Swiss Immigration Quotas for 2026: What Employers and Workers Need to Know

Navigating the Swiss immigration system can be complex, especially for non-EU/EFTA nationals seeking to live and work in Switzerland. One of the key components of this process is the country's quota system, which governs the number of work permits available each year. For those unfamiliar, understanding the quota system is crucial, as it directly impacts access to the Swiss labour market.

For individuals planning to reside in Switzerland for more than four months, obtaining a permit is necessary, with the exception of EU/EFTA passport holders who have a local employment contract. Within the quota system, two main types of permits are available: L permits and B permits. Each type has its own requirements and limitations, making it essential to understand the distinctions when applying for a work permit in Switzerland.

By the end of September 2025, the cantons had used up around 52% of the quotas for workers from third countries (L and B permits) and 38% of those reserved for service providers from the EU or EFTA (L and B permits).

Quotas for Non-EU Nationals

For the 2026 calendar year, the Swiss Federal Council has decided to maintain the same quota allocation as in 2025, with 4,000 L permits and 4,500 B permits available for non-EU nationals. These quotas are distributed across the Cantons and the federal level.

As of the latest report from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), published in September 2025 2032 L quotas and 1990 B quotas remain available. This means that roughly half of the quotas were still available. Additionally, 1221 L quotas and 957 B quotas from previous years remain unclaimed, as these quotas do not expire.

Quotas for EU/EFTA Nationals on Assignment

For EU/EFTA nationals on assignment in Switzerland, the quotas for 2026 will remain unchanged from the previous year. A total of 3,000 L permits and 500 B permits will be allocated.

According to the latest statistics, similar to the non-EU quotas, the EU/EFTA quotas are unlikely to be exhausted by the year’s end.

As of September 2025, there were still 1787 L quotas and 353 B quotas available, in addition to 1424 L quotas and 309 B quotas from previous years that remain valid. These numbers are very similar to the ones from last year.

Quotas for UK Nationals

For this year, the allocation of quotas for UK nationals remained at 1,400 L permits and 2,100 B permits, released quarterly. As of the end of September 2025, the Cantons still had 1222 L quotas and 1673 B quotas available for UK nationals. This means that only around 17% of the quotas were used.

In the future, these quotas will likely be integrated into the general non-EU national quotas.

Need to Know More?

The decision to maintain the same immigration limits for EU and non-EU nationals as in previous years underscores Switzerland’s commitment to ensuring a sufficient supply of skilled professionals for its labor market, enabling companies to meet the high demands of the Swiss economy.

Future updates on available quotas and other immigration-related matters will be shared in upcoming posts. For further clarifications around this process, please contact Senior Immigration Manager Ana Bessa Santos at [email protected]. 

This blog was published on 20 November 2025, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.