Apply for a cross-border work permit
3. Non-EU/EFTA cross-border work permit as an employed person
For whom
Any company wishing to hire a non-EU/EFTA national residing in France must apply for a cross-border work permit (permit G) from the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM).
This applies to any gainful activity, including as a trainee, apprentice, volunteer, social worker, artist or missionary.
If the person concerned has a residence permit in Switzerland and works in Geneva, reference should be made to the following specific information.
For any change of activity related to a G permit (change of employer or end of work relations), consult: Change of employer and Fin des rapports de service.
Third-country nationals do not have easier access to the Swiss labour market (see under "terms" below).
When
The employer must submit the application approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the planned activity in Switzerland.
The employee is entitled to work only if he or she has received his or her work permit.
What
The cross-border work permit (G permit) is tied to a specific employer.
As a result, it is not possible to obtain a G permit to facilitate a job search.
Terms
Requirements for non-EU/EFTA nationals:
The person for whom the work permit is requested must meet the following requirements:
- have a right of durable residence in one of Switzerland's neighbouring countries
- have been legally resident in the neighbouring border area for at least six months
- return at least one day a week to their home abroad
Labour market terms and conditions:
The request is transmitted by the OCPM to the OCIRT which verifies that the following conditions are indeed fulfilled:
- the admission of the foreign national is in Switzerland's economic interests.
- the priority of the Swiss labour markets and of the EU/EFTA countries is respected. This means that the employer can only submit an application if they have previously explored the Swiss and European markets. Their search must have been unsuccessful and they must prove:
- that they announced as soon as possible the vacancy in the cantonal employment office (OCE), irrespective of the unemployment rate in the branch concerned, and that the OCE did not find a qualified candidate within a reasonable period of time.
- That they have carried out in-depth and timely searches in Switzerland and in the EU/EFTA countries in order to find a worker with the required profile (advertisements on websites in Switzerland and in the EU/EFTA countries, use of employment agencies, etc.).
- that for the post in question they cannot train a worker available on the Swiss market or have one trained within a reasonable time.
- the usual working and wage conditions in the sector are respected. Find the applicable conditions through the online salary calculator. It should be noted that an employer who applies for a permit also undertakes to comply with the statutory withholding tax requirements.
- this is a full-time job.
Depending on the type of request, the OCIRT requests advance notice from the Tripartite Commission for the Economy of the Canton of Geneva, whose members represent employers, employees and the State.
It should be noted that the OCIRT may set conditions and limits to the authorisation granted, for example:
- time-limited authorisation
- no professional mobility
- renewal or extension conditional on the achievement of the objectives announced in the initial application
In some cases, favourable decisions of the OCIRT are transmitted to the State Secretariat for Migration for approval.
Attachments
- 1 colour copy of your valid passport
- 1 passport-sized photo (with full names on the back)
- 1 copy of civil status document
- 1 proof of residence in neighbouring France issued by the City Hall attesting to a stay of more than 6 months
- 1 copy of the foreign residence permit of a durable nature
- extract from the criminal record
- work contract signed by both parties
- evidence of and detailed results of the employer's research on the Swiss and European markets
- CV, copy of diplomas and work certificates of the applicant
- cover letter from the employer describing in particular the position and the economic interest of the application (see: Procedure for writing your cover letter)
- information on the company and the staff situation (number of employees, nationalities and types of permits)
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.
The examination of the application by the OCIRT is also subject to a fee (art. 12) charged by this service to the employer.
Processing times
The employer shall be kept informed of the outcome of its request within 12 weeks.
Your application, as an employer, is done online. Businesses encountering difficulties with online approaches can obtain an application form to be returned by postal mail by going directly to the OCPM offices.