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.

"Gainful activity" means any activity which normally gives a profit, even if it is carried out free of charge. Activities by apprentices, trainees, volunteers, social workers, artists and missionaries are also considered gainful activities.

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.

BREXIT - As of 1 January 2021, the agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU no longer applies to relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Nationals of the United Kingdom are no longer considered as EU/EFTA nationals but as third-country nationals. For more information, visit the State Secretariat for Migration's web pages.

Autres feuillets du livret

  • 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).

Online SEM announcement procedure
  • 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.

Apply for a residence permit with activity for EU/EFTA national
  • 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.

Apply for a residence permit with activity for a third-country national
  • 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.

Apply 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.

Work in Geneva with a 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.

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.

Workers seconded to Geneva by an employer abroad
  • 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.

Apply for family reunification

Legal bases

2. Employed activity for EU/EFTA nationals

For whom

Any EU/EFTA national employed by a company in Switzerland with an employment contract of more than 3 months must submit an application for a residence permit with activity.

Any gainful activity lastind less than 3 months must be the subject of an online registration procedure with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

When

The application for a work permit must be made before the gainful activity starts.

Terms

Employment contract of more than 4 months

  • The application is submitted by the future beneficiary or the employer.
  • Persons who were established in another canton must announce their departure there in order to continue the procedure in Geneva.
  • The gainful activity can start as soon as the complete file is sent to the cantonal office of population and migration, unless the gainful activity is regulated and therefore requires in addition an authorisation to practise this profession in Switzerland.

120-day or up to 4 month contract

  • The application is filed by the employer.
  • The beneficiary does not have to declare his arrival to the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration and can start working as soon as he enters Switzerland.
  • The residence permit insurance shall be transmitted to the employer.

You must have a personal e-démarches account in order to submit your application online.

Attachments

Employment contract of more than 4 months

  • M Form - only for postal mail requests
  • Colour copy of a valid I.D.
  • Copy of the lease or landlord's attestation established according to the AL form (with copy of the main lease and the landlord's I.D.)

For employment agencies, add:

  • Copy of the assignment and/or service rental contracts

If you wish to settle with your family, add:

  • M Form for each family member involved - only for postal mail requests
  • Colour copy of a valid I.D. for each family member involved
  • Copy of the marriage certificate for spouses (with official translation if necessary)
  • Copy of the birth certificate for children (with official translation if necessary)
  • Evidence of parental authority for children arriving with only one parent, or EM form.

120-day or up to 4 month contract

  • M Form - only for postal mail requests
  • Colour copy of a valid I.D.

For employment agencies, add:

  • Copy of the assignment and/or service rental contracts

What

The duration of the employment contract determines the authorisation issued:

  • Employment contract of 364 days or less per year: short-term residence permit (EU/EFTA L permit). The validity of the authorisation shall be equivalent to that of the employment contract.
  • Employment contract of 1 year or more or indefinite duration: residence permit (EU/EFTA B permit). The authorisation is valid for 5 years.
  • Employment contract of 120 days per period of 12 months or employement contract up to 4 consecutive months: insurance of residence authorisation. The latter acts as a work authorisation.

Holders of an L or B permit enjoy geographical and professional freedom: the residence permits granted to active persons are not linked to a canton, an employer or a defined activity. They are valid throughout Switzerland.

Price

For online applications, payment is made online as well.

For applications sent by post, payment is made by invoice.

See our Taxes and fees table

Processing times

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

Help to fill in the online form

See our fact sheet: Practical help to announce your arrival in Geneva online or to apply for a residence permit with or without activity at the OCPM | ge.ch

Apply for a residence permit with gainful activity

Your permit application can be made online or by postal mail.

3. Employed activity for third-country nationals

For whom

Any Swiss company wishing to employ a third-country national, i.e. an non-EU/EFTA State, must in principle submit an application for a work permit to 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. Non-EU/EFTA nationals do not have easier access to the Swiss labour market (see "Terms" below).

When

The employer must file the application approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the foreign national enters Switzerland.

