Political System: Direct Democracy
Capital City: Bern
Total Area: 41,290 square km's
Population: 7.3m
Currency: Swiss Franc
Introduction
Switzerland has a world-wide reputation for its financial services sector, and within the banking sector, commercial and private banks have the largest influence. The banks are well known for strict secrecy, privacy and personalised service. The country also contains 100 insurance companies with a significant focus on reinsurance."
Located in west central Europe, bordered in the north by France and Germany, in the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, in the south by Italy, and in the west and south-west by France, this landlocked alpine country is roughly half the size of Scotland.
Switzerland has one of the most robust tourist industries in the world, with extensive facilities and centuries-old traditions, a sector that is one of the leading sources of foreign exchange and employment in the economy.
Services Offered for EU/EFTA Nationals
- Work and residence permits for local employees
- Work and residence permits for detached employees
- Work and residence permits for self-employment
- Work and residence permits for cross-border commuters
- Residence permits for Dependants
Services Offered for non EU/EFTA Nationals
- Work and residence permits for employees
- Work and residence permits for detached employees
- Residence permit for Dependants
- Visa application assistance in home country
Please note that unlike member states of the EU the following categories of visa do not exist in Switzerland.
Highly skilled work visas: This category of visa does not exist in Switzerland. The closest to this would be a new hire of a non EU/EFTA national in a highly skilled position. For any new hire employee you have to prove to the authorities that no-one in either the Swiss or the EU/EFTA job market has the skills to provide that kind of work, which is almost impossible to do. The whole process can take up to six months and still end in a refusal.
Self-Employment Visa: This category of visa does not exist in Switzerland. Only EU/EFTA nationals can come to Switzerland in order to be self-employed. They have to register with the authorities and have three months to start their business. The spouse of non EU/EFTA nationals with a residence permit can also create their own company and/or be self-employed but only within defined limitations.
Investor Visas: This category of visa does not exist in Switzerland
Business / Entrepreneurs visas: This category of visa does not exist in Switzerland
Work Permit (Click here for more information)
As a EU/EFTA national, if you are thinking of working in Switzerland but not living there you can apply for a Work Permit that only provides the right to work there. Should you plan on living and working in Switzerland you will require permission to do both. In order for non-EU/EFTA nationals to be able to work and reside in Switzerland they will require a job offer from a Swiss company; however this in itself is not enough as the local Swiss company must convince the authorities that a suitable employee cannot be found locally in Switzerland or from another EU member state.
This is an onerous requirement and in order to comply with the requirements an employer must be willing to undertake a detailed and thorough job search and also to share the details of the search with the authorities.
The Application Process
A number of authorities participate in the process and due to its changing requirements it is not possible to provide accurate timescales for completion. The best case for a straightforward application will be 3-4 weeks but the process can take far longer and there is no guarantee of success.
Residence Permits for Dependants
The duration of the permit is between 1 – 5 years, this will depend on the length of the work contract issued to the working member of the family as well as their nationalities.
Our Service (managed by our Immigration Specialists)
- Supplying a checklist for all documents and information needed, both to the company and the employee
- Confirmation of the office where documents must be submitted together with how the document should be submitted (scanned copy or original)
- Streamlining reception of documents
- Handling legal questions received from the authorities and the clients
- Filing the application
- Supplementary letter to convince the authorities to grant your application
- General advice/instruction during the application process
- Submitting your application details to local authorities for them to process as soon as needed documentation and information received
- Follow up with the authorities
- Assistance with visa application in home country
- Accompanied registration if needed or appointment making for the registration by the authorities
Intra-company Transfer (Click here for more information)
This process is far easier for non EU/EFTA employees. To apply you must have worked within the same Group for a minimum of 12 months.
If the application is successful the permit will be issued for 1 to 2 years depending on the length of the work contract, though it can be renewed obviating the need to apply for a new permit as long as your original is still valid.
The Application Process
The proposed employee must have worked within the Group for at least 12 months prior to this application
The local Swiss company or its representative must contact the labour office covering the area where the non-EU national will work and convince them of the need to transfer this person based on specific experience within the company/ job skills / requirements.
A number of authorities participate in the process and due to its changing requirements it is not possible to provide accurate timescales for completion.
A foreign national employee may not convert from visitor to work permit holder within the country.
Work and residence permit holders must register with the local authorities within eight days of entering Switzerland.
Our Service (managed by our Immigration Specialists)
- Supplying a checklist for all documents and information needed, both to the company and the employee
- Confirmation of the office where documents must be submitted together with how the document should be submitted (scanned copy or original)
- Streamlining reception of documents
- Handling legal questions received from the authorities and the clients
- Filing the application
- Supplementary letter to convince the authorities to grant your application
- General advice/instruction during the application process
- Submitting your application details to local authorities for them to process as soon as needed documentation and information received
- Follow up with the authorities
- Assistance with visa application in home country
- Accompanied registration if needed or appointment making for the registration by the authorities