Switzerland au pair visa

SEM lists au pairs among the exceptions to the general admission rules for non-EU/EFTA nationals: you must be aged 18 to 25, the stay is limited to 12 months, and the placement must go through a recognised organisation.

The placement must be made by an organisation authorised to place workers under the Employment Services Act, in practice an agency recognised by SECO.

The host family and placement organisation file the request with the cantonal authority; once it is approved, you apply for the national visa at the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence.

National visa files go to the competent cantonal authority in Switzerland, and the representation can only issue the visa after that authority approves. The total processing time is about 8–12 weeks and varies considerably by canton; questions while the file is pending go to the cantonal migration authority for the future place of residence.

The national visa fee is set and collected by the Swiss representation where you apply. Cantonal permit fees in Switzerland are separate.

Register with the residence authority of your place of residence within 14 days of entering Switzerland; employees may only start work after registering. The canton then issues the residence permit card.

The ordinance sets the conditions for the short-term permit: you attend a course in the national language spoken at the place of residence, work at most 30 hours a week with one full day off, do light housework and childcare for appropriate pay, and live with the host family in a room of your own. The permit is issued for at most 12 months and cannot be extended, and au pairs count towards the federal maximum numbers.