Before you write to us
The questions employers ask us most
Quotas, priority of the domestic workforce, choice of permit, family reunification: here is how we answer, including when the answer is no.
The conditions
The admission requirements
Our candidate is an EU or EFTA national, does this concern us?
No. Nationals of EU and EFTA states benefit from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons: no quota, no priority of the domestic workforce, no demonstration of an economic interest. The procedure described on this site does not apply to them.
Many employers are unaware of this and start unnecessary proceedings. If there is any doubt about the candidate's nationality or status, ask that question before any other: the answer changes the entire timeline.
Are there quotas, and have they been used up?
Yes. For 2026, the Federal Council has set a federal cap of 8,500 permits for qualified workers who are third-country nationals, comprising 4,500 residence permits (B permits) and 4,000 short-term permits (L permits), for the whole of Switzerland.
At the end of September 2025, around 52% of these quotas had been used. Most of the time, the quota is therefore not what blocks an application: the admission requirements and the quality of the file are.
What does the priority given to workers in Switzerland and the EU/EFTA mean?
Art. 21 para. 1 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA) lays down a cumulative condition: a foreign national may be admitted only if it is demonstrated that no worker in Switzerland and no national of a state party to a free movement agreement matching the required profile could be found.
An exemption exists for holders of a degree from a Swiss university, see the next question.
How does this relate to the job registration requirement?
It is a separate obligation. In occupational categories where the unemployment rate reaches at least 5%, the employer must register the vacancy with the public employment service before publishing it anywhere else, for a restricted publication period of five working days, and then invite the matching candidates.
This step complements the priority of the domestic workforce under Art. 21 FNIA, it does not replace it.
What salary should you plan for?
Art. 22 para. 1 FNIA requires salary and working conditions customary for the location, profession and sector. We publish no reference figure on this site: the customary salary is established case by case, depending on the canton, the sector and the specific position.
To gauge what is customary, we rely on the SECO national salary calculator, the authorities' reference tool, which indicates customary salaries by sector, profession and region.
Which profiles qualify?
Art. 23 para. 1 FNIA reserves permits for managers, specialists and other qualified workers. For a residence permit, the candidate's professional qualifications, ability to adapt, language skills and age must suggest lasting integration.
Exemptions exist for investors and entrepreneurs creating jobs, recognised figures in science, culture or sport, and managers transferred within an international group.
Our candidate holds a degree from a Swiss higher education institution, what does that change?
Art. 21 para. 3 FNIA provides an exemption from the priority of the domestic workforce: it releases the employer from demonstrating its searches on the Swiss and European market. It does not remove the underlying condition: the activity must be of overriding scientific or economic interest.
Nothing is automatic, however: the holder of a degree from a Swiss university may obtain from the cantonal population office a six-month residence document after completing their studies in order to look for a job. That document is granted on application, it is not acquired as of right.
8,500
permits for 2026
Federal cap, all types combined.
The permits
Choosing the residence document
L permit or B permit, how do you choose?
The choice depends above all on the duration of the position. You will find the full comparison below, under this question.
Can the family come?
The foreign spouse and unmarried children under 18 may obtain a permit, subject to the conditions laid down by law: living in the same household, suitable accommodation, independence from social assistance and the ability to communicate in the national language spoken at the place of residence.
We deliberately say "may obtain" rather than "are entitled to": for L and B permits, family reunification remains subject to these conditions, it is not automatic.
How long does it take?
It depends on the canton and the complexity of the file. The federal approval stage, where it is required, adds another step. We publish no figure on this subject, even as an indication: the differences from one canton to another are too great for a single timescale to be meaningful.
What happens if the application is refused?
We analyse the grounds relied on by the authority and assess whether a new application is conceivable, where the circumstances of the file have changed. If an appeal before the judicial authorities is being considered, we refer you to a law firm: that stage falls outside our mandate.
What about cross-border workers?
The cross-border commuter regime, Art. 25 FNIA, is separate: it requires a permanent right of residence in a neighbouring state, at least six months' residence in the neighbouring border zone and an activity carried out within the Swiss border zone. The conditions on maximum numbers, personal qualifications and accommodation, Articles 20, 23 and 24 FNIA, do not apply under this regime.
| Criterion | L permit, short term | B permit, residence |
|---|---|---|
| Intended length of stay Art. 32 and 33 FNIA | One year at most, for a specific purpose | More than one year, for a specific purpose |
| Extension Art. 32 para. 3 and 33 para. 3 FNIA | Up to two years in total | Renewable in the absence of grounds for revocation; integration is taken into account |
| Change of job Art. 32 para. 3 FNIA | Granted only for good cause | Not subject to this specific restriction |
| Family reunification Art. 44 and 45 FNIA | The spouse and unmarried children under 18 may obtain a short-term permit, subject to the conditions laid down by law | The spouse and unmarried children under 18 may obtain a residence permit, subject to the conditions laid down by law |
L
Short term
- Duration
- One year at most, for a specific purpose
- Change of job
- Good cause only
- Family reunification
- Possibility (Art. 45 FNIA)
B
Residence
- Duration
- More than one year, for a specific purpose
- Change of job
- Framed by the grounds for revocation
- Family reunification
- Possibility (Art. 44 FNIA)
C
Settlement
- Duration
- Unlimited
- Change of job
- Without conditions
- Family reunification
- Right (Art. 43 FNIA)
G
Cross-border
- Regime
- Permanent right of residence in a neighbouring state (Art. 25 FNIA)
- Residence required
- At least six months in the neighbouring border zone
- Activity
- Carried out within the Swiss border zone
The mandate
What we do and what we do not do
Can you guarantee the permit?
No. The decision to grant a permit rests exclusively with the cantonal and, where applicable, federal authorities. We prepare the file and make its case, we maximise the chances of it being understood and accepted, but we never guarantee its outcome. Any statement to the contrary would be misleading.
Do you do recruitment?
No. You choose the person, we make the admission procedure secure. Searching for and placing candidates falls under the Federal Act on Employment Services and the Hiring of Services, which requires a licence we do not hold and do not claim.
Are you a law firm?
No. We advise and represent your company in the administrative procedure. For a contentious appeal before a judicial authority, a law firm remains necessary and we refer you to one where needed.
The first step
A question that is not covered here?
Write to us, or launch a feasibility assessment of your specific situation straight away.
The decision to grant a permit rests with the cantonal and federal authorities. We prepare the file and make its case, we do not guarantee its outcome.