Swiss working permits for spouses

Spouses of EU / EFTA citizens are free to work in Switzerland and can take on work any time. Should the partner leave Switzerland they can stay and continue to work.

Spouses of citizens of third countries (outside EU / EFTA) and being themselves not EU / EFTA citizens can work in Switzerland and stay as long their partner / the first permit holder works in Switzerland. They must be legally married. It doesn’t matter if the first permit holder is expatriated to Switzerland or locally employed. Should the first permit holder be expatriated to Switzerland and stay employed abroad the spouse can accept a Swiss working contract. Should the first permit holder leave Switzerland the permit of the spouse will be ceased. In this situation, the employer of the spouse would need to take on the process of advertising the job and do a broad search, because to keep the spouse in the job an independent quota for the permit is needed. Some cantons are fine without a search process to give the spouse an independent permit, other cantons proceed strictly according to the law and request a broad search and proof that no one else suitable was found in Switzerland and EU /EFTA.

Should a couple divorce, where one was Swiss or a C permit holder and the spouse citizen from a third country, the spouse will lose the permit if they weren’t at least 3 years married and living in the same household.

For further questions to this subject please don’t hesitate to contact International HR Services Ltd..