Swiss residence permit
EU citizens are entitled to a residence permit in Switzerland if they can present a Swiss employment contract. But how does the B residence permit work? We will be happy to help you understand the requirements and procedures. If you want to emigrate to Switzerland, you should find out about the different types of permit at an early stage and familiarise yourself with the legal basis, such as the obligation to register and the duration of your stay.
Residence permit - Emigration Switzerland
In Switzerland, residence permits are divided into different categories, e.g. the B permit. As a citizen of an EU country, you are entitled to a B residence permit if you have an employment contract in Switzerland. Contact us so that we can discuss your individual situation before you emigrate to Switzerland.
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The residence permit - Emigration Switzerland
Residence permits in Switzerland are divided into different categories. As a citizen of an EU or EFTA state (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland), you are entitled to a residence permit, provided that you have a Swiss employment contract.
In most cases, your employer will take care of the administration or will inform you of this when you sign your employment contract.
In the Switzerland A distinction is made between the following types of residence permit:
- B permitThis allows emigrants to stay in Switzerland for up to five years and is issued if they can present an employment contract that is valid for one year or longer. With the B permit, there are no restrictions regarding profession, sector or place of residence.
- C permitThis allows emigrants to stay in Switzerland indefinitely. No further conditions are attached to the granting of this permit, although an uninterrupted stay in Switzerland of five years is required (the B permit is usually followed by the C permit).
- L-authorisationThe "short-term residence permit" is valid for up to one year. This is aimed at people who have a specific purpose of residence. This applies, for example, to trainees. If the employment contract is extended, the L permit can be converted into a B permit.
- G-authorisationThe "cross-border commuter permit" is for people who live in a country close to the border and have a valid employment contract in Switzerland. A distinction is made between "cross-border commuters" and "cross-border commuters with a weekly stay". The persons concerned must return to their place of residence abroad at least once a week.
- TourismYou can stay in Switzerland as a tourist for up to three months. No authorisation is required for this.
Job search and application process
The dream of Emigrating to Switzerland Many people cherish this dream and many of them have already fulfilled it: In the 1st quarter of 2023, 1.75 million people with foreign nationality were working in Switzerland. Four out of five of these workers (78%) come from an EU/EFTA member state or the United Kingdom.
And now you too are about to move and are not far away from starting your life as a German in Switzerland. As you have seen on this page, the key to your successful emigration lies in a Swiss employment contract.
To get such an employment contract, you will of course have to go through an application process. To make your move to Switzerland as stress-free as possible, we have put together some tips for job interviews in Switzerland below.
Your advantage: Skilled labour is also rare in Switzerland and good people are in demand. Nevertheless, it is worth bearing a few things in mind when you are in contact with your potential future employer for the first time, for example:
Punctuality
As in Germany, punctuality is extremely important in Switzerland. So make sure you arrive on time or, even better, a few minutes early for your interview.Correct form of address
In German, we tend to quickly switch to the informal "Du". In Switzerland, however, it is customary to stick to the "Sie" until someone invites you to "Duzis" 😉 So use the formal form of address until you are offered the "Du".Preparation
Find out about the company and the position in detail in advance and think about arguments in favour of using you and your skills in the company. It is not appreciated in Switzerland if you have not prepared adequately for an interview.
Arrogance
In Switzerland, Germans are sometimes considered to be a little too direct or arrogant. Therefore, try to adopt a respectful and modest attitude. The Swiss are known to be reserved - at least at the beginning 😉👉 Get in touch for a free consultation: Contact
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Counselling team
Our advisory team and office staff specialise in emigrants from Germany and Austria, and we help people emigrate to Switzerland every day. If you would also like to emigrate to Switzerland, please get in touch using the contact form and get to know our team in Zurich - we look forward to hearing from you! 🤗
Do you have any questions?
You want to emigrate to Switzerland? We are here for you. Our consultations are free of charge. You can reach us via the contact form or drop by for a coffee in Zurich.
