On November 19, 2025, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced that quotas will remain the same for new work permit applications submitted during the 2026 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).
In recent years, Switzerland has not fully used its available immigration quotas. By the end of 2024, only 74% of permits for third-country nationals, 50% of permits for EU/EFTA service providers, and 21% of the special UK quotas had been used. As of late September 2025, usage remained low: about 52% for third-country workers, 38% for EU/EFTA service providers, and just 17% of the UK-specific quotas.
However, amid uncertainties caused by U.S. trade policy and its impact on Switzerland’s economy—and given Switzerland’s still-low unemployment rate and ongoing labor needs—the Federal Council’s decision to keep the current immigration quotas unchanged for 2026 provides stability and predictability for Swiss businesses. The decision is based on input from cantons and social partners, current immigration data, economic forecasts, and recent quota usage. The separate quota for UK nationals will be maintained for an additional year.
The Swiss government announced the following quotas for 2026:
- 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. 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 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.
