an application for a Swiss residence permit must be filed by everyone who wants to stay longer than 90 days in the country, regardless of the nationality. The office in charge is the State Secretary of Migration (SEM), however applications are done at the cantonal level. Switzerland provides several forms of residence permits:

• L-permit (Short-term residence permit; 3 – 12 months), usually granted to non-EU/EEA citizens or for simple jobs. It can be extended up to 2 years.
• B-permit (Residence permit; 5 years, initial permit in some cases 1 year).
• C-permit (permanent residence, granted after 10 years, but already after 5 years for citizens of EU, EEA, US and Canada; relatives of Swiss citizens can apply earlier, too): allows to purchase residential real estates, gives access to social welfare system, but there are some restrictions on leaving and re-entering the country.
• G-permit – for cross border EU commuters (from any other EU country).
• 120 Day Permit – within a 12-month period for EU citizens.

Based on the agreement of free movement between Switzerland and the EU, EU citizens can apply for the B permit if they are employed in a company, have a residence and a health insurance. The B-permit is issued and renewed if there is an employment in place, plus residency and health insurance. If an employee has a B permit, the employer must declare and pay the withholding tax for him, provided that the income does not exceed a certain threshold. All those who have a C-permit and those whose income is above the threshold for a B- permit declare their taxes themselves.

For self-employed or employed in their own company, there is additional bureaucracy as the authorities try to avoid misuse. Citizens of EU/ EEA also have the option to move to Switzerland without a gainful occupation, if they can prove that they have sufficient means from income and wealth to cover their costs of living.

Switzerland operates a quota system for work permits issued to non-EU/EFTA nationals: For 2025, the quota is 8500 permits (4500 long term residence B permits and 4000 short term residence L permits). These quotas are allocated to the cantons and are released on a quarterly basis. Third country nationals with a work permit in Switzerland must reside in the same canton. This may be a reason why the quota was not used up in the previous years.

UK citizens are considered Third country nationals, but Switzerland has established separate quotas for UK workers as a transitional measure. For 2025, the quota for UK nationals includes 2,100 B Permits and 1,400 L Permits.

Decisions are made by the cantonal migration authorities. Priority is given to senior executives and technical specialists with university qualification and several years of experience, and in some cases family reunification. Because of the quarterly quota system, timing is relevant, and we recommend that all papers are ready and submitted at the beginning of a new period. After the employer submits a request, a recommendation of the cantonal authorities is needed, but there is a final decision by the federal authorities.

Generally, according to Art. 37 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, Third Country Nationals can change the Canton, but this must be approved. According to Art. 38, for Third Country Nationals with L Permit, a change of job needs approval, persons with B or C permit can work everywhere in Switzerland.