SWITZERLAND – 2025 quotas for new work permit applications are announced.

December 6, 2024


By: Maria Lopez, Immigration Service Delivery Country Lead, Switzerland

On November 27, 2024, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced that quotas will remain the same for new work permit applications submitted during the 2025 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 2025:

  • 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.

Finally, from 1st January 2025, Croatian nationals coming to work in Switzerland will benefit once again from full freedom of movement (no more quota limitation will apply). 

Utilization of 2023 and 2024 quotas

In recent years, quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals have not been fully utilized (78% in 2023, L and B permits combined). Quotas for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA were utilized by 52% (L and B permits). The separate quotas for British nationals were utilized by 24% (L and B permits).

At the end of October 2024, the permits issued by the cantons to companies in Switzerland corresponded to almost 63% of the quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals (L and B permits) and almost 44% of those for service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA (L and B permits). As in the past, the quotas available for workers from the United Kingdom have been only marginally utilized (18% at the end of October 2024 for L and B permits).

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.

Newland Chase insights

Employers are advised as follows:

  1. Do not wait until the end of the year to submit important applications; 
  2. 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; 
  3. 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; 
  4. Promote, when possible, Swiss local employment contracts to EU/EFTA nationals coming to work in Switzerland (instead of secondment status); 
  5. Use the trainees exchange program in place between Switzerland and various countries (separate quotas are in place for the trainee exchange program).

Finally, do not hesitate to 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.