SWITZERLAND – 2024 Work Permit Quotas Announced

December 1, 2023


On 29 November 2023, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced that quotas will remain the same for new work permit applications submitted during the 2024 calendar year for non-European Union/European Free Trade Agreement (non-EU/EFTA) nationals (with a stay greater than four consecutive months/120 days per year), service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA and UK nationals (also with a stay greater than four consecutive months/120 days per year). 

Taking into account the persistent economic need for specialists from third countries, and the results of discussions conducted with the cantons and social partners, the federal authorities have decided to maintain the same number of B long-term permits and L short-term permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals.

The number of B long-term and L short-term for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA and UK nationals also remains the same.

The Swiss government announced the following quotas for 2024:

  • 4,000 “L” short-term permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals; 
  • 4,500 “B” long-term permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals; 
  • 3,000 “L” short-term permits for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA; 
  • 500 “B” long-term permits for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA; 
  • 1,400 “L” short-term permits for British nationals; 
  • 2,100 “B” long-term permits for British nationals. 

The quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals are released on a calendar-year basis while the quotas for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA and UK nationals are released on a quarterly basis.

Although the allocated quotas should be enough to cover all the needs, the quotas for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA might still be exhausted before the end of each quarter.

Immigration Insights

Employers are advised as follows:

  • Do not wait until the end of the year to submit important applications; 
  • Evaluate the possibility of reducing, when possible, short-term assignments to four months or 120 days per twelve-month period, which are not subject to quota availability; 
  • Notify the authorities when a work permit has been granted but the person will not use the permit due to a change in plans or if they leave Switzerland prematurely, as it may be possible for the authorities to re-use the granted unit for a new case; 
  • Promote, when possible, Swiss local employment contracts to EU/EFTA nationals coming to work in Switzerland (instead of secondment status); 
  • Use the trainees exchange program in place between Switzerland and various countries (separate quotas are in place for the trainee exchange program);
  • Contact a Newland Chase immigration specialist for case-specific advice

 

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.