Swiss work permits explained for EU, UK and non-EU citizens

Your nationality decides the route

Switzerland runs two systems. EU and EFTA citizens fall under the free movement agreement. Everyone else, which since 2021 includes UK citizens, is admitted under a stricter system with quotas.

EU and EFTA citizens

You don’t need your employer to prove anything to the authorities. With a job contract you get a permit from the canton you live in:

• L permit (short-term) for a contract of three to twelve months.
• B permit (residence) for a contract of a year or longer, or an open-ended one.
• G permit (cross-border commuter) if you keep living in a neighbouring country and go home regularly.

UK citizens

UK citizens who started work in Switzerland after 31 December 2020 are treated as non-EU nationals. Your Swiss employer applies for the permit with the cantonal authorities before you start.

The Federal Council keeps a separate quota for UK workers. For 2026 it is 3,500 permits: 2,100 B permits and 1,400 L permits.

Everyone else (non-EU and non-EFTA)

The State Secretariat for Migration admits non-EU workers only under these conditions:

• The job is for a manager, specialist or other qualified worker. In practice that mostly means a university degree plus several years of professional experience.
• The employer could not find a suitable person in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA. Swiss citizens, C and B permit holders and EU/EFTA workers come first.
• Pay and working conditions match local standards for the region and sector.
• The employer files the application.

The 2026 quotas

For 2026 the Federal Council set a maximum of 8,500 permits for qualified workers from non-EU countries: 4,500 B permits and 4,000 L permits. The UK quota of 3,500 comes on top. By the end of September 2025, cantons had used around 52 per cent of the non-EU quota.

What the permit letters mean

• L: short-term residence, tied to a contract of under a year.
• B: residence permit for longer stays.
• G: cross-border commuter permit.
• C: settlement permit (permanent residence), which comes after years of living in Switzerland.

What this means for your job search

If you are from outside the EU, target roles where you are clearly a specialist, and larger employers that are used to the permit process. If you are an EU or EFTA citizen, you can apply like a local. Either way, putting your nationality and permit status on your CV saves employers a question.

This page is a summary, not legal advice. The rules are set federally and applied by the cantons, so check with the migration office of the canton where you would work.