Visas for Switzerland
Whether you're planning to carve your way down one of Switzerland's esteemed ski slopes for a much-anticipated holiday, or 
whether you're venturing into the alpine nation for a taste of something slightly more permanent, you'll need to make sure you have the proper visa for Switzerland prior to your departure.
The Swiss have a special affinity for order and efficiency, so if you follow the rules, your experience with bureaucratic processing won't be unusually unpleasant. Keep in mind that largely different policies exist for EU/EFTA citizens and non-EU/non-EFTA citizens.
Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and those designated on a list drawn up
by the Swiss government are afforded visa-free entry into the nation, and the right to a 90-day stay. It's merely necessary to have a passport valid for six month from the date of travel.
The USA appears on this list, as does Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Citizens from India and South Africa, among a collection of others, will need to apply for a Schengen Visa in order to gain entrance into Switzerland.
Expats who do not require a formal visa to enter Switzerland may still be questioned at the border regarding the purpose of their visit and where they're staying: this is routine, and not meant to cause nervousness nor to antagonise visitors. Stay cool, answer the questions honestly and report to baggage claim.
Citizens required to obtain a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland will need to apply for this document at the designated Swiss Foreign Mission (consulate, embassy, etc.) in their home country.
It's necessary to submit the following paperwork:
Processing time varies in each country, but as always, it's best to apply as soon as travel plans have been confirmed. The Schengen visa entitles the holder to entrance to all Schengen states, and is valid for 90 days time within a six month period, from the appointed date of entry.
Expats wishing to work or to remain in Switzerland for longer than three months will need to apply for a residence permit. Both EU/EFTA nationals and third-nation (all other countries that are not part of the EU/EFTA) citizens are bound by this law; the only difference is that EU/EFTA nationals are able to procure permits easier than third-nation nationals.
Residence permits give expats the right to legally work and live in the nation. There's no such thing as a separate work permit.
Residence permits are issued by cantonal immigration offices, and the application procedures may differ slightly for each canton.
It's not difficult to get a residence permit for Switzerland if you're an EU/EFTA national. You'll need to familiarise yourself with the various types of permit, choose which suits your situation best, and then apply accordingly. There's no escaping the red tape that comes with the application process, but you won't be limited by the quotas that third-nation citizens have to work around.
►Permit B (Initial Residence Permit): Granted to those who can prove they have sufficient funds to live in Switzerland without employment; to those who can prove they are self-employed and make a sufficient amount of money to live in Switzerland without becoming a burden on the economy; and to those who have a permanent, and unlimited employment contract valid for over one year.
This permit is valid for five years, and is renewable for another five years.
►Permit C (Permanent Residence Permit): Granted to those who've lived in Switzerland for five years. Only citizens of the 15 original EU member states and the EFTA states are eligible for this permit. It is valid forever, and does not need to be renewed.
►Permit L (Short-Term): Typically granted to people who have an employment contract that is valid for less than one year. Those EU and EFTA nationals who are job-hunting in Switzerland, and who have already been in the nation for 90 days, can easily acquire this permit to extend their stay.
On the other side of the scale, expats from a third-nation (not an EU/EFTA member state) will find it's incredibly difficult to get a residence permit for Switzerland. The Swiss employ an incredibly restrictive, quota-based foreign immigration policy that only grants residence permits to, arguably, the incredibly wealthy and the highly skilled and educated.
Quotas are established in each canton, and once the quotas are met for a given year, even the most qualified individual cannot obtain a residence permit until the next year.
Step 1 - Secure a Job
Expats will find that most residence permits are directly linked to an employment contract. Similarly, most jobs require residence permits. There's no easy way to sidestep this Catch-22 situation, but it's certainly not impossible to use the right channels to land a job within a firm willing to act as a sponsor.
Keep in mind that in order for firms to offer third-nation expats an employment contract, they must prove that the position in question cannot be adequately filled by a Swiss/EU/EFTA citizen, and furthermore, they must prove they made intense efforts to find a qualified Swiss/EU/EFTA applicant.
Step 2 – Choose a Permit Type
►Type B (Initial Residence Permits): Granted to individuals with an employment contract of one year or more with a given employer in a given canton. The expat cannot change jobs or cantons with a Type B permit. The permit is valid for one year and is renewable thereafter. This is the most popular permit.
►Type L (Short-Term Residence Permits): Granted to individuals with an employment contract of one year or less. This permit is also tied to the employment contract and the canton, but can be renewed if necessary.
►Type C (Permanent Residence Permit): Granted to expats who have lived in Switzerland for 10 uninterrupted years. Those expats from the US and Canada only need to have lived in Switzerland for five uninterrupted years to qualify for this permit. Expats with a Type C permit can change cantons and employers at will, without restriction.
Most of the time an expat's employer will be able to advise which permit is most appropriate.
Step 3 – Assurance of Residence Permit
Once an expat secures a job, their employer is charged with applying for an “Assurance of Residence Permit” with the local Cantonal Aliens Police within Switzerland. They will advise of any paperwork they need from you. Usually, original copies of university diplomas are necessary, as well as a CV and the employment contract.
Once granted, this document will be sent to you, and should be presented with your valid passport upon entry into Switzerland.
Step 4 – Applying for your Residence Permit
Upon arrival head to the migration office in your canton to apply for your corresponding residence permit. This process differs slightly from canton to canton, so it's best to phone beforehand to ask what you'll need, or to solicit your employer for advice.
whether you're venturing into the alpine nation for a taste of something slightly more permanent, you'll need to make sure you have the proper visa for Switzerland prior to your departure.The Swiss have a special affinity for order and efficiency, so if you follow the rules, your experience with bureaucratic processing won't be unusually unpleasant. Keep in mind that largely different policies exist for EU/EFTA citizens and non-EU/non-EFTA citizens.
