Short-term
EU/EFTA · third countriesFor a contract of 3 months to under one year. Subject to quota for third-country nationals.
- Duration
- up to 1 year, extendable in some cases
- Filing
- employer or authorised representative
HR guide · updated November 2026
Swiss work permits, explained for HR.
Which permit for which employee, who files, how long it takes: the essentials for quick decisions, with official sources.
Permits at a glance
Residence
EU/EFTA · third countriesFor a contract of one year or more, or open-ended. Valid for 5 years for EU/EFTA nationals.
- Duration
- 5 years (EU/EFTA), 1 year renewable (third countries)
- Family
- reunification possible
Cross-border commuter
EU/EFTA · third countries under conditionsResidence abroad, return home at least weekly. Common in Geneva given neighbouring France.
- Condition
- EU/EFTA residence; border zone (6 months) for third-country nationals
- Tax
- withholding tax, specific rules
Settlement
After 5 or 10 years' residenceLong-term residence with no employment conditions. Waiting period depends on nationality and integration.
- Waiting period
- 5 or 10 years depending on nationality
- Integration
- language requirements
International organisations
Spouses and children of officialsAllows family members of a legitimation card holder to work in Switzerland.
- Link
- FDFA legitimation card
- Duration
- tied to the post
Notification procedure
EU/EFTA · posted workersNo permit for 90 working days or less per calendar year: an online notification is enough.
- Deadline
- 8 days before the start (posted workers)
- Tool
- easyGov
Two regimes
EU/EFTA or third countries: two different logics.
Nationality decides almost everything. For an EU/EFTA national, the permit is a right. For everyone else, it is an exception the employer must justify.
EU / EFTA · free movement
- No quota and no national priority for employees
- Permit issued on presentation of the contract
- Broad family reunification, including for a non-EU spouse
- Posting: notification up to 90 days, permit beyond
Third countries · FNIA
- Economic interest of the country (art. 18)
- Annual quotas (art. 20)
- Priority for Swiss and EU workers (art. 21)
- Customary pay and conditions (art. 22)
- Executives, specialists, qualified staff (art. 23)
- Suitable housing (art. 24)
Posted workers
The 90-day notification procedure, done right.
It is the topic HR teams most often misunderstand, and the one that exposes the company most in an inspection.
- Who: EU/EFTA employees in a job of 3 months or less, workers posted by an EU/EFTA company, EU/EFTA self-employed
- Limit: 90 actual working days per calendar year; beyond that, a permit is mandatory
- Deadline: at least 8 days before the start for posted workers, the day before for a job with a Swiss employer
- Sensitive sectors: construction, hospitality, cleaning, security, itinerant trade: notification from day one
- Third-country nationals: only if integrated into the EU/EFTA labour market for 12 months
Sources : SEM – procédure d'annonce · LDét (RS 823.20)
Geneva · third countries
The Geneva procedure, step by step.
In Geneva, the employer files. Allow about 3 months from launch to start date.
Search and job advertisement
Vacancy registered with the cantonal employment office, evidence of search in Switzerland and the EU.
Filing with the OCPM
Form and complete file, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before arrival.
OCIRT decision
The foreign labour directorate rules on the labour market test.
SEM approval
For decisions that require it, about 6 to 8 weeks (indicative).
Visa, arrival, permit
D visa, arrival registration, biometrics, then residence card.
Sources : ge.ch – ressortissant État tiers · LEI art. 18–24
Feasibility assessment
Hiring from outside Switzerland? Talk to us before the contract is signed.
In 30 minutes, a specialist tells you the permit route, the documents to prepare and a realistic timeline. Reply within 24 working hours.
+41 22 886 01 23 · info@hr-relocation.comMonday – Friday, 8.30 am – 5.30 pm