Work Permit Quotas for 2020 Unchanged from 2019
December 2, 2019
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At a Glance
- Swiss authorities have published the work permit quota numbers for foreign workers for 2020, with identical quota allocations as for 2019.
- As before, quotas do not apply to applications for L permits for stays under four months, status changes and renewals.
- Annual quotas are typically exhausted by the end of each year. Quarterly quotas are typically exhausted six to seven weeks after release. Employers are therefore advised to submit applications early to avoid rejections due to the quotas being filled.
The situation
Swiss authorities have published the work permit quota figures for foreign workers in 2020, with identical quota allocations as for 2019.
A closer look
The following quota numbers will become available as of January 1, 2020:
| Category | Short-term L permit - up to 24 months | Long-term B permit – over 24 months | Quota use |
Non-EU/European Economic Area (EEA) nationals(issued annually) |
4,000 |
4,500 |
The quota is typically exhausted by the end of each year. |
EU/EEA nationals (including Bulgarian / Romanian nationals)(issued quarterly) |
3,000 |
500 |
The quota is typically exhausted within six to seven weeks of each release. |
Croatian nationals(issued annually) |
953 |
500 |
The quota is typically exhausted within a few days. |
UK nationals(issued annually in case of a no-deal Brexit) |
1,400 |
2,100 |
Quota not yet applicable. |
As before, quotas do not apply to applications for L permits for stays under four months, status changes and renewals.
Impact
Employers are advised to submit work permit applications early to avoid rejections due to the quotas being filled.
Background
Switzerland restricts the number of work permits that can be issued to foreign workers, both for EU/EEA and other nationals. Quota spots are either released all at once in January; or divided and released in quarterly batches on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. Once all quota spots are filled, no further permits can be granted until the next batch of quota numbers is released.
Looking ahead
The quota figures for 2020 continue to favor long-term over short-term permits, a shift that started in 2019. Fragomen expects Switzerland to continue adjusting its immigration system to a more protectionist approach, signaled here by a preference for more stable employment relations for foreign workers; and recently exemplified by stricter language requirements.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