Terms

In all of the above cases, the OCPM issues the authorisation to the worker only if the OCIRT's Directorate for Foreign Labour accepts the application in advance. The OCPM forwards the employer's request to the OCIRT, which examines it. The Directorate for Foreign Labour shall verify that the following conditions are met:

  • The admission of the foreign national is in Switzerland's economic interests.
  • The priority of the Swiss labour market and those of the EU/EFTA countries is being respected. This means that the employer can apply for a work permit for a third-country national only if they have previously explored the Swiss and European labour markets. Their search must have been unsuccessful. In other words, when submitting an application for a work permit, the employer of the canton of Geneva must provide proof:
    • That they announced the vacancy as soon as possible to the cantonal employment office (OCE), regardless of the unemployment rate in the sector concerned (oce.de@etat.ge.ch). In addition, the OCE was unable to find a qualified candidate for the position within a reasonable period of time.
    • that they carried out in-depth and timely searches in Switzerland and in the EU/EFTA countries to find a worker with the required profile (advertisements on websites in Switzerland and in the EU/EFTA, use of employment agencies, etc.).
    • that for the post in question they cannot train a worker available on the Swiss labour market or have one trained within a reasonable time.
  • Only managers, specialists and skilled workers may be admitted.
  • Quotas for B and L permits are available. This means that there is a maximum number of permits that can be granted each year in Geneva.
  • The usual working and wage conditions in the sector are respected. Regular pay conditions can be obtained using 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 submits the request for notice to the Tripartite Commission for the Economy of the Canton of Geneva. The commission is composed of members representing employers, employees and the State.

Please note that the OCIRT may:

  • grant an authorisation other than initially requested
  • set limits and conditions on the authorisation, such as:
    • the authorisation shall be limited in time
    • it does not allow for professional mobility
    • the renewal or extension of the authorisation is subject to the achievement of the objectives announced in the application by the employer.

In some cases, favourable decisions are then forwarded to the State Secretariat for Migration for approval.

For those who have a valid entry permit with a job or a residence permit insurance, gainful employment is allowed as soon as they enter Switzerland. In all other cases, the employee has the right to work only if he or she has received his or her work permit.

Employing foreign nationals without a work permit is a criminal offence that can be reported.

Attachments

Employment contract of more than 4 months

  • M form - only for postal mail requests
  • colour copy of a valid I.D.
  • 1 passport-sized photo with full names written on the back
  • CV, copy of the applicant's dilpomas and work certificates
  • motivation letter issued by the employer describing the situation, its plans and the reasons for the engagement. You can take inspiration from the step-by-step process.
  • evidence of and detailed results of the employer's research on the Swiss and European markets (except for intra-group executive officers)
  • information on the company and the staff situation (number of employees, nationalities and types of permits)
  • copy of work contract signed by the employer and the employee

At the time of arrival announcement:

  • copy of the lease or landlord's attestation established according to the AL form (with copy of the main lease and the landlord's I.D.)

If the person wishes to settle with his or her family, add:

  • M form for each family member - only for postal mail requests
  • colour copy of a valid I.D. for each family member
  • 1 passport-sized photo with full names written on the back for each family member
  • copy of the marriage certificate for spouses (with official translation if necessary)
  • copy of the birth certificate for children (with official translation if necessary)
  • evidence of parental authority for children arriving with only one parent or EM form.

120-day or up to 4-month contract

  • M form - only for postal mail requests
  • colour copy of a valid I.D.
  • 1 passport-sized photo with full names written on the back
  • CV, copy of the applicant's dilpomas and work certificates
  • motivation letter issued by the employer describing the situation, its plans and the reasons for the engagement. You can take inspiration from the step-by-step process.
  • evidence of and detailed results of the employer's research on the Swiss and European markets 
  • information on the company and the staff situation (number of employees, nationalities and types of permits)
  • copy of work contract signed by the employer and the employee

What

What type of work permits/authorisations can the employer apply for ?

  • Work authorisation up to 120 days / 4 months during a year. There are two types of authorisations: authorisation for a maximum of 120 days over 12 months or authorisation for a maximum of 4 consecutive months.
  • L permit: short-term residence permit (up to 24 months)
  • B permit: residence permit

Price

For online applications, payment is made online as well.

For applications sent by post, payment is made by invoice.

See our Taxes and fees table

Furthermore, 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

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

Help to fill in the online form

See our fact sheet: Practical help to announce your arrival in Geneva online or to apply for a residence permit with or without activity at the OCPM | ge.ch

Apply for a residence permit with gainful activity

The employer must file the permit application for a third-country national.

The application can be done either online or by postal mail.