Work Permit and Labor Market Test Requirements Remain in Place for Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals

The Swiss Federal Council has extended work permit quotas for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals through 2016. There will be 10,457 long-term work permits – known as B-Permits – available to Bulgarians and Romanians between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015. L-Permits, used for work stays of up to one year, will be capped at 1,126 during this period. These quotas are approximately ten percent greater than they were last year. 

The quotas will be released quarterly and will apply nationwide, unlike Switzerland’s standard quotas, which are partly allocated to individual Swiss cantons. First-time applicants and those converting from an L-Permit to a B-Permit are subject to the quotas. Work permit extensions are not subject to the quotas. Once the quotas are met, no new applications from Bulgarian and Romanian nationals will be accepted. 

In addition to the quota restrictions, employers seeking work permits for Bulgarian and Romanian national new hires are subject to labor market test requirements. Employers must also ensure employment and salary conditions for Bulgarian and Romanian employees meet Swiss labor standards. 

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals must wait for an approved work permit before they can engage in employment in Switzerland. 

What This Means for Employers 

The restrictions may limit the number of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals employers can sponsor for work authorization, although the quotas were not exhausted in prior years and more work permits will be available through 2016. The Swiss government maintains the quotas to protect the domestic labor market. 

How Fragomen Can Assist 

Fragomen can assist clients with preparing and lodging B-Permit and L-Permit applications. 

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 [email protected].

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