Apply for a permit to reside and work in Geneva
1. Overview
Any person of foreign nationality who wishes to live and work in Geneva with a company in Switzerland and on the basis of an employment contract governed by Swiss law must obtain a residence permit with activity.
Residence permits with activity are obtained from the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration. They vary according to the length of work and the nationality of the worker. A distinction is made between nationals of EU/EFTA countries and nationals of all other countries, referred as "third-countries".
Applications for third-country nationals are also examined by the Directorate for Foreign Labour of the OCIRT. They are competent to make prior decision before a person who is not entitled to work takes up employment. To this end, the OCIRT submits the request for prior notice to the Tripartite Commission for Economic Affairs of the Canton of Geneva.
It should be noted that an employer who applies for a permit also undertakes to comply with the statutory withholding tax requirements.
- You are an EU/EFTA national engaged by a Swiss company in Switzerland for an activity that does not exceed three months
If you are employed by a company whose headquarters are in Switzerland to carry out a gainful activity for a maximum period of three months or 90 days per calendar year, the application for a work permit is not necessary. However, you are obliged to make online announcement with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
- You are an EU/EFTA national employed by a company in Switzerland for an activity of more than 3 months per year
You or your employer must apply for a residence permit with activity.
- You are a third-country national (outside the EU/EFTA) employed by a company in Switzerland
Your employer must apply for a residence permit with activity.
- You are a foreign national and would like to establish yourself in Geneva and carry out a self-employed activity
You must submit an application for a residence permit for self-employed.
- You are already in possession of a residence permit and would like to start a lucrative activiy in Geneva
You or your employer must take the necessary steps to amend your residence permit.
- You are a foreign national and would like to work in Geneva without residing there
You or your employer must apply for a cross-border work permit.
- You are seconded to Geneva by your company headquartered abroad
Your employer must take the specifice steps relating to the secondment of staff.
- You would like to join a family member in Geneva to work in this canton
Your family member who is already there ( the principal holder) must fisrt take the specific steps for family reunification. Then, in some cases, your employer will have to apply for a work permit.