Other residence permits and naturalisation

The G permit, to work in Switzerland and live across the border

A cross-border worker lives in a neighbouring State and works in Switzerland. The regime differs for an EU or EFTA national and for a third-country national: we begin by establishing which one applies.

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For whom

Who applies for the G permit

The employer, for a cross-border employee

The border cantons are the most concerned, notably Geneva, Basel-Stadt, Ticino, Vaud, Jura and Neuchâtel. We check the candidate's residence, nationality and status in the neighbouring State before the hire, then file the application.

The private individual, for themselves

You live in France, Germany, Italy, Austria or Liechtenstein and have a job offer in Switzerland: we check the applicable requirements with you and prepare your file, or that of your change of job.

The requirements of the law

For a third-country national, a border zone to respect

A third-country national must already have a lasting right of residence across the border. Switzerland does not admit a cross-border worker who has moved there only to work.

The admission requirements for a third-country cross-border worker

A foreign national may be admitted as a cross-border worker only if they hold a lasting right of residence in a neighbouring State and have lived in the neighbouring border zone for at least six months, and if they work in the Swiss border zone (Art. 25 para. 1 FNIA). Arts. 20, 23 and 24 FNIA do not apply (Art. 25 para. 2 FNIA): no maximum numbers, no review of personal qualifications, no housing requirement.

The cross-border permit is granted for gainful activity in a border zone (Art. 35 para. 1 FNIA). The holder must return at least once a week to their place of residence abroad (Art. 35 para. 2 FNIA). Its validity is limited but may be extended; after five years of uninterrupted activity, the holder is entitled to the extension if there is no ground for revocation (Art. 35 paras. 3 and 4 FNIA).

Source : FNIA (SR 142.20), Art. 25 and 35, Fedlex

Changing job or canton

A separate application, a right after five years

The G permit follows the job. For a third-country cross-border worker, a new employer or a new canton of work is not settled by a simple notification.

EU and EFTA nationals

EU and EFTA: no border zone, a return once a week

Our work

What we do for you

Determining the applicable regime: EU or EFTA, or third-country
Checking residence, the permit held in the neighbouring State and the border zone
List of the documents required by the canton of work
Preparing and filing the application for the employer or the individual
Follow-up until the decision and a reminder of the renewal date
Preparing a separate application for a change of employer or canton

Documents

What generally needs to be gathered

Valid passport or identity document
Residence permit of the neighbouring State, for a third-country national
Certificate of residence, showing the length of residence in the border zone
Employment contract or firm offer, stating the place of work in Switzerland
For a change: certificate from the previous employer and the new contract

Fees

One flat fee per person

G permit, cross-border

CHF 800

flat fee per person

The cross-border permit for a person living in the neighbouring border zone and working in Switzerland.

Check of the place of residence and the border zone
Review of the conditions specific to third-country nationals
Preparation and filing of the application
Follow-up until the decision and renewal reminder

A change of employer or canton for a third-country cross-border worker requires a separate application.

See the service

Indicative amounts, excluding VAT (Swiss standard rate of 8.1% since 1 January 2024). They are confirmed in writing before any engagement, on the basis of the actual file. For an employer established abroad, the service is deemed to be supplied abroad within the meaning of art. 8 para. 1 LTVA and the invoice is issued without VAT. For a private individual domiciled abroad, the VAT treatment is specified in the proposal.

All flat fees in this section

Limits of the engagement

The decision rests with the authorities

The first step

Tell us about the cross-border worker's situation

Tell us the place of residence, the nationality and the place of work.

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