WORKING IN SWITZERLAND
Residence and Work Permits for Switzerland
Switzerland has 26 cantons. Each canton is competent for issuing permits to individuals wishing to work within their jurisdiction. For detailed information on the application procedure such as where to apply, which form to fill out, how long will it take etc., please contact the competent Cantonal Authorities
EU-17/EFTA
For citizens of France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Norway, Iceland und Liechtenstein the full free movement of persons applies since June 1 2007.
If you are a national of the EU-17/EFTA and you wish to work in Switzerland the following will have to be taken into consideration:
For gainful activity/employment for up to 3 months: As an EC/EFTA national taking up a job in Switzerland you may stay in Switzerland without a residence permit for three months in a calendar year. However, your employer is obliged to register you with the authorities. This can be done online. Regrettably the procedure is not yet available in English. For more information please contact us.
For gainful activity/employment for more than 3 months: Within 8 days of your arrival and before you actually start work, as a national of EU17/EFTA you must register with the communal authorities at your place of stay and apply for a residence permit. To do so you will need a valid ID (or a valid passport) as well as a written confirmation of employment. In principle the so called "Zusicherung der Aufenthaltsbewilligung/Assurance d'autorisation de séjour" is no longer issued, because the transitional measures concerning EU17/EFTA were lifted on June 1 2007. All necessary steps for obtaining the work and residence permit can be taken after arrival in Switzerland.
EU-8 – Bulgaria and Romania
For citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania who wish to take up employment in Switzerland, specific regulations apply. The same also applies to service providers in some sectors.
Service Providers - Van Der Elst Visa
If you are employed be a company in Europe providing a service to a Swiss company, you will be able to work without a residence or work permit for up to three months or 90 effective working days in a calendar year. Your employer will have to register with the Swiss authorities in advance by using their online registration process. The 90 days without permit are counted per independent company posting workers to Switzerland (or per self employed person). This rule is valid for posted workers of all nationalities, whose employer is based in the EU17/EFTA.
