Switzerland is one of the world’s most powerful economies, with many learning and earning opportunities, making it an attractive destination for work and study. The Swiss government implements tight controls on the number of workers entering the country. The government has reduced the number of work visas issued to people from countries other than the EU and the EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).
Swiss immigration authorities have also made the application procedure more comprehensive with measures, such as increased application scrutiny, higher salary requirements, and stricter extension rules. Only those who meet the requirements or work in a high-demand industry are issued a Swiss work visa.
Switzerland is different from other European countries as one has to obtain a residence permit before applying for any work in Switzerland. Either that or your prospective employer applies for the permit on your behalf.
Requirements Before Applying to Work in Switzerland
Before you consider applying for a Swiss work visa, you must fulfill some conditions, such as having a job offer in Switzerland in any in-demand industries or sectors such as software, being a well-qualified engineer, or working in the medical field.
The process for getting a working visa in Switzerland depends on the applicant’s nationality. The applicant should be a skilled worker, qualified to work in a role that a Swiss or EU citizen cannot fulfill. The rules are different for EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA citizens. As a non-EU/EFTA citizen, one can apply for a visa only after meeting specific pre-requisites.
The immigration office requires the following documentation to process your residency permit for Switzerland. Various documents such as visa application forms, degree certificates, job offer/contract copy, the Curriculum Vitae, and other forms of evidence as requested by the immigration authorities.
It is also imperative to understand the mandatory health insurance requirements of Switzerland. You can visit different health insurance websites and understand how to choose the best health insurance in Switzerland. These websites also offer health insurance comparisons to choose the plan as per your budget and health requirements.
What Happens After Getting a Job Offer In Switzerland?
Once you’ve found a suitable job in Switzerland, your employer applies to the immigration authority at the local Swiss canton to issue your work permit. The application then gets forwarded to the State Secretariat for Migration, which handles residency requests at the federal level for approval. As soon as you find a job, you can apply for a work permit through the Swiss embassy in your home country. Only once your application for the work permit is approved the cantonal migration authority will contact the embassy/consulate of your home country to clear the work visa issue.
The application process for the work permit typically takes eight to ten weeks.
Classification of Work permits in Switzerland
Work permits in Switzerland are classified into several categories. Foreign workers in Switzerland who require a work visa are issued with one of two permits: Permit L – a short-term residence permit that will enable you to stay in Switzerland for up to a year. This permit is tied to the employment contract terms and may get extended for another year in exceptional cases, but only if you continue working for the same employer.
Permit B is an initial or temporary residence permit valid for one year. The permit can get extended for another year if there are no grounds for refusal of re-issue. These permits are quota-based and assigned to the same employer. The significant condition in this type of permit is that you must reside in the canton that issued the permit.
If you have already lived in Switzerland for ten years in a row or more (five years if you are from the U.S. or are a Canadian citizen), you can apply for a Permit C, which bestows permanent residency on the holder.
Work Visas for Students
You do not need a separate work visa if you study in Switzerland. However, you can start working on your student visa only after six months of residing in Switzerland. Furthermore, during term time, you can only work a maximum of 15 hours per week. Those with a Master’s degree or higher can begin working for the Swiss university or institute where they are studying right away.
Before you start working as a student in Switzerland, your employer must obtain a work permit for you, and you must notify your cantonal immigration office of your employment.
Conclusion
The decision to study abroad comes with its set of challenges, the primary one being meeting your financial obligations. Having a part-time job is imperative. In Switzerland, there is a wide range of part-time jobs available for you during your years in university.
You could choose from various jobs based on your skills, previous experience, and preferences. The type of job you will get is also determined by your working knowledge of the commonly spoken languages in Switzerland. You must be able to speak in either French, German, or Italian as you will be interacting with the locals while at work. It’s not all that impossible to pick up a new language, particularly as you will be interacting with your fellow students from Switzerland and the European Union.