Switzerland intra-company transfer permit

Under Article 30 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act, precedence rules do not apply to senior managers and essential specialists transferred within international companies. Internships for knowledge transfer within multinationals are also an exception.

The law also lets the authorities depart from the usual personal requirements (manager, specialist, qualified worker) for staff in a cadre transfer of an internationally active company. Transferees who have been employed by the group for at least six months are exempt from the obligation to notify vacancies to the regional employment centre.

Transfers count towards the annual third-country quotas, and pay and conditions must be customary for the region and sector.

The Swiss entity files the application with the cantonal authority; after cantonal and SEM approval, the canton authorises the visa, which you collect at the Swiss representation.

Pay, social contributions and conditions must match local and sector practice, and the contract must state that it applies only if a permit is granted. Holders of permits other than C are taxed at source through the employer.

SEM estimates about six to eight weeks for the cantonal preliminary decision and its own approval; complex cases take longer. The canton then sends the electronic visa authorisation to the Swiss representation, and you register within 14 days of entry before starting work.

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.

An L permit (short-term residence) is granted for up to one year for a specific purpose and can be extended to a total of two years; a change of job is only possible for important reasons, and a new L permit requires an appropriate break in the stay. A B permit is issued for stays of more than one year, is limited in time and is renewed if there are no grounds for revocation; the canton takes your integration into account when setting its validity.

If you hold a B permit, your spouse and children under 18 can join under the family reunification rules and work anywhere in Switzerland without a separate permit. If you hold an L permit, they can receive an L permit too, but they need a work permit applied for by an employer.