Work / Employment in Switzerland: Requirements and Fees

EU/EFTA Free Movement Residence Permit (AFMP)

EU/EFTA nationals enjoy free movement and may live and work in Switzerland by registering at their commune and obtaining an L or B EU/EFTA permit, which doubles as a work permit.

Processing time: Typically 4-12 weeks; EU/EFTA processing is faster.
Validity: L permit for the duration of the short-term contract; B permit valid 5 years and renewable for 5-year periods.
Language requirement: None for the permit itself.
Permanent residence: C settlement permit after 5 continuous years (EU-15/EFTA).
Citizenship: Ordinary naturalisation after 10 years' residence (with a C permit).

Requirements

EU/EFTA nationality
Employment contract or proof of genuine self-employment (or, if non-employed, proof of sufficient funds plus comprehensive health insurance)
Registration at the commune within 14 days of arrival and before starting work

Required Documents

Valid passport or national ID required
Employment contract or proof of self-employment required
Proof of address required
Passport photos required
Proof of sufficient funds and comprehensive health insurance (non-employed only)

Official fees

Cantonal permit fee (incl. processing, varies by canton) 100 CHF

Process Steps

1

Secure employment

Sign an employment contract or prepare self-employment evidence.
2

Enter Switzerland

Enter without an entry visa (EU/EFTA nationals).
3

Register at commune

Register at the Residents' Registration Office within 14 days of arrival and before starting work.
4

Apply for permit

Apply for the L or B EU/EFTA residence permit at the cantonal migration office; the permit doubles as a work permit.

Official Sources

SEM - B EU/EFTA residence permit Official
SEM - EU/EFTA nationals in Switzerland Official

Third-Country Skilled Worker Permit

Non-EU/EFTA nationals can obtain an employer-sponsored work permit if they are managers, specialists or qualified workers, subject to federal quotas and a labour-market precedence test.

Processing time: Typically 8-12 weeks or longer (quota and priority checks).
Validity: L (short-term) or B (resident) permit per contract.
Language requirement: None at application; B1 spoken / A1 written local language required for later C permit.
Permanent residence: C settlement permit after 10 years (B1 spoken / A1 written local language and integration).
Citizenship: Ordinary naturalisation after 10 years' residence.

Requirements

Manager, specialist or qualified worker (degree plus several years of experience)
Employer-documented labour-market precedence search
Availability within federal quotas
Salary at customary regional/sectoral levels

Required Documents

Signed employment contract required
CV required
Original diplomas plus certified translations into a Swiss official language or English required
References required
Details of institution, duration and curriculum for foreign qualifications required
Recruitment-effort evidence required

Official fees

D visa 75 CHF
SEM/cantonal authorisation document (assurance of residence permit) 95 CHF

Process Steps

1

Sign conditional contract

Employer signs a contract conditional on a work permit being granted.
2

Document precedence search

Employer documents recruitment efforts via RAV, EURES and sector advertising, with a list of rejected candidates.
3

File cantonal application

Employer files with the cantonal labour-market/migration authority, which checks quotas, salary, qualifications and housing.
4

Federal approval and visa

Canton forwards to SEM; on approval an assurance of residence permit is issued and the worker collects a D visa abroad.
5

Enter and register

Enter Switzerland, register at the commune within 14 days, and collect the permit.

Official Sources

SEM - Work-market admission for non-EU/EFTA nationals Official

Foreign Graduates of Swiss Universities

Graduates of recognised Swiss higher-education institutions can take up employment exempt from the labour-market precedence rule where there is significant academic or economic interest.

Processing time: Typically 4-12 weeks.
Validity: L or B permit per contract.
Language requirement: None at application.
Permanent residence: C settlement permit after 10 years (third-country).
Citizenship: Ordinary naturalisation after 10 years' residence.

