Questions from employers and individuals

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 third-country admission procedure described in this block does not apply to them; their regime is covered under "Other residence permits and naturalisation".

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.

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.

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.

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.

Art. 22 para. 1 FNIA requires salary and working conditions customary for the location, profession and sector. 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.

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.

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.

Art. 34 para. 2 FNIA allows the authority to grant a settlement permit to a foreign national who has lived in Switzerland for at least ten years under a short-term or residence permit, the last five years without interruption under a residence permit, who has no ground for revocation and who is integrated.

The permit does not come by itself: it must be applied for. Knowledge of the national language of the place of residence must reach level A2 for speaking and A1 for writing (Art. 60 para. 2 OASA).

Yes, in some cases. Art. 34 para. 4 FNIA allows early granting of a settlement permit after five years of uninterrupted residence under a residence permit, to a foreign national who is well integrated, has no ground for revocation and communicates well in the national language of the place of residence. The required level is B1 for speaking and A1 for writing (Art. 62 OASA).

Without an express application, the cantonal authority is not bound to examine this of its own motion. It is a power of the authority, not a right.

Engaged persons who are not Swiss citizens must establish the lawfulness of their stay during the preparatory procedure (Art. 98 para. 4 CC). A temporary residence permit for the purpose of marriage exists for this case, on conditions set by the Federal Supreme Court (BGE 137 I 351): no indication of abuse of rights, and admission requirements clearly met once the marriage has been celebrated.

Yes. The services in the Permits and family strand are open to private individuals as well as employers. The flat fee is confirmed in writing after a first review of the situation.