Working and living in Switzerland

A residence permit is needed to live and work in Switzerland. Depending on the duration of your employment contract and your country of origin, the type of residence permit will vary. Indeed, since 2002, Switzerland has been applying full and complete freedom of movement (AFMP) for workers from European Union* and EFTA** (European Free Trade Association) member states. These free movement agreements have been implemented gradually over the years and there are periods during which immigration is restricted, for Croatia for example, which is still in a so-called transitional period.

For nationals of countries that have signed the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, except for Croatia, a permit is no longer needed to live and work in Switzerland if the duration of employment does not exceed 3 months. However, it is imperative to be registered on the Swiss Confederation website from the very first day of employment. In excess of 3 months, an application to the residents’ control department is mandatory. If all the required conditions are met, the Population Department (SPOP) will grant the appropriate permit.

* France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania

** Iceland, Norway, the Principality of Liechtenstein

Standard residence permits and the conditions for their issue

C Establishment authorisation

EU/EFTA: After 5 years in Switzerland on a regular and uninterrupted basis for EU-15/EFTA nationals. For citizens of other European Union countries, the C permit is granted after 10 years. The permit duration is unlimited but checks can be carried out within 5 years.

B Residence permit 

EU/EFTA: Employment contract in excess of 24 months or open-ended. Independent with sufficient funds. Must be renewed every 5 years.

Outside the European community: The future employee’s company or self-employed persons who present « a viable operating plan covering several years and which may be limited » must apply to the Employment Department.  It is the Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration – LEI and the Order covering the Entry, Residence and Exercise of paid activity – OASA that defines the issue of the permit. If the employment contract is in excess of 24 months or is open-ended, a B permit is issued but it must be renewed annually.

G Residence permit 

EU/EFTA: For self-employed persons and contracts with Swiss companies. Under the conditions implied by this permit, cross-border commuters must return to their country at least once a week. For contracts in excess of 12 months, the permit is valid for 5 years, otherwise its validity matches the contract duration.

Outside the European community: The permit can be issued on an exceptional basis if the national is resident in neighbouring France and holds a long-term residence permit there.

L Residence permit

EU/EFTA: If the contract does not exceed 3 months, no permit or authorisation is required. However, the employee must be registered on the Swiss Confederation website from the very first day of employment.

Outside the European community: For freelancers or contracts of less than 364 days. It is renewable once.

Ci Book, Residence permit with paid activity

For whom? For spouses or children under the age of 25, civil servants who are members of intergovernmental organisations or foreign representations. This authorisation is valid for the duration of the employment contract or a maximum of 2 years for the independent activity of such civil servants. It can be renewed.

Asylum and residence permits in Switzerland

B Permit refugees: The person has been granted asylum in Switzerland

or

F Permit refugees: The person is temporarily admitted to Switzerland as a refugee.

or

F Permit: All persons temporarily admitted to Switzerland.

Employers must notify the Employment Department before the start and at the end of each paid activity.

N Permit: Permits for asylum seekers.

Or

Book S: Permits for persons requiring protection.

In this configuration, the employer must apply for an authorisation from the Employment Department before being able to hire the potential employee or not.

What are the conditions for opening a bank account?

As in most countries, in Switzerland, having a bank account is necessary to receive salaries and carry out all kinds of transactions, such as paying bills and rent or keeping money in a safe place for example. Proof of identity is required to open a bank account. The banks have a duty to carry out so-called due diligence (CDB 20). When someone wants to open an account, the bank must check the « identity by examining an official identification document featuring a photograph (passport, identity card, driver’s licence or similar document) ». Furthermore, depending on the type of residence or other permit issued, access to the same services in all banks will not be possible.

Banks accessible to all

Few banks allow all types of residence permits to open an account in their establishments. If you have an identity document and regardless of your residence permit, there is nothing to stop you from opening a bank account with PostFinance, as it is required by law to provide a public service.

Banks that accept all types of permits (partial list)

• Credit Suisse
• Banque cantonale argovienne
• Banque cantonale de Schaffhouse

B or C permits

These B and C permits and diplomats are considered sufficiently trustworthy, as a result they can easily open an account in most banks.

Depending on nationality and client profile

A number of banks take into account nationality and profile criteria before allowing to open an account.

• UBS
• Banque cantonale du Zurich
• Banque cantonale de Thurgovie

Non-EU nationals and asylum seekers

Foreign nationals who have a refugee B permit, a refugee F permit or F permit, an N permit or S permit have only very limited access to banks and their services.

Banks that agree to enter into a relationship on a case-by-case basis (partial list)

• Banque Coop
• Credit Suisse
• Postfinance
• Banque cantonale de Bâle
• Banque Migros
• UBS

Loan conditions depending on permits

To obtain consumer loans in Switzerland, you must first and foremost be compliant with the LCC Act by meeting the basic and solvency requirements and be considered reliable according to scoring criteria specific to each bank.

