Moving to Switzerland - Registration Procedures

You are entitled to stay in Switzerland for six months to seek work. After signing an employment contract, you can stay in this country and engage in gainful activity here. In accordance with the general principle of free movement, you have a right of entry and residence simply on production of an employment contract, a valid identity document and written confirmation of engagement by an employer or evidence of self-employed activity.

To engage in gainful activity, you need only produce at the cantonal employment office the document used to enter Swiss territory (passport or identity card) and written confirmation of engagement by an employer or a certificate of employment. If your employment contract is for less than one year you will be issued with an L EC/EFTA residence permit valid for the duration of the contract; in all other cases you will receive a B EC/EFTA permit valid for five years. Residence permits are valid for the entire territory of the host state (i.e. they allow geographical mobility).

Text last edited on: 04/2008

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
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