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Employment · SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSchengen

Work permit in Switzerland for non-EU nationals

From €1,30010–30 working days

Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.

Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

  • Eligibility check against the job offer and salary rules
  • Employer document checklist
  • Application file and filing
Processing time
Not publishedno data for employees specifically; SEM gives 6–8 weeks as general processing time for work authorisations (see self-employment entry).Checked on
Years to citizenship
10 yearsChecked onsource

For qualified non-EU/EFTA workers with a Swiss employer willing to apply.

Check your eligibility

Switzerland admits only qualified non-EU/EFTA workers, after Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates, in the overall economic interest and within yearly quotas. For 2026 the quotas are 4,500 B permits and 4,000 L permits, plus a separate UK quota of 3,500.

Updated

Swiss work permit in figures

SwitzerlandSchengenCurrencyCHF

Processing time
Not publishedno data for employees specifically; SEM gives 6–8 weeks as general processing time for work authorisations (see self-employment entry).Checked on
Permit validity
1 yearChecked onsource
Years to citizenship
10 yearsChecked onsource
Sources behind each figure

How it works

Three filters before a quota place

Qualification, priority of local candidates and the economic interest come before the quota count.

L or B permit

The L permit covers stays up to 1 year, extendable to 2 (Art. 32 AIG). The B permit covers stays over a year and is renewable (Art. 33 AIG).

The employer must show that no suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidate was found (Art. 21 AIG).

From B to C

A C permit follows 10 years, the last 5 on a B permit, or 5 years with good command of the local national language. Some nationals have a treaty-based 5-year route.

Who this is not for

  • Unqualified workers
  • EU/EFTA nationals, who use free movement
  • Anyone looking for an EU Blue Card: Switzerland does not issue it

How we handle it

We check your qualification and the employer’s search for local candidates, prepare your documents and the list for the cantonal application.

What you getSchengen

What the permit gives

Requirements

Who qualifies

Three conditions from the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act.

Legal basis:Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz (AIG, SR 142.20) – Art. 19, 20, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 43, 44Bürgerrechtsgesetz (BüG, SR 141.0) – Art. 9

Worker and job

  • Qualified worker
  • No suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidate
  • Overall economic interest
  • Place within the annual quota
Reasons for refusal

Quotas 2026

  • 4,500 B permits
  • 4,000 L permits
  • UK: 2,100 B + 1,400 L

UK nationals

A separate UK quota of 3,500 applies in 2026.

Who this is not for

  • Roles a local candidate could fill

Where files usually break

Weak evidence of the search for local candidates.

Cost

Cost

Our fee from the package; cantonal fees are not in our reference.

Who appliesOur fee fromGovernment feeTotal
Single applicant€1,300Not publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.
Couple€1,300Not publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.
Couple with two children€1,300Not publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.
Who appliesOur fee fromGovernment feeTotal
Single applicantNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.
CoupleNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.
Couple with two childrenNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedCantonal fees are not published in our reference.

Renewal follows the permit:1 yearChecked on

Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.

Fees are charged in CHF by the canton.

No investment is required.Conditions

Swiss employer interested?

Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case. We usually reply within one business day.

From €1,30010–30 working days

Check your eligibility

Process

From offer to permit

Four steps.

  1. 01We

    Qualification check

    We check qualifications and the local-candidate search.

    Eligibility note

  2. 02You

    Cantonal application

    The employer files with the canton using our list.

    Filed application

  3. 03Authority

    Federal approval

    The State Secretariat for Migration approves and allocates a quota place.

    Approval

  4. 04We

    Visa and permit

    We prepare the visa application; the permit is issued after entry.

    L or B permit

    What you receive

    • Eligibility note
    • Visa application
    • Permit
Our part
10–30 working days
AuthorityCantonal labour and migration office; State Secretariat for Migration
Not publishedno data for employees specifically; SEM gives 6–8 weeks as general processing time for work authorisations (see self-employment entry).Checked on

After arrival

  • Register with the commune.

