How to get a Swiss work permit: EU/EFTA and non-EU paths
Updated · 2 sources
Direct answer
EU/EFTA citizens get a Swiss work permit by taking a job and registering with their commune within 14 days of arrival and before starting work; the employment contract alone creates the right. Non-EU/EFTA nationals cannot apply themselves: a Swiss employer must prove no suitable CH/EU candidate was available and win a quota permit (usually a 1-year B) before they may enter and start.
Key facts
- EU/EFTA: right to Permit B (5 years) with a contract of 12+ months; Permit L for shorter
- Non-EU/EFTA: employer applies, labour-market test and annual cantonal/federal quotas apply
- Register with the commune within 14 days of arrival and before the first working day
- Permit G is for cross-border commuters who return to their foreign home at least weekly
Path A: EU/EFTA citizens
- 1Sign a Swiss employment contract; duration sets the permit (under 12 months: L, 12+ months or open-ended: B).
- 2Find housing and register with the residents' office (Einwohnerkontrolle) of your commune within 14 days of arrival, before starting work.
- 3Bring passport/ID, contract, rental contract and photo; the commune forwards the file to the cantonal migration office.
- 4Open the basics in parallel: Swiss bank account, health insurance within 3 months of arrival, and AHV number via your employer.
Path B: non-EU/EFTA nationals (employer-led)
- 1The employer advertises and documents the search (Swiss job platforms, RAV) to show no suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidate was found.
- 2The employer files for admission with the canton: qualifications, salary at local standard, and why the role needs this specialist.
- 3Canton and then the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) approve within the annual quota; only then is entry authorised.
- 4Enter, register with the commune within 14 days, and collect the permit; family reunification and the path to a C permit run from this residence start date.
| Permit | For whom | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|
| L (short stay) | Contracts under 12 months | Up to 12 months, max 24 |
| B (residence) | Long-term employment | EU/EFTA 5 years; non-EU 1 year, renewable |
| G (cross-border) | Lives abroad, works in CH | 5 years, weekly return home |
FAQ
- Can I apply for a Swiss work permit myself as a non-EU citizen?
- No. Admission is employer-driven: the Swiss employer files the application and must pass the domestic-priority labour market test within the quota system.
- How many years until a C permit (settlement)?
- Usually 5 years for EU-17/EFTA, US and Canadian citizens, 10 years for most other nationals, or 5 years via early integration with B1 spoken local language (AIG Art. 34).
- Do I pay withholding tax on a B permit?
- Yes. Permit B and L holders without a C permit are taxed at source (Quellensteuer) by the employer; above CHF 120,000 gross a subsequent ordinary assessment follows.
- Can I change jobs on a non-EU B permit?
- The permit is often tied to the employer and canton in the first years; a job or canton change can require fresh approval. EU/EFTA B permits carry full occupational and geographic mobility.
Related guides
- Quellensteuer vs ordinary assessment (NOV): when filing a return paysQuellensteuer is final unless you act: Permit B and L holders are taxed at source by tariff, and a subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) becomes mandatory at CHF 120,000 gross employment income and optional below it if you apply by 31 March of the following year. The NOV is where Pillar 3a contributions, pension buy-ins and real professional costs get deducted, but it is a one-way door: once granted, you file full returns until your source-tax obligation ends.
- How to read a Swiss payslip (Lohnabrechnung), line by lineA Swiss payslip deducts, in order: AHV/IV/EO at 5.30%, ALV at 1.10% (up to CHF 148,200 a year), NBU accident insurance at roughly 1–1.5% if you work 8+ hours a week, and your BVG pension share on the coordinated salary (CHF 26,460 to 90,720). Income tax only appears on the payslip as withholding tax (Quellensteuer) if you hold a Permit B, L or G; everyone else pays tax later by invoice.
- How to check and fix AHV contribution gaps before they cut your pensionEvery missing AHV contribution year cuts your old-age pension by 1/44 (about 2.3%) for life, but gaps can be back-paid within 5 years and youth years (17–20) can fill older ones. Order the free individual account extract (IK-Auszug) from ahv-iv.ch, compare every year from age 21 to retirement age against your salary certificates, and contest wrong entries within 30 days of receiving the statement.