Visit visas for Switzerland
Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and those designated on a list drawn up
by the Swiss government are afforded visa-free entry into the nation, and the right to a 90-day stay. It's merely necessary to have a passport valid for six month from the date of travel.The USA appears on this list, as does Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Citizens from India and South Africa, among a collection of others, will need to apply for a Schengen Visa in order to gain entrance into Switzerland.
Expats who do not require a formal visa to enter Switzerland may still be questioned at the border regarding the purpose of their visit and where they're staying: this is routine, and not meant to cause nervousness nor to antagonise visitors. Stay cool, answer the questions honestly and report to baggage claim.
Schengen visa for Switzerland
Citizens required to obtain a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland will need to apply for this document at the designated Swiss Foreign Mission (consulate, embassy, etc.) in their home country.
It's necessary to submit the following paperwork:
- Passport (valid for six months from the date of travel)
- Completed Schengen Visa Application Form
- Proof of solvency (bank account statements, salary statements, tax statements, etc.)
- Receipt for payment of corresponding fees
Processing time varies in each country, but as always, it's best to apply as soon as travel plans have been confirmed. The Schengen visa entitles the holder to entrance to all Schengen states, and is valid for 90 days time within a six month period, from the appointed date of entry.
Residence permits for Switzerland
Expats wishing to work or to remain in Switzerland for longer than three months will need to apply for a residence permit. Both EU/EFTA nationals and third-nation (all other countries that are not part of the EU/EFTA) citizens are bound by this law; the only difference is that EU/EFTA nationals are able to procure permits easier than third-nation nationals.
Residence permits give expats the right to legally work and live in the nation. There's no such thing as a separate work permit.
Residence permits are issued by cantonal immigration offices, and the application procedures may differ slightly for each canton.
Residence permits for EU/EFTA nationals
It's not difficult to get a residence permit for Switzerland if you're an EU/EFTA national. You'll need to familiarise yourself with the various types of permit, choose which suits your situation best, and then apply accordingly. There's no escaping the red tape that comes with the application process, but you won't be limited by the quotas that third-nation citizens have to work around.
Permit Types
►Permit B (Initial Residence Permit): Granted to those who can prove they have sufficient funds to live in Switzerland without employment; to those who can prove they are self-employed and make a sufficient amount of money to live in Switzerland without becoming a burden on the economy; and to those who have a permanent, and unlimited employment contract valid for over one year.
This permit is valid for five years, and is renewable for another five years.
►Permit C (Permanent Residence Permit): Granted to those who've lived in Switzerland for five years. Only citizens of the 15 original EU member states and the EFTA states are eligible for this permit. It is valid forever, and does not need to be renewed.
►Permit L (Short-Term): Typically granted to people who have an employment contract that is valid for less than one year. Those EU and EFTA nationals who are job-hunting in Switzerland, and who have already been in the nation for 90 days, can easily acquire this permit to extend their stay.
Residence Permits for Non-EU/Non-EFTA nationals
On the other side of the scale, expats from a third-nation (not an EU/EFTA member state) will find it's incredibly difficult to get a residence permit for Switzerland. The Swiss employ an incredibly restrictive, quota-based foreign immigration policy that only grants residence permits to, arguably, the incredibly wealthy and the highly skilled and educated.
Quotas are established in each canton, and once the quotas are met for a given year, even the most qualified individual cannot obtain a residence permit until the next year.
Step 1 - Secure a Job
Expats will find that most residence permits are directly linked to an employment contract. Similarly, most jobs require residence permits. There's no easy way to sidestep this Catch-22 situation, but it's certainly not impossible to use the right channels to land a job within a firm willing to act as a sponsor.
Keep in mind that in order for firms to offer third-nation expats an employment contract, they must prove that the position in question cannot be adequately filled by a Swiss/EU/EFTA citizen, and furthermore, they must prove they made intense efforts to find a qualified Swiss/EU/EFTA applicant.
Step 2 – Choose a Permit Type
►Type B (Initial Residence Permits): Granted to individuals with an employment contract of one year or more with a given employer in a given canton. The expat cannot change jobs or cantons with a Type B permit. The permit is valid for one year and is renewable thereafter. This is the most popular permit.
►Type L (Short-Term Residence Permits): Granted to individuals with an employment contract of one year or less. This permit is also tied to the employment contract and the canton, but can be renewed if necessary.
►Type C (Permanent Residence Permit): Granted to expats who have lived in Switzerland for 10 uninterrupted years. Those expats from the US and Canada only need to have lived in Switzerland for five uninterrupted years to qualify for this permit. Expats with a Type C permit can change cantons and employers at will, without restriction.
Most of the time an expat's employer will be able to advise which permit is most appropriate.
Step 3 – Assurance of Residence Permit
Once an expat secures a job, their employer is charged with applying for an “Assurance of Residence Permit” with the local Cantonal Aliens Police within Switzerland. They will advise of any paperwork they need from you. Usually, original copies of university diplomas are necessary, as well as a CV and the employment contract.
Once granted, this document will be sent to you, and should be presented with your valid passport upon entry into Switzerland.
Step 4 – Applying for your Residence Permit
Upon arrival head to the migration office in your canton to apply for your corresponding residence permit. This process differs slightly from canton to canton, so it's best to phone beforehand to ask what you'll need, or to solicit your employer for advice.
