Apply for a cross-border work permit

• You are an EU/EFTA national and your gainful activity lasts for a maximum of 3 months per calendar year

In this case, you will need to complete a notification procedure for short-term work (free of charge). If, during the current calendar year, you have already worked for 3 months or been issued a valid permit, you will need to apply for a cross-border work permit.

• You are an EU/EFTA national and your gainful activity lasts for more than 3 month:

You must apply for a cross-border work permit (G permit)

• You are a national of a third country (outside the EU/EFTA) and wish to pursue an employed activity as a cross-border worker

Your employer must apply for a cross-border work permit (G permit)

• You are an EU/EFTA national and you leave the Canton of Geneva for another country, but you are still gainfully employed in Geneva

You must apply for a cross-border work permit (permit G).

• You are an non-EU/EFTA national and you are leaving the Canton of Geneva for neighbouring France while wishing to keep your gainful activity in Geneva

Subject to certain conditions, your employer can apply for a cross-border work Permit (G Permit).

• You are an EU/EFTA national and wish to pursue an independant activity as a cross-border worker

You must apply for a cross-border work permit (permit G).

• You are a national of a third country (outside the EU/EFTA) and wish to pursue an independant activity as a cross-border worker

You must apply for a cross-border work permit (permit G).

• You are an EU/EFTA national holding a G permit and change employer

You must announce a change of employer.

• You are a non-EU/EFTA national holding a G permit and wish to change employer

Your new employer must submit an application.

• You are a cross-border commuter and no longer work in the canton

You must announce the cessation of your activity

• Frequently asked questions in relation to EU/EFTA cross-border permits

BREXIT - As of 1 January 2021, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the European Union (AFMP) no longer applies to relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom. UK nationals are no longer considered as EU/EFTA nationals but as third-country nationals.

However, due to the grandfathering agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, applications for G permits from UK nationals are treated as for a national of an EU/EFTA Member State in the following cases:

• the United Kingdom national holds a valid establishment permit (permit C) obtained before 31 December 2020
• the United Kingdom national holds a valid residence permit (B permit) or a valid short-term residence permit (L permit) obtained before 31 December 2020

In all other cases, they are treated as applications from nationals of a non-EU/EFTA State (third country). The same applies to British nationals holding a G permit wishing to settle in Switzerland.

In the case of a change of employer, a British national holding a cross-border permit obtained before 31 December 2020 will also be able to benefit from the acquired rights, but only if there is no interruption of activity (30-day tolerance).

For further information on Brexit, please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

For your information

As a cross-border worker residing in a neighboring country (France, Germany, Italy, Austria), you are obliged to make a formal and irrevocable choice between the health insurance of your country of residence and the Swiss health insurance (LAMal) within three months of starting your activity in Switzerland. For more information, see:

• Healthcare insurance and cross-border residing in an EU/EFTA Member State (outside France)
• Healthcare insurance and cross-border residing in France