https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Most foreign nationals coming to work and live in Switzerland are familiar with how the work permit system works in the country. But there are also some nuances you may not be aware of. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260915/five-surprising-swiss-work-permit-rules-foreigners-may-not-know Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:09:03 +0200 five-surprising-swiss-work-permit-rules-foreigners-may-not-know If you are planning to follow your significant other to Switzerland, there are some important things you should know about the move. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240207/trailing-spouses-what-are-your-rights-if-you-move-to-switzerland-with-your-partner Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:08:53 +0100 trailing-spouses-what-are-your-rights-if-you-move-to-switzerland-with-your-partner Switzerland has several different types of work permits. Which one you are eligible to obtain depends on various factors. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231108/who-determines-what-kind-of-swiss-work-permit-you-receive Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:59:56 +0100 who-determines-what-kind-of-swiss-work-permit-you-receive Most countries in Europe have set up salary thresholds— the minimum annual or monthly wage that a foreign worker must earn to be eligible for a permit. What is the situation in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260709/do-high-and-low-earners-have-equal-chances-of-getting-a-swiss-work-permit Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:14:47 +0200 do-high-and-low-earners-have-equal-chances-of-getting-a-swiss-work-permit A department head in Switzerland's Office for Migration, Integration, and Citizenship in Basel-Country has been accused of illegally denying hundreds of EU citizens the right to reside in Switzerland, in many because they had previously committed minor criminal offences. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260623/basel-immigration-officer-accused-of-wrongly-refusing-hundreds-of-permits Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:19:35 +0200 basel-immigration-officer-accused-of-wrongly-refusing-hundreds-of-permits For certain foreigners, obtaining a Swiss B permit is a complicated task, and many are resorting to illegal means of obtaining one. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260622/swiss-authorities-sound-alarm-over-increased-number-of-fake-work-permits Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:02:45 +0200 swiss-authorities-sound-alarm-over-increased-number-of-fake-work-permits Government figures reveal that wages of some foreign residents who hold permit B are quite a bit higher than those with C permits – and even exceed the income of Swiss citizens. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251128/why-do-b-permit-holders-in-switzerland-earn-more-than-permanent-residents Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:52:25 +0100 why-do-b-permit-holders-in-switzerland-earn-more-than-permanent-residents There are a number of ads on the internet from law firms offering their assistance in obtaining a work permit, or even citizenship, in Switzerland. Do you really need a legal specialist to help you do that? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231025/do-you-need-a-lawyer-to-help-get-a-swiss-work-permit-or-citizenship Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:37:59 +0200 do-you-need-a-lawyer-to-help-get-a-swiss-work-permit-or-citizenship People who come from third countries face more restrictions in Switzerland than their European counterparts do – including with work permits. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260421/can-a-non-eu-national-secure-a-long-term-work-permit-in-switzerland Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:49:13 +0200 can-a-non-eu-national-secure-a-long-term-work-permit-in-switzerland Fees for Swiss work permits are set by both federal and cantonal governments, but the exact amount is determined primarly by the cantonal migration authorities. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260122/how-much-do-switzerlands-work-permits-cost-in-2026 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:52:00 +0100 how-much-do-switzerlands-work-permits-cost-in-2026 Switzerland has rules for holders of long-term or permanent permits —and for a good reason: language proficiency proves you can live and work in the country with a (relative) ease. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230705/reader-question-do-i-need-to-know-a-swiss-language-to-get-the-c-permit Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:55:32 +0200 reader-question-do-i-need-to-know-a-swiss-language-to-get-the-c-permit As part of the landmark trade agreement announced on January 27th, the EU and India adopted a ‘mobility framework’ that aims to make it easier for Indian students, researchers and young professionals to move to the EU. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260207/what-the-mobility-deal-between-the-eu-and-india-will-mean-for-skilled-workers Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:19:01 +0100 what-the-mobility-deal-between-the-eu-and-india-will-mean-for-skilled-workers Unlike citizens of the EU and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) who have an unlimited access to Switzerland’s labour market, people from so-called third countries are subject to special quotas, the number of which are determined by the government each year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251126/revealed-swiss-government-sets-2026-permit-quotas-for-non-eu-nationals Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:16:17 +0100 revealed-swiss-government-sets-2026-permit-quotas-for-non-eu-nationals Even though thousands of post-Brexit permits are made available each year for British nationals to work in Switzerland, very few are snapped up. Do Brits just not want to work in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250211/why-are-so-few-brits-taking-up-work-permits-in-switzerland Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:03:29 +0100 why-are-so-few-brits-taking-up-work-permits-in-switzerland The launch of the ‘EU Talent Pool’ has moved a step closer. It will be the first digital platform that will match vacancies in shortage occupations in EU countries with non-EU jobseekers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251122/explained-what-the-approval-of-the-eu-talent-pool-means-in-practice Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:00:02 +0100 explained-what-the-approval-of-the-eu-talent-pool-means-in-practice When it comes to Swiss work permits, some of them offer more benefits than others in case of job loss. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251120/do-i-risk-losing-my-swiss-c-permit-if-i-become-unemployed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:48:13 +0100 do-i-risk-losing-my-swiss-c-permit-if-i-become-unemployed The general requirement for all foreign nationals working in Switzerland is to have a certain level of proficiency in a national language to qualify for their residency permit. The Local asked Swiss officials whether this rule is applied equally to all. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251111/are-all-foreigners-in-switzerland-bound-by-same-language-requirements-for-residency Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:42:27 +0100 are-all-foreigners-in-switzerland-bound-by-same-language-requirements-for-residency Swiss work permits are canton specific, but does this mean you can never change your place of residence? https://www.thelocal.ch/20221107/reader-question-does-my-work-permit-let-me-move-from-one-swiss-canton-to-another Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:13:12 +0100 reader-question-does-my-work-permit-let-me-move-from-one-swiss-canton-to-another After three years of cooking for guests at the luxury resort on the Bürgenstock, top Thai chefs, twin sisters Vilai and Virat Kanjan, have had to leave Switzerland after failing to master German. They now work in... Germany. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251107/two-top-foreign-chefs-forced-to-leave-switzerland-after-failing-language-test Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:49:02 +0100 two-top-foreign-chefs-forced-to-leave-switzerland-after-failing-language-test If you are a foreign national, your ability to work in Switzerland is often tied to your permit. But would you be allowed to remain in the country if you become unemployed? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230127/what-happens-to-your-swiss-work-permit-if-you-lose-your-job Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:45:32 +0100 what-happens-to-your-swiss-work-permit-if-you-lose-your-job