Apply for a cross-border work permit
8. Change of employer for non-EU/EFTA cross-border worker
For whom
You are a non EU/EFTA national (third-country) holding a cross-border permit (permit G) and wish to change employer.
When
The new employer must file the application approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the new job is taken.
Terms
Third-country nationals do not benefit from professional mobility.
They may change employer after a continuous 5-years period of activity unless the G permit has been restricted by a decision of the OCIRT's Directorate for Foreign Labour.
Applications for G permit holders:
- who have been in employment for less than 5 years
- whose permits are limited to the length of service (restriction on professional mobility)
- whose permits are conditional (e.g. on the achievement of specific objectives)
are subject to the OCIRT's Directorate for Foreign Labour and to compliance with restrictive legal conditions (in particular economic interest, priority, etc.).
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 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
- certificate of termination of service reports (form R) provided by the last employer
Additional documents for application submitted for authorisation by the OCIRT:
- evidence 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)
Some additional documents may be requested depending on the case.
Price
Payment is made online or by invoice for companies with a customer account with the OCPM.
Bussinesses 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 reuqests made online.
The examination of the applciation by the OCIRT is also subject to a fee (chapter V) charged by this service to the employer.
Processing times
The cross-border work permit shall be sent directly to the employer within three months of receipt of the request.
In the meantime, the employee is not authorized to work.
Your application, as an employer, is made online. Businesses encountering difficulties with online procedures can obtain an application form to be returned by postal mail by going directly to the OCPM offices.