Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 02 DECEMBER 2025

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

Switzerland Work Permit Quota Allocations For 2026

Clark Hill Plc
Clark Hill Plc
Contributor
Clark Hill Plc

Clark Hill Plc

At Clark Hill, our value proposition is simple. We offer our clients an exceptional team, dedicated...

View firm profile
Explore more from Clark Hill Plc

The Swiss Federal Council has confirmed that the current work permit quotas will remain unchanged for 2026, ensuring continuity for employers and access to essential skilled talent.

SwitzerlandImmigration
Josefina Botero
Josefina Botero

The Swiss Federal Council has confirmed that the current work permit quotas will remain unchanged for 2026, ensuring continuity for employers and access to essential skilled talent. The revised Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Activity (OASA) will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Quotas for Third-Country Nationals (Non-EU/EFTA)

Switzerland will continue to authorize up to 8,500 non-EU/EFTA professionals in 2026:

  • 4,500 B residence permits
  • 4,000 L short-term permits

Quotas for EU/EFTA Service Providers (Assignments over 120 days)

Quotas remain unchanged:

  • 3,000 L permits
  • 500 B permits

Separate Quotas for UK Nationals

Maintained for another year, enabling Swiss employers to recruit British talent outside the free movement framework:

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Applying For Swiss Naturalisation After Ten Years? Why Residence Is Not Enough

Reaching ten years in Switzerland is an important milestone, but it is not the same as qualifying automatically for Swiss citizenship. For ordinary Swiss naturalisation, residence is necessary, but it is only one part of the assessment. An applicant must also satisfy permit, residence-counting, integration, language, conduct, financial and local procedural requirements before Swiss citizenship can be granted.
SwitzerlandImmigration
Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
Article

Swiss Work Permits: Which Route Applies To EU/EFTA, UK And Third-Country Nationals?

Switzerland does not have a single, general “work visa” route. The correct Swiss immigration analysis starts with four questions: nationality, employer location, activity and duration. A German software engineer, a Croatian project manager, a UK sales director and a US AI specialist may all work for the same Swiss business, but they may fall under different Swiss work authorisation rules.
SwitzerlandImmigration
Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers