Work permits for employees in Switzerland: A complete guide for employers [2025]

Before hiring an employee in Switzerland, you need to be certain they are authorized to work in this beautiful, central European country. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union; instead, it’s a member state of the Schengen area and of the European Free Trade Association.

Swiss laws surrounding work visas are complex and differ depending on the worker’s country of origin, so it’s crucial to understand the nuances around work authorization in Switzerland. Failing to do so can leave you exposed to severe penalties that include fines and even jail time.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about work permits for employees before you make your first Swiss hire. You’ll learn who needs a work visa, how to apply for one, and other frequently asked questions about work permits for employees in Switzerland.

What is a work permit in Switzerland?

A work permit (or work visa) is a document issued by the Swiss authorities allowing foreign nationals to legally obtain employment for a certain period of time. It’s also a way for the Swiss government to keep track of how many foreigners are working in Switzerland at one time, as there is a cap on the number of work visas that can be issued to non-Swiss employees each year.

Work visas are issued by the immigration authority of your employer’s local cantonal authorities. Switzerland has 26 cantons—or member states—that make up the official Swiss Confederation. From there, the application goes to the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration) for ultimate approval. 

It is up to the employer to apply to the cantonal authorities for the work permit unless the individual is self-employed. Employers must also demonstrate there is an economic need to hire the individual and that they looked for a Swiss citizen to fill the position but were unable to find one.

Who needs a work visa in Switzerland?

The answer to this question depends on where the foreign national is from and what kind of work they’re looking for.

• EU/EFTA citizens: Even though Switzerland itself isn’t a member of the European Union, it permits EU citizens to come and look for employment without a work permit. The same goes for members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member. There are also no caps on how many EU/EFTA citizens can look for long-term employment in Switzerland unless the individual is coming from Croatia.*

EU/EFTA citizens can take jobs that last for three months or less—considered “short-term” employment—without applying for Swiss residency. If the position lasts longer than three months, a residence permit will be required.

• Non-EU/EFTA citizens: All non-EU/EFTA citizens, including UK nationals, need a work permit to work in Switzerland, and there are quotas on the number issued every year. Depending on the person's nationality, sometimes a work visa and a work permit are required.

Furthermore, only certain qualified professionals are permitted to work in Switzerland. This includes people with university degrees and several years of work experience, managers, and people who are specialists or experts in their fields.

When you send your new hire the offer letter (employment contract), make sure you include a clause about the offer being contingent on their eligibility to work in Switzerland legally.

*The number of Croatians leaving their home country and seeking to live and work in Switzerland has increased significantly in recent years, leading Swiss authorities to put a cap on the number of residence and work permits that can be given to Croatians for the foreseeable future.

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How long does it take to get a work permit in Switzerland?

Work permit applications are processed by the cantonal labor offices or the SEM. It can take up to 15 weeks to get approved.

Types of work visas in Switzerland

Work and residence permits are one and the same in Switzerland since you can’t work in the country without having a residence permit.

There are four different types of permits that allow foreign nationals to live and work in Switzerland:

• L permit: This is a short-term permit that allows foreign nationals to live and work in Switzerland for up to one year. It can be renewed or extended, depending on the employment contract. 

• B permit: This type of residence permit is valid for one year. It can be renewed each year as long as the permit holder is working for the same employer in the same canton.

• C permit: Also known as a settlement permit, the C permit is granted to individuals who have lived and worked continuously in Switzerland for 10 years (five if they are US or Canadian citizens). 

• G permit: This permit is specifically for cross-border commuters who are residents of another EU/EFTA country but come to Switzerland just to work. G permit holders must return to their main place of residence at least once a week.

Again, regardless of whether a foreign worker is eligible for one of these permits if the quota on the number that can be issued that year has already been met, they will have to wait until next year and try again.

Application process for Swiss work visas

There are a few important things to note about the application process for Swiss work visas.

First, the Swiss federal government leaves a lot of work visa-related decisions up to the cantonal authorities. So, the exact application process may differ depending on whether your company is in Zurich, Lucerne, or another canton.

Second, both the employer and the employee are involved in the application process for Swiss work visas. The employer must have made an official job offer to the employee in order to begin the process.

To learn about the process for the particular permit you’re applying for in your canton, visit the SEM website, which has links to the websites of all the individual cantonal immigration and employment market authorities. 

To give you an idea of what to expect here, we’ll go over the general application process for a non-EU/EFTA national applying for a work permit.

First, let’s review what you’ll need for the application itself:

• The employee’s personal information, including their name, full address, date of birth, nationality, civil status, full name and nationality of parents, and the personal information of any family members who will be traveling with them.

• The employer’s information, such as the company name and mailing address in Switzerland, the contact information of someone at the company (like the director or the employee’s manager), the job title and description, and the cantonal seat of the employer.

• Other documents, including a justification for the application (you need to demonstrate there’s an economic need to hire this person), a copy of the official employment contract, a copy of the foreign worker’s CV, proof the job exists, copies of the worker’s certificates/diplomas, and copies of their passport.

To then apply for a work visa, take the following steps:

• Submit the work visa application to the Office for Economic Affairs (AWI). You’ll find the link to the Zurich work permit application here. 

• The AWI will decide if there is a need for the employee based on visa quotas and whether the employer demonstrated an economic need for the employee.

• Afterward, the AWI forwards the documents to the Migration Office for review by immigration experts. If this office determines that all legal requirements have been met, it will issue the permit. It will also authorize the Swiss embassy to approve a visa if the foreign national is still abroad.

Check with your individual canton about the required documents and the application process itself before starting the visa application.

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Frequently asked questions about work permits for employees in Switzerland