Brief Review

Current Immigration Policy

Due to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the European Community put into effect in June 2007, workers coming from 15 of the initial EU member states, Cyprus and Malta, and the EFTA are allowed to freely live and work in Switzerland. The country has the right to reintroduce quotas for another two years should immigration increase more than 10 percent over a three-year average. The EU member countries that joined in 2004 (mainly from eastern Europe) will have to wait until 2011 to be allowed long-term residency permits in Switzerland.

People residing in countries other than those mentioned above can apply for one of a limited number of long-stay visas only if a Swiss company, for a position that cannot be filled by a Swiss resident, offers them a job contract. In general, these visas are granted to only very highly skilled foreign workers.