Swiss work permits: Everything you need to know to work in Switzerland.

In this blog post, I will share with you the different ways to get a work permit in Switzerland.

I am also sharing the video version below for those of you who prefer to get the information audio.

The first step is to determine which citizenship you hold: EU/ Non EU. There is a different application process based on your nationality.

For EU citizens:

If you have a parent from the EU, it does not help you. Your nationality counts not your family unless you are married to a Swiss citizen and you get a permit automatically then.

As EU citizens, you can also stay in Switzerland 90 days without a permit, this is ideal for consultants who come in and out of the country or to test the market and try to secure employment. More information on working in Switzerland as an EU/EFTA national can be found in this booklet.

For Non EU citizens:

Same as above, your family nationalities don't count unless you are married to a Swiss or a permit holder in Switzerland. If you are coming on your own, it will be difficult. I would advise to start your own consulting activity or to work for an international organisation (mostly available in Geneva) where nationality is not taken into account, instead the recruitment is done with a "carte de légitimation" which is specific to this sector of work. More information on working in Switzerland as an EU/EFTA national can be found in this

For further detailed information on exact process based on status, nationality and self-employment, you can check WORK FOR FOREIGN NATIONAL REFERENCE.

According to PwC Legal office, the quotas for Non-EU work permits will be increased to 4,500 long-term (B) permits (+1,000 compared with this year), whereas the short-term (L) permit quotas will be decreased to 4,000 (-500). For more information, you can read the full article here.

If you need a personal 1 to 1 consultation, feel free to BOOK A SESSION.

Note: I am not an immigration lawyer but I can give you a good perspective on your chances to get a work permit and how to go about it.