Applying for a work visa in Switzerland: What do I need to know?

Even though Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is part of the Schengen Area and one of the four EFTA countries. The picturesque country in the heart of Europe has stable economic and political conditions, making the Swiss labor market very attractive for many. Are you from a country outside the EU and the Schengen Zone and would like to work in Switzerland? Then this article is perfect for you!

Learn everything you need to know about Swiss visa procedures, the Swiss work visa, and how to apply for it.

How long can a foreigner stay in Switzerland?

If you are not from an EU country or a Schengen country, you will need a Schengen visa to enter. The Schengen visa grants you permission to stay in the Schengen Zone for a specified period. Depending on the purpose of your stay, two types of Schengen visas can be issued:

1. The Schengen Visa Type C allows short stays of up to 90 days, such as visits, short language courses, and tourist activities. If you want to undertake short-term work, such as seasonal work, during your stay, this visa can also serve as a work visa for Switzerland. However, you will additionally need a work permit.
    
2. The Schengen Visa Type D permits long-term and regulated stays in Switzerland that last beyond 90 days. For a long-term employment relationship, citizens from outside the Schengen Area require a work permit, which is harder to obtain since EU citizens have priority in the Swiss labor market.

Who can work in Switzerland?

Due to the freedom of movement for persons, individuals from an EU/EFTA country can enter, live, and work in Switzerland. Since EU and EFTA citizens are preferred for employment in Switzerland, obtaining a Swiss work visa for EU citizens is a mere formality. If you wish to apply for a Swiss work visa for non-EU citizens, there are several important factors to consider.

If you come from a third country and want to live and work in Switzerland long-term, Switzerland only grants work permits to executives and individuals with extensive professional experience. You must sufficiently prove that there are no other Swiss or EU candidates for the job, which excludes many people from obtaining a work visa in Switzerland.

Swiss work visa for short-term employment

The situation is different if you are coming to Switzerland for only one to three months, for example, for seasonal work in a ski area. This can occur under a Schengen visa and is the best method for working in Switzerland. You can easily obtain a work visa for Switzerland for third-country nationals. With a Schengen visa, you can generally stay in Switzerland for up to 90 consecutive days or 90 days within a reference period of 6 months. In this case, please be sure to contact the responsible Swiss representation.

To apply for the short-term Swiss work visa, you must present a work contract in original. Furthermore, you must ensure that you can afford the trip. If you have the means, you should provide bank statements from the past three months as proof. Additionally, another person or institution may cover the costs of your stay. If you are coming for seasonal work or an internship in the Alpine nation, your employer can also issue an invitation for work in Switzerland, ensuring they will cover your living expenses. Furthermore, a relative or friend can sign a declaration of commitment for you, thus guaranteeing your financial security. 

Attention: In this case, a work permit is also necessary! Working in Switzerland without a work permit is illegal. The same applies to employers who employ a foreign person without a work permit.

What do I need to consider: Special aspects of the Swiss work visa

If you are applying for a Swiss work visa for a long-term stay, it is a national visa, specifically the Schengen Visa Type D. For this, a specific residence permit with a work permit is required. This also applies to longer internships as well as au-pair activities in Switzerland.

Note: It is strictly prohibited to work in Switzerland with a tourist, business, or visitor visa. Therefore, before entering Switzerland, you should obtain a work visa. Your potential employer must initiate a licensing procedure for your work visa in Switzerland through the responsible cantonal migration authority. Only once the migration authority has issued the work permit can the visa be granted.

Swiss work visa for non-EU citizens: How do I obtain a work permit in Switzerland?

As a citizen from a third country, you must meet certain requirements to be allowed on the Swiss labor market long-term:

• You are an executive, specialist, or otherwise qualified workforce
• Your employment is in the overall economic interest of Switzerland
• You are considered qualified if you possess a university or higher education degree, including several years of professional experience – this also includes a particularly specialized education

Procedure for work permits in Switzerland for non-EU/EFTA citizens:

• You receive an acceptance for a job offer from a Swiss employer
• Your employer submits the application for the work permit to the cantonal labor market or migration authority
• If the response is positive, the application is forwarded to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
• The SEM votes on the work permit for Switzerland
• If the vote is positive, the cantonal migration authority electronically transmits the authorization to issue a visa for work to the Swiss representation abroad
• You can pick up your Swiss work visa at the responsible Swiss representation
• Within 14 days after entering Switzerland and before starting work, you must report to the residents' registration office
• Important: the procedure for a work permit can take up to two to three months!
• Important: the admission of workers from third countries is limited

In the case of a multi-year stay in Switzerland, integration criteria are also taken into account: professional and social adaptability, language skills, and age. With this, the Swiss state aims to ensure sustainable integration into the Swiss labor market and society.

Note for third-country citizens with indefinite residence permits in another Schengen country: If you wish to work in Switzerland long-term, you must apply for a work visa for Switzerland or a work permit like all other foreign nationals. If you are sent by a company from a Schengen country for an assignment in Switzerland, you can work in Switzerland for up to 90 days per calendar year without needing to apply for an additional work visa for Switzerland with a residence card (held for at least 12 months) or a permanent residence card.

Working longer in Switzerland as an intern

Switzerland has agreements with some countries (the so-called “Stagiaires Agreement”) for young professionals up to 35 years old. Citizens who can provide proof of vocational training or a degree are eligible. Third-country nationals from the following countries can receive a work permit for up to 18 months under the program:

• Argentina
• Australia (age limit: 30 years)
• Chile
• Japan (only with a higher education or university degree)
• Canada (also possible within training)
• Monaco,
•  New Zealand (age limit: 30 years)
• Philippines
• Russia (age limit: 30 years)
• South Africa
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• USA

All other foreigners who wish to do an internship in Switzerland for a longer period must undergo a work permit examination.

How can AXA help?

When applying for a Schengen visa, you must provide a private travel health insurance that offers sufficient protection during your stay in Switzerland and the Schengen Area. This ensures that you are financially covered for medical emergencies and potential hospital stays throughout your travel duration. AXA has created three insurance policies specifically for this purpose, tailored to the different needs of travelers to the Schengen Area. The most affordable option is the AXA Schengen insurance “Low-Cost” for just €22 per week of travel.

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FAQ: Work Visa Switzerland

Who can work in Switzerland?

In addition to Swiss citizens, EU and EFTA nationals can also work in Switzerland. Third-country nationals may only work in Switzerland if they obtain a work permit. The work permit must be applied for in Switzerland by the employer and is issued only based on specific admission criteria for the Swiss labor market.

How can one obtain a work visa for Switzerland?

If you wish to work in Switzerland as a third-country national, you need a commitment from the employer, a positive decision regarding a work permit applied for by the Swiss employer, and then you can collect your work visa for Switzerland. Separate regulations apply to seasonal workers who may only work in Switzerland for a maximum of 3 months or interns in the “Stagiaires Program.” 

How long can foreigners stay in Switzerland?

This depends on the visa with which you are traveling to Switzerland. The Schengen visa Type C allows for short stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. If you are planning a longer stay that exceeds 90 days, you will need a national visa. The national visa can be converted into a residence permit.