Remember, the person applying for the loan must be of legal age, be in employment and have sufficient funds to be solvent and not have any ongoing defaults or default proceedings. Furthermore, if you have a credit history, it must be clean.

If this were not complicated enough, the residence permit or permit held by a foreign national living or working in Switzerland is taken into account when providing access to loans.

For more information on this subject

Application for credit with a C establishment permit

The right of residence is unlimited and not subject to any specific conditions. In financial terms, people who have a C permit are subject to the same regulations covering personal loans as Swiss nationals who have their main residence in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

The applicant must be of legal age, solvent, have a minimum income of 2,600 net and not have any ongoing defaults or default proceedings.

For more information on this subject

List of establishments that grant loans (partial list):

• Bank now – Crédit Now. Have a professional activity, reside in Switzerland.
• CreditGate24, Lend. Residence in Switzerland. Have a regular salary and/or securities/wealth. Pass the identity and money laundering test.
• Banque Migros. An open-ended employment that is more than 3 months old.
• Good finance. Residence in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• Schweizer Kredit. Residence in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• Cashgate, with an open-ended employment contract.
• Cembra Money Bank
• Eny Finance, have a bank account in Switzerland, not be self-employed and not have resigned.
• Lend Switzerland, have a bank account in Switzerland, have a regular source of income
• BCVS, have full-time employment and an account with the bank with a standing order.
• BCGE, have an account with the bank with a permanent loan repayment standing order. Preferential rate for owners of a main residence in Switzerland.

Credit application with a B residence permit  

In fiscal terms, with a B work permit your taxes will be deducted at source as defined by the canton. You will not be required to fill in tax returns if you do not earn more than 120,000 francs.

You can apply for a loan if your residence permit was issued more than 6 months previously and you have been in paid employment for at least 3 months. Between 6 and 12 months, a statutory loan limit of maximum CHF 15,000 is imposed. Beyond 12 months, the limit is removed.

List of financial establishments that grant loans (partial list):

• Bank now – Crédit Now. Have a professional activity, reside in Switzerland.
• CreditGate24, Lend. At least 2 years in Switzerland. Residence in Switzerland.
• Banque Migros: At least 1 year in Switzerland. Open-ended employment for more than 3 months.
• Good finance. Residence in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• Schweizer Kredit. Residence in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• Cashgate, with an open-ended employment contract.
• Cembra Money Bank
• Eny Finance, have a bank account in Switzerland, not be self-employed and not have resigned.
• Lend Switzerland, have a bank account in Switzerland and a regular source of income.
• BCVS, have full-time employment and an account with the bank with a permanent load repayment standing order.
• BCGE, have an account with the bank with a permanent loan repayment standing order. Preferential rate for owners of a main residence in Switzerland.

To find out more, read our information about credit applications with a B residence permit.

Credit application with a “cross-border commuter” G permit

The conditions for obtaining a personal loan in Switzerland for cross-border commuters depends on the employment contract duration and the place of residence.

The first condition to be met is the minimum duration of your employment contract with a single employer in Switzerland. It varies depending on the canton.

List of financial establishments that grant loans (partial list):

• Bank now – Crédit Now. Have a professional activity, reside in Switzerland.
• Good finance. Have a residence in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• Cembra Money Bank
• Eny Finance, have a bank account in Switzerland, not be self-employed and not have resigned.
• Lend Switzerland, have a bank account in Switzerland and a regular source of income.
• Schweizer Kredit. Have a domicile in Switzerland. Have regular income with a net minimum wage of CHF 3000 per month.
• BCVS, have full-time employment and an account with the bank with a permanent load repayment standing order.
• BCGE, have an account with the bank with a permanent loan repayment standing order. Preferential rate for owners of a main residence in Switzerland.

To find out more, read our information on loans for cross-border commuters.

Application for credit with a short-term L residence permit:

It is possible to apply for a loan but it is imperative to have been in paid employment in Switzerland for at least 1 year and therefore the L permit for the same number of days.

List of financial establishments that grant loans (partial list):

• Bank now – Crédit Now. Have a professional activity, reside in Switzerland.
• Good finance. Have a domicile in Switzerland. Also have regular income with a net minimum wage of at least CHF 3000 per month.
• Eny Finance, have a bank account in Switzerland, not be self-employed and not have resigned.
• Lend Switzerland, have a bank account in Switzerland and a regular source of income.
• BCVS, have full-time employment and an account with the bank with a permanent load repayment standing order.
• BCJ, pay slips for the previous three months.
• BCGE, have an account with the bank with a permanent loan repayment standing order. Preferential rate for owners of a main residence in Switzerland.
• Bob Finance. Have a permanent employment, a Swiss residence and a Swiss bank account.

Credit application with a legitimation card or Ci Book

If you are a staff member of an international organisation located in Switzerland, or permanent missions based in Geneva, the primary requirement to access private loans is that your main residence must be in Switzerland. It is not possible to apply for personal loans if you have this type of permit, as it is prohibited by Swiss law. However, your spouse who has a legitimation card will be able to apply for a personal loan.