Requirements

Swiss higher-education diploma from a recognised institution
Employment in a role serving significant academic or economic interest
Employment contract

Required Documents

Swiss diploma required
Employment contract required
Proof the role serves academic/economic interest required

Official fees

Cantonal authorisation document 95 CHF

Process Steps

1

Graduate and find role

Complete studies and secure employment serving academic/economic interest.
2

Apply via employer route

Apply through the employer; exempt from the precedence rule under FNIA Art. 21(3).
3

Approval and registration

Canton-to-SEM approval; register at the commune within 14 days.

Official Sources

SEM - Work-market admission for non-EU/EFTA nationals Official

Cross-Border Commuter Permit G (EU/EFTA Nationals)

EU/EFTA nationals who reside in an EU/EFTA country and work in Switzerland as an employee or self-employed person may obtain a G permit. Holders must return to their main place of residence abroad as a rule every day, or at least once a week. No border zones apply; professional and geographical mobility is fully granted.

Processing time: Several weeks (cantonal authority processing)
Validity: 5 years for permanent contracts or fixed-term contracts exceeding 1 year; equal to contract duration for fixed-term contracts of 3 months to 1 year
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: Not applicable — G permit holders reside outside Switzerland and do not accumulate Swiss residence for C permit purposes
Citizenship: Not applicable

Requirements

EU/EFTA nationality
Primary residence in an EU/EFTA country outside Switzerland
Return to main residence abroad daily or at least once per week
Valid employment contract or evidence of self-employment in Switzerland
For contracts under 3 months: online notification procedure instead of G permit

Required Documents

Valid EU/EFTA national passport or identity document required
Employment contract or proof of self-employment in Switzerland required
Proof of residence in EU/EFTA country (e.g. residence registration document) required
Completed cantonal permit application form required

Process Steps

1

Employer or worker notifies cantonal authority

The employer or cross-border commuter contacts the competent cantonal migration authority in the Swiss canton of employment. For short-term work under 3 months per year, use the online notification procedure (meldeverfahren.ch) instead.
2

Submit required documents

Provide passport, employment contract, and proof of EU/EFTA residence to the cantonal authority.
3

Permit issued

The cantonal authority issues the G permit, valid for the contract duration (3 months to 1 year) or for 5 years (contracts exceeding 1 year or permanent contracts). The permit is renewable.

Official Sources

G EU/EFTA permit (Cross-border commuters) — SEM Official

Short-Stay L Permit for EU/EFTA Nationals (Contract 3–12 Months)

EU/EFTA nationals with a fixed-term employment contract of 3 to 12 months, or self-employment engagements under 12 months, are entitled to a short-stay L permit without quota. The permit matches the contract duration and can be extended up to a total of less than 12 months. Job seekers from EU/EFTA states may also obtain an L permit while seeking work.

Processing time: Typically a few weeks (cantonal authority)
Validity: Equal to the employment contract duration; extendable to a total of less than 12 months
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: Not applicable directly — L permit holders can transition to a B permit after 12 months of employment, starting residence accumulation toward a C permit
Citizenship: Not applicable directly

Requirements

EU/EFTA nationality
Fixed-term employment contract of 3 to 12 months with a Swiss employer, or self-employment engagement under 12 months
For contracts under 3 months: online notification procedure instead of L permit
Job seekers may apply without a contract but receive no entitlement to social assistance

Required Documents

Valid EU/EFTA national passport or identity document required
Employment contract (3–12 months) or proof of self-employment required
Completed cantonal permit application form required
Proof of accommodation in Switzerland

Process Steps

1

Register with the cantonal migration authority

The employer or worker registers with the competent cantonal authority in the canton of residence/work. For contracts under 3 months annually, use the online notification procedure instead.
2

Submit required documents

Provide passport and employment contract (or evidence of self-employment or job seeking). The canton processes the application.
3

Permit issued

The L permit is issued for the duration of the contract. It can be extended if the contract is extended, up to a total period of less than 12 months.
4

Transition to B permit if employment continues

If the employment or self-employment continues beyond 12 months, the holder becomes entitled to a 5-year B permit.

Official Sources

L EU/EFTA permit (Short-term residents) — SEM Official