Check your eligibilityDocuments

Refusals

Why Swiss work permits are refused

Three grounds.

Checked on

Reason for refusalWhat closes itLegal basis
Local candidate availableWe check the employer’s search evidence.Not published
Qualification below the required levelWe check diplomas and experience first.Not published
Quota exhaustedWe check timing in the calendar year.Not published

After the permit

  • C permit after 10 years, or 5 with the local language.10 yearsChecked on

Long term

From B permit to Swiss citizenship

Citizenship needs 10 years and a C permit.

  1. Permit validity1 yearChecked onsource
  2. Years to permanent residence10 yearsChecked onsource
  3. Years to citizenship10 yearsChecked onsource
  • C permit after 10 years (last 5 on B) or 5 with the local language
  • Naturalisation after 10 years with a C permit
AIG and BüG:Bürgerrechtsgesetz (BüG, SR 141.0) – Art. 9

Changes

Dated changes in Switzerland

Updated

Work permit for non-EU/EFTA nationals (L / B permit, quota)Open

DateWhat changedApplies toSource
ReformThird-country quotas for 2026 unchanged: 4,500 B and 4,000 L permits; UK quota 3,500.Whole countrySwiss Confederation (Fedlex)
ReformFederal inheritance and gift tax initiative (50% above CHF 50m) rejected by 78.3% of voters.Whole countryEidgenössisches Finanzdepartement (EFD)
ReformKPMG: average combined corporate tax rate 14.4% in 2025 (14.6% in 2024); several cantons raised rates for large groups in connection with the OECD minimum tax.Whole countryKPMG Switzerland
ReformVAT standard rate raised from 7.7% to 8.1% (reduced 2.6%, accommodation 3.8%) to finance old-age insurance (AHV).Whole countrySwiss Confederation (Fedlex)

Check your eligibilityHow often we check changes

Documents

Documents

Four documents.

Checked on

DocumentWho issues itApostilleTranslationWho prepares
Worker
Valid passportCountry of citizenshipNoNoYou provide
Diplomas and referencesUniversities and employersNoYesYou provide
Employment contractSwiss employerNoNoYou provide
Visa applicationSwiss representation formsNoNoWe prepare

Send us your CV and the offer.Get a quote

Request

Check your Swiss offer

Qualification and role are enough for a first answer.

Privacy Policy

We use your details only to answer this request.

We usually reply within one business day.

Legal disclaimer

The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.

Legal disclaimer

Questions

Switzerland work permit: short answers

2026 figures.

Rules

How many Swiss work permits are available for non-EU nationals in 2026?

4,500 B permits and 4,000 L permits, plus a separate UK quota of 3,500.

Does Switzerland issue the EU Blue Card?

No.

When do I get a C permit?

After 10 years with the last 5 on a B permit, or after 5 with good command of the local language.

Sources

Where the figures come from

Swiss federal law and SEM pages behind this page.

4Sources
SourcePublisherTypeChecked on
Laws and regulations
Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz (AIG, SR 142.20) – Art. 19, 20, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 43, 44Swiss Confederation (Fedlex)Laws and regulationsChecked on
Bürgerrechtsgesetz (BüG, SR 141.0) – Art. 9Swiss Confederation (Fedlex)Laws and regulationsChecked on
Verordnung über Zulassung, Aufenthalt und Erwerbstätigkeit (VZAE, SR 142.201) – Art. 25, 32, Anhänge 1–2 (Höchstzahlen 2026)Swiss Confederation (Fedlex)Laws and regulationsChecked on
Government sites
Bundesrat legt unveränderte Drittstaatenkontingente für 2026 fest (19 Nov 2025)Swiss Federal CouncilGovernment sitesChecked on
Editorial policy

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Switzerland work permit for non-EU nationals: 2026 quotas, L and B permits | Clearfile