Third Quarter Quotas Exhausted

The third-quarter quotas for L- and B-Permits for European Union nationals on assignment lasting more than four months have been exhausted. Employers who wish to send EU nationals on assignment to Switzerland will need to wait until October 1, 2016, when fourth-quarter quotas become available.

Background

Because some cantons allowed EU nationals to start their assignments prior to the release of the quota numbers for the third quarter of 2016, many L- and B-Permits were claimed prior to the announcement.

Work permit quotas apply to first-time applicants and those converting an L-Permit into a B-Permit only. Applicants renewing their L- or B-Permits are not subject to quotas.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers should plan their foreign employees' assignments in advance to avoid rejections due to quota exhaustion. Employers assigning EU nationals to Switzerland should check with the canton where they will file their work permit application to determine whether it accepts applications before the next quota numbers are released.

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].