Federal Office for Migration

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

EU-25/EFTA nationals hold citizenship of one of the following states:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Poland or Portugal.

EU-17 nationals hold citizenship of one of the following states:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden or Portugal.

EU-8 nationals hold citizenship of one of the following states:
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia or Poland

EU-2 nationals hold citizenship of one of the following states:
Bulgaria or Romania.

EFTA nationals hold citizenship of one of the following states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (or Switzerland).

1. Invoking safeguard clause
2. Who benefits from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons?
3. Taking up residence and gainful employment
4. Residence permits
5. Cross-border commuters
6. Job seeking
7. Changing jobs or place of residence
8. Job loss
9. Residing in Switzerland without gainful activity
10. Family reunification
11. Service providers
12. Visa
13. Miscellaneous

1. Invoking safeguard clause

The safeguard clause contractually stipulated in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU is being invoked. What does invoking the safeguard clause mean? Who is affected? What are the impacts on employers in Switzerland? Our FAQs provide answers to the most important.

As of when these quotas become effective?

Which persons are affected by the quotas?

Who is not affected by the quotas?

What is the number of available quota?

Do the quotas apply to certain professional fields?

Will wage and working conditions as well as the priority for domestic nationals be reviewed in connection with an application?

Is there an allocation of these quotas among the cantons?

How do I find out how many contingents are still available?

How should an employer in Switzerland negotiate with a potential employee from the EU-8?

Who is responsible for issuing the permit?

2. Who benefits from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons?

I am a national of an EU/EFTA state. Do I benefit from the free-movement agreement?

3. Taking up residence and gainful employment

I should like to work in Switzerland. What are the conditions for getting a work permit?

I should like to work in Switzerland. How do I proceed?

New transitional periods for access to the Swiss labor market: what is new and who is affected?

I am an EU national and would like to become self-employed in Switzerland. How do I proceed?

4. Residence permits

Types of permits and validity

5. Cross-border commuters

Requirements for being granted a cross-border commuter permit

6. Job seeking

Do I first have to secure employment in Switzerland or may I immigrate before?

7. Changing jobs or place of residence

Am I allowed to change jobs or the place of residence?

8. Job loss

If I lose my job or the contract of employment has expired, do I have to leave Switzerland?

9. Residing in Switzerland without gainful activity

I'd like to spend time in Switzerland but not in order to work. Will I be granted authorization to stay?

10. Family reunification

Who may apply for family members to join them and reside in Switzerland?

Are family members allowed to work in Switzerland?

11. Service providers

I am a service provider. Do I need a permit to provide services?

The right of providing services is limited to 90 days in a calendar year. How is the math done?

What are the rules on general services that are provided for more than 90 days in a calendar year?

The providing of services for a period exceeding 90 working days in a calendar year is not subject to the free-movement agreement. Petitions for work permits authorizing service provision for more than 90 working days are dealt with under national law; therefore, whether a residence permit is issued if the provision of services were to exceed a 90-days period is at the cantonal labor market authorities' discretion.
Cantonal authorities

What are the rules on services covered by special service agreements between Switzerland and the EU?

12. Visa

I live in Switzerland but am not an EU or EFTA national. Do I still need a visa to enter an EU member state?

13. Miscellaneous

Are people who are subject to the agreement able to acquire real estate in Switzerland?

What has changed with regard to taxation?

I am working in a regulated profession. Do I have to get my diploma recognized in Switzerland?

Where do I get information on social security matters?