Permits for Switzerland

EU-17, EU-8 and EFTA nationals

Nationals from the old EU-15, EU-8 and EFTA countries as well as from Malta and Cyprus benefit from full freedom of movement: they are allowed to stay and pursue gainful employment in Switzerland for three months without a permit. They merely have to report to the competent authorities. If their gainful employment lasts more than three months, they have to report to the local authorities and apply for a residence permit.

EU-8 nationals

Nationals from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary are allowed to exercise salaried employment in Switzerland under the following interim provisions:

• Priority of national manpower (national priority)
• Control of wage and working conditions
• Quotas for permanent and short-term residence permits

These admission restrictions apply until 30 April 2011 and only on first-time admission. After this date nationals from the following countries may settle and work freely – an employment relationship entitles nationals from these countries to a residence permit. The exercise of a self-employed occupation does not come under these provisions.

Nationals from Bulgaria and Romania

For nationals from Bulgaria and Romania, the exercise of a salaried occupation in Switzerland is authorised under the following interim provisions:

• Priority of national manpower (national priority)
• Control of wage and working conditions
• Quotas for permanent and short-term residence permits

These admission restrictions may be upheld until 2016.

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Also in this section

• Getting started: Become familiar with visa issues, sponsorships and regulations
• Visa issues: First approach towards getting your visa
• Sponsorship for long term residence: Regulations on sponsorships
• Information about border-crossing commuters: Border zones
• Permits for Switzerland: EU members who are moving to Switzerland
• How to obtain a residence permit:: Process guideline