The conditions for entering and staying in Switzerland vary depending on whether you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway or a citizen of another country. The only ones among the third countries for which a different regulation applies are the citizens of Great Britain. In any case, in order to reside and work in Switzerland, one must obtain one of the work permits currently in force.
Thank you to the agreements on the free movement of persons, citizens of the European Community (EU) or EFTA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) have the right to enter Switzerland and stay there for a certain period of time. If they are looking for work, they can stay in Switzerland for three months and have the possibility to extend this stay for another three months, (6 months in total), by applying for a short-term residence permit and proving that they have enough money to support themselves.
They can also work in Switzerland for three months without any special obligations. You are only obliged to inform the competent authorities before starting work. If, on the other hand, you intend to work for more than 90 days, you must apply for a short-term residence permit (L) from your municipality of residence. Please note that the issuance of the residence permit is at the discretion of the competent authority, as a maximum number of permits can be issued per year.
Those who intend to become self-employed in Switzerland must also apply for a residence permit in their municipality of residence.
Citizens of countries that are not members of the EU and EFTA are subject to stricter immigration regulations. They can only enter Switzerland if they have obtained an employment contract. Therefore, third-country nationals can only move to Switzerland and work if they have special skills and qualifications. Only people with high educational qualifications and professional skills have a chance of finding work in Switzerland if they come from a non-EU country.
They must obtain a work permit, even for employment of less than 90 days. In addition, the employer must state that the hiring is in the economic interest of Switzerland, and he must prove that he could not find the required personnel on either the Swiss or the European market. Thus, to have any chance at all of emigrating to Switzerland, a third-country national must be highly qualified, highly skilled and able to speak several languages. It goes without saying that it is very difficult for a person from a third country to find a job in Switzerland, as work permits are rarely issued.
Each year the Swiss government sets a maximum number of residence permits that can be issued to workers from third countries.
With Brexit, the United Kingdom is considered a third country and is subject to the same conditions that apply to other non-European countries. However, individuals who have obtained a residence permit in Switzerland before that date will be able to keep it. Currently, the quotas for residence permits for British citizens are fixed until an agreement is concluded between the two countries that regulates immigration policy between them.
Work permits in Switzerland
The type L permit is a short-term permit and is issued to foreigners who are staying in Switzerland temporarily for work purposes, usually for a period of less than one year. With a work contract of three months to one year, EU/EFTA citizens are entitled to such a permit. It is actually intended for people who will work for up to one year. It should be noted that holders of this permit can change jobs and places of residence during the year. If the work contract is extended, you can extend your stay and apply for an L permit at the same time. As we have seen above, if you meet certain conditions, you can obtain this permit even while looking for a job.
The type B permit is a residence permit for foreign nationals who reside permanently in Switzerland. It is issued to EU/EFTA citizens who are permanently employed or employed for at least one year. This permit is valid for 5 years and can be extended thereafter under certain conditions.
The type C permit, residence permit for foreigners who have lived in Switzerland for at least five years. The conditions for granting this permit depend on the country of origin, the family situation and the degree of integration of the person. It is valid for an unlimited period.
The type G permit is the so-called cross-border commuter permit, which is issued to EU/EFTA citizens who live in their country and work in Switzerland and return to their country of residence at least once a week. This permit is valid for five years if the employment contract is open-ended or lasts longer than one year. Otherwise, it is valid for the same duration as the employment contract.
For more information, visit the government website.
