➢ The position you must fill is a management position or requires a specialist professional

➢ You must be able to demonstrate that employing a non-EU national is in the economic interests of Switzerland

➢ You must be able to provide your foreign employees with the same salary and working conditions as Swiss nationals

➢ The foreign employee quota established by the Swiss Government has not yet been reached

➢ You must advertise the position with the Regional Employment Office (RAV) and within the EURES system

➢ You are also expected to publish a job ad in professional publications, local newspapers, specialized online platforms, and on social media

➢ Post a job ad on VideoWorkers and select from the candidates who applied or search the database directly

➢ Ensure your prospective employee has a degree from a university or institution of higher education. They must also have several years of professional experience. This is a mandatory requirement when hiring non-EU workers in Switzerland 

➢ After finding a good match, conduct the interview, make a job offer, then sign an employment contract

➢ You must apply for a work permit at the cantonal immigration and employment market authorities. If approved, the application will be forwarded to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) for final approval

➢ Required documents:

• Application form fully completed and signed (available on the website of the relevant canton)
• Explanation as to why the role must be filled 
• Complete job description
• Details about the company 
• Worker’s copy of passport
• Results of the labor market test (including proof of advertising the vacancy through RAV, EURES, and other channels)
• Confirmation from an appointed employment agent and explanation as to why the candidates who applied for the position are not a good fit for the role  
• Worker’s professional resume in tabular form 
• Proof of qualifications (e.g., education diplomas, professional certificates, and references)
• Copies of documents in original language and certified translation in English or one of Switzerland’s official languages 
• Employment contract stating compensation and expense arrangements
• For project work: contract or order confirmation, description of the project, project plan, permission to hire contract staff, staff and project contracts
• For startups: deed of incorporation and 3-year business plan
• Any additional documents required by the competent authorities

➢ Processing fee: Fees vary from canton to canton (e.g., in Canton Zürich, the application fee for a work permit for third-country nationals is CHF 380)

➢ Processing time: Up to 12 weeks

➢ Based on SEM’s approval, the cantonal immigration authority will issue an electronic visa authorization to the Swiss Diplomatic Mission abroad. Then, your future employee needs to apply for a visa

➢ Required documents:

• Fully completed and signed application form for a long-stay visa
• One passport-size picture 
• Valid passport 
• Employment contract 
• Professional resume
• Proof of academic degrees and professional qualifications 
• Police clearance not older than 6 months 
• Authorization from the cantonal authority
• Company documents, if required (e.g., business registration certificate, company code, tax clearance certificates, proof of active business, etc.)

➢ Processing fee: CHF 80

➢ Processing time: 1 week 

➢ Within 14 days of entering Switzerland, your employee will need to register with the competent authorities in their place of residence. Then, they can start working for you