For gainful work of up to 90 days per year you need no permit, but you must report the activity online. For longer employment, you receive permit L or B depending on contract length. Without gainful work, permit B applies if you can show sufficient means and health insurance. After arrival you have 14 days to register with your municipality of residence.
In short:
For employment contracts of between three months and less than a year, permit L usually applies; more than twelve hours per week serves as a guideline.
Those without work must show sufficient means as well as full health and accident insurance; students additionally need proof of enrolment for the permit.
For family reunification you need enough living space and health insurance for all family members; family members who join may generally work, students may face restrictions.
For short-term postings, the electronic notification must arrive at least eight days before work starts; the municipality can ask for originals.
For Croatian nationals, separate quotas and transitional rules may apply; they should therefore have the conditions checked separately before entry.
Overview of residence permits L, B, G, C and Ci
Switzerland distinguishes several permit types, and which one applies to you depends on the purpose of stay and the contract duration. The cantonal migration offices issue the specific permit, even though the basis lies in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
- Permit L: short-term stay for fixed-term employment contracts, valid for the contract duration.
- Permit B: valid for five years, for open-ended or at least one-year employment and for non-working persons with sufficient means.
- Permit G: for cross-border commuters who work in Switzerland but live abroad and return weekly.
- Permit C: settlement permit after several years of residence, open-ended and without work restrictions.
- Permit Ci: for family members of staff of international organisations with their own work authorisation.
For nationals of Croatia, transitional provisions with separate quotas may apply, which is why a separate check is worthwhile. More on the individual categories can be found in our overview of residence permits.
Gainful work in Switzerland: notification duty and differences between L and B
EU or EFTA nationals who work for up to 90 days per calendar year need no permit; they report the activity through the online notification procedure. For employees, the employer usually handles the notification; self-employed persons register themselves.
As soon as the activity exceeds 90 days, a permit becomes mandatory:
- Permit L fits employment contracts of between three months and less than one year; a workload of more than twelve hours per week serves as a guideline.
- Permit B is granted for open-ended or at least one-year contracts and is valid for five years, including for proven self-employment.
- If the activity ends or the employer changes, this must be reported to the competent cantonal office, otherwise an extension may be at risk.
Practitioner tip: submit the employment contract and proof of insurance as early as possible, this noticeably speeds up processing at the municipality.
In practice this means: an employment contract, a valid passport or ID card, proof of registration of residence and an appointment with the responsible municipality belong on every checklist. Details on the short-term permit process can be found in our article on the short-term permit L.
Residence without gainful work: study, retirement and job search
Anyone wishing to stay in Switzerland without work must show sufficient financial means and full health and accident insurance, as the SEM factsheet for non-working persons describes. Requirements vary with life situation:
- Students need proof of enrolment; the permit is often renewed annually.
- Retirees must document their pension or assets; the authority can issue a time-limited permit.
- Jobseekers receive a short-term permit but may not draw social assistance and must show active efforts.
For practical classification, our article on the B residence permit is worth a look, as this permit is also open to non-working persons.
Family reunification: Who can join and what is required?
Family reunification is a derived right; workers often benefit from easier conditions than non-working persons. The following are primarily entitled:
- Spouses as well as registered partners.
- Children under 21 or children entitled to maintenance.
- Ascending and descending relatives in special cases, such as where there is a maintenance dependency.
Reunification requires sufficient living space and health insurance for all persons joining. Family members who join generally receive access to the labour market, while restrictions may apply for students joining. A fuller account of deadlines and evidence is in our article on family reunification.
Registration after arrival: deadlines and process
After entry it is usually required to register with the municipality of residence within a short deadline, bringing along a passport or ID card, the employment contract and proof of insurance.
- Before entry, check whether a notification through the online procedure is enough or whether a permit is required.
- For short-term postings, the notification must be filed at least eight days before the start of the activity.
- Arrange an appointment with the municipality early, as documents are often required in the original.
Practitioner tip: bring copies of all documents, incomplete papers are the most common reason for delays.
Missing or unreadable translations of records also often lead to follow-up queries; a guide to certified translations shows what matters for residence documents.
When legal support pays off
A mandate is worthwhile particularly in a change of status, in complex family reunification with several family members, or where an application has already been refused. In such cases what counts above all is meeting deadlines, filling in forms correctly and being represented before the authority, rather than working through objections alone. Those seeking to switch from permit L to permit B often encounter follow-up queries from the authorities that can be avoided with clear documentation.
— Bitblade
Our support on residence matters
On residence matters we offer legal advice in several languages and accompany you from the initial consultation to the authority's decision. Our services in this area include:
- A check of whether your permit (Permit Check) matches your situation.
- An initial consultation on the purpose of stay and the appropriate permit.
- Support with a change of status from the short-term permit L to permit B.
- Representation in objections against decisions of the SEM or cantonal authorities.
- Support with family reunification, from evidence to filing the application.
Our initial consultation starts at CHF 150 per hour; further services such as the Permit Check or representation in objection proceedings are discussed individually based on effort. An overview of all packages is on our page on packages and fees, where you can pick a suitable service directly.
FAQ
Is Switzerland an EU-EFTA country?
Switzerland belongs neither to the EU nor to EFTA, but has agreed special rules for nationals of EU and EFTA states through the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. As a result, this group benefits from easier conditions on entry, residence and gainful work.
Which residence title does a German national need in Switzerland?
It depends on the purpose of stay: for a fixed-term employment contract under one year, permit L usually applies; for open-ended employment or non-working status with sufficient means, permit B applies. As a German national you benefit from the same rules as other EU citizens.
How long can an EU citizen stay in Switzerland without a permit?
For gainful work, up to 90 days per calendar year are possible without a permit, but the activity must be reported online. Beyond that, a permit in the form of permit L or B is required depending on the contract duration.
What residence titles exist in Switzerland?
The main categories are permit L for short stays, permit B for longer-term stays, permit G for cross-border commuters, permit C as a settlement permit, and permit Ci for family members of staff of international organisations. Which title applies depends on the purpose of stay and contract duration; more on this in our article on residence permits.
What does legal advice on my residence permit cost?
Our initial consultation starts at CHF 150 per hour; further services such as the Permit Check or change of status are calculated by effort. An overview of all options is on our packages page.