Working in Switzerland

Below you will find information and useful links regarding registration and authorisation requirements, minimum and average wages, self-employment, social services and unemployment among foreign nationals living in Switzerland.

Working in Switzerland as a citizen of an EU/EFTA member state

As a citizen of an EU/EFTA member state, you may enter, live and work in Switzerland. Special restrictions apply to citizens of EU-8 member states and from the 1st of June 2013 to the citizens of EU-17 (safeguard clause) as well as to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.

Working in Switzerland as a citizen of an EU/EFTA member state

Working in Switzerland as third-country nationals

Here you will find information about the requirements that must be met in order to work in Switzerland for third-country nationals.

Working in Switzerland as third-country nationals

Minimum wage and average earnings in Switzerland

Swiss law does not specify any minimum wage or average earnings. In most cases, pay levels are agreed between the employer and the employee during the recruitment process.

Minimum wage and average earnings in Switzerland

AHV for returnees

I worked in Switzerland. Am I entitled to a refund or a pension after my departure?

AHV for returnees

Self-employment

Here you will find information on the steps that you need to take in order to become self-employed.

Self-employment

Social insurance for foreign nationals

Social insurance in Switzerland: as a foreign national, what do I need to know about state pensions, maternity leave, invalidity benefits, unemployment benefits, etc.?

Social insurance for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals unemployed in Switzerland

As a foreign national working in Switzerland, you do not need to immediately leave Switzerland if you lose your job or if your employment contract expires.

Foreign nationals unemployed in Switzerland

Last update 26.01.2022

Contact

+41 800 24-7-365 / +41 58 465 33 33

365 days a year – around the clock 

The Helpline FDFA deals as central contact point with matters relating to consular services.

Fax +41 58 462 78 66

helpline@eda.admin.ch

vCard Helpline FDFA (VCF, 5.6 kB)

Twitter

Phone free of charge from abroad with Skype

You will receive an error message if the Skype application is not installed on your computer or smartphone. If such a message appears, please proceed to install it right off, simply by clicking on the following link:
Download Skype

Skype: helpline-eda

+41 800 24-7-365 / +41 58 465 33 33

365 days a year – around the clock 

The Helpline FDFA deals as central contact point with matters relating to consular services.

Fax +41 58 462 78 66

helpline@eda.admin.ch

vCard Helpline FDFA (VCF, 5.6 kB)

Twitter

Phone free of charge from abroad with Skype

You will receive an error message if the Skype application is not installed on your computer or smartphone. If such a message appears, please proceed to install it right off, simply by clicking on the following link:
Download Skype

Skype: helpline-eda

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