About Switzerland
Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in Switzerland—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.
Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area. If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live and/or work in Switzerland, several options are available.
- Business Visits: As a business visitor and depending on your citizenship, you'll generally enter Switzerland without a visa, or need to secure an Entry (Business) Visa from a Swiss consular post before your travel. Regardless of your citizenship, business trips should typically not exceed 14 consecutive days. In addition, the Schengen Area limits stays to 90 days in a 180-day period.
- Work Authorization: Work authorization is required for any activity that exceeds the scope and/or duration of a business visit in Switzerland. The most common types of work authorization used by employers in Switzerland are the L permit, for a work duration of up to one year; and the B permit, for a work duration beyond one year. Permit requirements vary based on the contract location (home or host contract) and citizenship (EU or non-EU).
- Internships/Traineeships: While there is no trainee-specific work authorization category in Switzerland, trainees may qualify for a standard L or B permit (depending on the duration of stay) under a different purpose of stay with eased eligibility requirements.
- Self-employment: There are no work authorization programs dedicated to potential investors or entrepreneurs in Switzerland.
Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.
Fragomen Global Immigration Services, LLC (Zurich Branch) is a limited liability company providing immigration consultancy services in Switzerland.
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