Many people have more than one reason to dream of working in Switzerland: it is consistently ranked as one of the safest and most stable countries in the world, so expats quickly feel at ease and comfortable working here. However, before moving to Switzerland for work, you must obtain a Switzerland Work Visa. Visasvoyage provides all the information you need to obtain a Switzerland Work Visa, including requirements, required documents, and the entire application process.
Among other factors, your nationality affects the procedure of applying for a work permit in Switzerland. Similar to other visa categories, EU/EFTA nationals and non-EU/EFTA people are subject to separate regulations.
Switzerland work visa
There are two different ways that foreigners can work in Switzerland. Citizens of the European Union and/or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are the subject of the first. The subsequent group, known as third states, is exclusive to employees from all other nations and is admitted in a restricted quantity.
For non-EU/EFTA nationals
Citizens of Switzerland and non-EU/EFTA member nations are not required to have a work permit. The requirements to obtain one are generally closely linked to job and far stricter than for the majority of Europeans. Getting hired is only the first step in the process of obtaining a permit.
Who can work in Switzerland?
Switzerland only allows qualified non-EU/EFTA nationals, such as managers, specialists, or university graduates with several years of professional experience, to work there.
Non-EU/EFTA nationals must get a work permit, even for short-term employment. A work visa can also be acquired for self-employment. Spouses of Swiss citizens or those with a settlement permit do not need a work permit.
Eligibility Criteria for a Switzerland Work Visa
If you fulfil the following requirements, you can apply for a work visa to enter Switzerland as a citizen of a country outside of the EU or EFTA:
- You possess a university degree, years of work experience, specialized knowledge, and are a competent and competent worker (manager, specialist).
- A job is already waiting for you.
- No citizen of the EU or EFTA is available to fill the position.
- It is permitted by the yearly quotas for Switzerland work visa.
You may apply for your Switzerland work visa if you meet those conditions and your employer is the one requesting your residence permit.
Application process
To put it quickly, the procedure of working in Switzerland involves the following:
- locating employment.
- submit an application for a Switzerland Work Permit in the nation of your residence.
- Your employer submits an application for your Swiss residency permit.
The procedure for applying for a Switzerland Work Visa follows after landing a job in Switzerland:
- The employer is required to deliver the application materials to the cantonal employment or immigration authority.
- Workers who need a visa must also apply through the Swiss embassy overseas that oversees their residence.
- Based on the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act, the appropriate cantonal authority (the employment or immigration office) reviews applications and renders a preliminary determination.
- For final approval, applications that have been authorised by the canton must be sent to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
Applications are evaluated by SEM based on national admission standards for Switzerland. - The formal decision from SEM will be sent to the employee, the applicant, and the cantonal authorities. The employer is responsible for paying the charge. The employee is not yet permitted to enter Switzerland according to this official decision.
- Based on SEM’s permission, the cantonal immigration authority will next grant the electronic visa authorization to the Swiss representative overseas for individuals who need a visa.
- After that, the visa can be picked up from the agent.
You may not always enter Switzerland with just a work permit. Based on your country of origin, a visa might also be necessary. Visit the to discover if you qualify for this and to learn how to get a visa.
Documentation requirements
The following paperwork is needed for Switzerland work visa:
- Three long-stay visa application forms in English, French, Italian, Spanish, or German that have been filled out and signed.It may be found at the Swiss embassy or consulate where you are submitting your application, or you may download it online.
- A valid travel document or passport that has two blank pages or more. It must have been issued within the last ten years and be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from Switzerland..
- Three copies of your passport’s pertinent pages, including pages 1-4 and the last one that shows the date of issue and expiration as well as copies of all prior visas.
- Four identical photos the size of a passport. They have to be biometric and recent.
- Your employment agreement, in two copies.
- Evidence of your professional involvement.
- copies of your qualifications, such as diplomas and certificates
- Information regarding your prior coursework, including your grades, subjects studied, and the dates you were enrolled in classes.
- evidence that you attempted using a different strategy to get employment.
- Your resume (CV)
Translation is required for any document not written in English, German, French, or Italian.
Remember that the paperwork needed can vary based on the nation. The right to request any further documentation that they think are required is reserved by the Swiss authorities.
Switzerland work visa processing time
There have been rumours that the processing period for Switzerland work visa could take four to six weeks.
Switzerland work visa cost
Adults must pay USD 80 to obtain an entry visa fee to Switzerland in order to obtain a work permit. The non-refundable visa cost is required at the moment the application is filed. The application cost is not refundable if you withdraw it or if it is denied.