Apply for a cross-border work permit
5. EU/EFTA cross-border work permit as a self-employed person
For whom
You are an EU/EFTA national and wish to pursue self-employed gainful activity in Geneva as a cross-border worker.
Any gainful activity requires a work permit.
When
Your application for work authorisation must be submitted before starting your activity.
If you have been granted a residence permit in Switzerland (including the canton of Geneva), you must announce your departure for the foreign country before you can apply for a cross-border work permit.
What
With a cross-border work permit (G permit), you benefit from professional and geographical mobility throughout Switzerland. The application for a cross-border work permit must be filed in the canton where the activity is carried out.
You must announce any change in your activity (new employer or termination of activity) within 14 days.
Terms
You must fulfill the following three conditions:
- be domiciled in an EU/EFTA Member State
- have your company's headquarter in Switzerland
- return at least one day per week to your home abroad
If the profession or activity is regulated, the related additional authorisations must be obtained.
The list of regulated activities and professions is avalaible on the SERI website.
Attachments
- 1 colour copy of a valid ID
- evidence of carrying out an independent activity such as a complete project/business plan (nature of the activity, organisation of the undertaking, financial forecasts, etc.)
- evidence of business adress (extract from the commercial register, copy of the rental agreement for the company's premises, etc.)
Price
Payment is made online or by invoice for companies with a customer account with the OCPM.
Businesses with an e-démarches account have the possibility to create a customer account allowing them to benefit from the advantages of a monthly invoice payment. They therefore do not need to pay for each service by means of a credit card. They also have access to a summary of their requests made online.
Processing times
It is possible to start the professional activity as soon as the complete file is transmitted, unless the profession exercised is regulated and requires additional authorisation from the State.
The cross-border work permit is sent directly to the business address with an average delay of 12 weeks.
Your request is made online. Those who have difficulties with the online process can obtain an application form to be returned by postal mail by going directly to the OCPM offices.