In Switzerland, an authorization to reside in the country or “autorisation de séjour” is mandatory (art. 11 LEtr).
Despite the fact that Switzerland is not a member of the EU, the same conditions apply to EU citizens wishing to live and work on Swiss territory. Switzerland has signed the freedom of movement agreement as part of the bilateral accord with the EU, allowing EU/EFTA citizens to enter, reside and work in the country.
For non-EU citizens, yearly quotas apply for B and L permits. It is the employer who requests a work permit for the non-EU worker and who must demonstrate that no Swiss or European worker matched the criteria for the position. Only skilled migrants can be hired from the non-EU job market.
Obtaining a residency of work permit in Switzerland relies on different factors: whether the applicant is a EU/EFTA citizen or not, the obtention of a work contract, the current quotas in force and the skills held by the applicant.
The Swiss permanent residency permit, or C permit, is delivered after 10 years of residency or in some cases after 5 years if the level of integration is evaluated as successful (language requirements, economic stability, respect of Swiss values) (art. 34 LEtr).
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