2.9 Swiss citizenship / The Swiss Permits
Description
This article is from the Switzerland FAQ, by Marc Schaefer schaefer@alphanet.ch with numerous contributions by others.
2.9 Swiss citizenship / The Swiss Permits
Switzerland has a complicated permit system. The permits define how
long the owner is able to stay, what are his rights, and so on. Many
international organizations have criticized it for being
protectionnist (especially the EU) and discriminatory against families
and Human rights. There have been discussions about changing the
policies, but nothing has really changed yet.
There are four types of work-permits in Switzerland: the A permit
(seasonal, 9 months, no right to bring the family), the B permit
(yearly, partial right to bring the family), the C permit (unlimited,
like Swiss citizenship except for voting rights and military
service. It allows the owner to establish freely and work in
Switzerland), and of course Swiss citizenship.
A permits can be changed into B after 4 years; B to C after 5 to 10
years. Work permits are issued by Cantons, based on quotas from the
Confederation, and always on request by a company, not an individual.
The permit is granted for a particular position with a particular
employer; the request therefore has to be filed by the employer. As a
rule, you have to prove that you cannot find an appropriate candidate
in the Swiss job market (i.e. Swiss and legal immigrants, holders of a
permit) for that particular position.
The so-called ``three circles policy'' defining countries more-or-less
prioritized actually prevents people from some countries to get a
permit. Easier is for people from the 1st circle (EU, mainly), and
from the 2nd circle (USA, Australia). The ``three circles policy'' is
being dismantled into a binary system, basically restricting further
the admissions.
There are exceptions of course for diplomats and international
organizations, students, husbands and wives of Swiss nationals.
The policy is quite protectionist and will probably evolve towards
more openness for EU countries, USA and Australia. Others (non-EU) may
find it even more difficult.
The law can be found at
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/select.html
in French, German or Italian.
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