· 120 days permit with sporadic in and out trips
· Short-term residence and work permits (L-Permits) for stays of up to one year
· Long-term (annual) residence and work permits (B-Permits)
· Cross-border Commuter Permit (Permit G)
· Permanent Residence Permit (Permit C)
· Ci permit (work permit for family members of an international civil servant)

June 1, 2007 saw the introduction of the third phase of a five phase implementation of the bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU on the free movement of persons. This significant step witnessed the lifting of the preferential quota system which was introduced as phase one in June 2002. As a result the fifteen original EU member states which formed part of the agreement signed in June 1999 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom) will no longer require prior authorization in order to enter and work in Switzerland where the intention to stay is for a period greater than four months and where the employee’s contract of work will be held with the Swiss entity.

As a result the immigration requirements for employees moving to Switzerland under a one-way transfer or permanent/localized move have become much simpler. International long-term and short-term assignments, however, will still be required to obtain a work permit under the existing rules. The new Law is also valid for Cyprus, Malta, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland. Prior authorization from the relevant Swiss Migration authorities is still required for employees arriving to work in Switzerland for a period of up to 90 days and for the 120 days permit with sporadic in and out trips. For Cross-Boarder Permits, restrictions on where an individual can commute from under a Cross-Border Permit (cross border areas) have been removed for nationals of EU 17/EFTA countries.

Procedures for Non-EU nationals and nationals of new EU countries

For non-EU nationals and nationals of new EU countries, the quota system is stringently applied. The authorities involved have wide discretion in their decision-making process. They usually make high demands on the qualification of the future employees (University degree, e.g., three to four years of working experience and appropriate salary).

Please note that work permits for employees, who only work up to four months in Switzerland, are not subjected to quotas.

Issuance of the Work Permit

Non-EU nationals and nationals of new EU countries do need a work and a residence permit in order to start working in Switzerland.

The following categories of residence and work permits are available:

· Short-term residence and work permits (L-Permits) for stays of up to one year

· Annual residence and work permits (B-Permits)

The standard duration of the application procedure is usually six to ten weeks, depending on the Canton where the application is submitted.

Standard required documents for a work and residence permit application are as follows:

· A copy of passport (for the employee and any accompanying family members)
· A current résumé (CV)
· Copies of higher education certificates
· Copy of signed employment contract
· Copy of birth certificate
· Copy of marriage certificate
· Most third country nationals do need a Visa in order to legally enter Switzerland and to take up employment.
The visa needs to be picked up at the Swiss Embassy in your home country before entering Switzerland.

Criminal Record

Non-EU nationals usually need to provide the competent authorities with a Criminal Record. This document is a compulsory requirement for the work permit and residence application.

Because of the fact that in each country there is another authority in charge of the issuance of Criminal Records, the employee has to provide it by himself with the mentioned document.

Border Commuter Permit (Permit G)

A border commuter permit is usually valid for five years. The restriction on where an individual can commute from under a Cross-Border permit has been removed in June 2007 for nationals of EU17/ETFA countries. Cross border areas remain for nationals of new EU countries. Non-EU persons have to domicile for at least six months in the relevant Cross-boarder area before the application can be submitted.

Permanent Residence Permit (Permit C)

After a continuous residence period of five years for EU and EFTA nationals and after ten years for most non-EU nationals, foreigners should normally be entitled to a permanent residence permit. A permanent residence permit entitles the foreigner to work without limitation or condition in Switzerland and to stay indefinitely, provided there is no reason for cancellation of the C permanent residence permit

• Firearms and ammunition
• Alcohol (over 25%) in excess of 12 litres and 200 litres of wine
• Any articles derived from protected species including fur skins, ivory, reptile leather and goods made from them
• Controlled drugs
• Indecent or obscene videotapes, films, books, magazines and other articles
• Flick knives and certain offensive weapons
• Counterfeit currency
• Radio transmitters (walkie talkies, citizen band radios, cordless telephones, etc.) which are not approved for use in Switzerland
• Radar detector

• A valid passport
• Your work permit - failing this, a confirmation note (which you will be issued on registration at the Kreisbüro) confirming that you have registered and that your work permit is being processed
• A copy of your work contract
• A current address of residence

• One-family house (Einfamilienhaus): this is a detached, stand-alone house with no partition wall. As the name implies, it will typically house one family.
• Semi-detached house (Doppelhaushälfte): a house with a partition wall; it will typically accommodate two families; a duplex.
• Continuous house (Reihenhaus): a row of several attached houses divided by partition walls; a terraced house.