Switzerland: Streamlined Processes Forthcoming for Workers in Skill Shortage Occupations
March 18, 2022
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At a Glance
The Swiss Federal Council will implement the following measures to streamline third country nationals’ residence and work permit processes:
- Employers seeking to hire third country nationals in industries with a skills shortage will no longer need to conduct a labor market test;
- Third country nationals in skills shortage occupations be eligible for a residence permit even without academic education; and
- Residence permit holders will be able to switch from employment to self-employment status without obtaining a new permit.
These measures are expected to be implemented by the end of the year.
The situation
The Swiss Federal Council is planning to implement measures to streamline third country nationals’ residence and work permit processes. These measures are expected to be implemented by the end of the year.
A closer look
| Change | Impact |
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Improvements for those in skill shortage occupations.
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| Switching to self-employment. Residence permit holders will be able to switch from employment to self-employment status. |
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Background
The government will be adopting these changes to encourage skilled foreign workers to enter the labour market, following the Federal Council’s report on changes in migration policy that will better meet Switzerland’s needs.
Looking ahead
All three measures are expected to be implemented by the end of 2022. There will be a revision of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration by the end of December 2023 that will include the publication of these changes. We will report on related developments.
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].
