Estonia Bulgaria Asia
Denmark Latvia Romania North America
Germany Lithuania South America
Finland Poland Antarctica
France Slovakia Australia / Oceania
Greece Slovenia Africa
Irland Czech
Rep.
Croatia
Island Hungary
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Austria
Portugal
Sweden
Spain
U.K.
Cyprus
Permits
EU-17 / EFTA No restrictions – can move to Switzerland and register at the
local town hall
EU-8 No restrictions – can move to Switzerland and register at the
local town hall
EU-2 Almost no restrictions – quotas on B- and C-Permits, but they
will receive L-Permits and can register at local town hall
3rd state
nationals
Restrictions: Priority of Swiss nationals, EU-27/EFTA.
Advanced control of salaries and specific restrictions in the
field of services. Permits will be tied to the company they
work for, hence they can not change jobs.
Registration
process
Responsibilities
EU-17/EFTA
EU-8
L-, B-, and C-Permits: the employee is solely responsible to
announce his stay in Switzerland and register at the local
town hall within 14 days. If he doesn‘t register in time, he
will get fined.
G-Permit: The employer must do the registration PRIOR to
their 1st day of work.
Online registration: The employer will do the registration.
EU-2 and 3rd state
nationals
All permits: the employer must do the registration PRIOR to
their arrival in Switzerland.
Permits
Online Registration For short-term contracts of 90 days or less.
L-Permit For short-term contracts of more than 90 days and less than
1 year
B-Permit For long-term contracts (quota!)
C-Permit For long-term contracts and people who’ve lived in
Switzerland for at least 5 years (quota!)
G-Permit For border-crossers who live abroad but work in
Switzerland