If you are planning a relocation from Italy to Switzerland for professional reasons in 2017, please be aware of the visa quotas: The Swiss government has decided the quotas for highly qualified workers from non-European Union (EU)/European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) countries, as well as for assignees from EU/EFTA countries for the year 2017. Quotas for highly qualified, non-EU/EFTA nationals have increased by 500 per category, compared to 2016. Quotas for assignees from EU/EFTA countries remain at the same level. The quotas are imposed on a national basis rather than per company. They also apply to B permits, which are long-term residence permits, valid for up to five years and renewable. Once the B permit quotas are reached, applicants are issued with L permits instead – valid for up to 12 months and convertible into a B permit after two years. 2017 quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals In 2017, companies in Switzerland can recruit foreign national specialists from non-EU/EFTA countries up to the following national quotas: • 4,500 L permits • 3,000 B permits The increase in permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals follows complaints from some cantons that their quota has already been used up this year. However, the number of L and B work permits issued for non-EU/EFTA nationals in 2017 will still be 1,000 fewer than before the 2014 vote that called for a curb on foreign immigration. 2017 quotas for EU/EFTA nationals Quotas for assignees from EU/EFTA countries to Switzerland for more than 90 and 120 days have remained the same as for 2016: • 2,000 L permits • 250 B permits