Any foreigner wanting to work and create a business in Switzerland for more than 8 days per calendar year must be granted a work permit by the authorities (Cantons & Confederation).

An independent is a self-employed person. This means that they are independent in their work and its organization. The key criterion is that self-employed persons assume the financial risk of their activity.

Entrepreneurs are considered as self-employed. This is true whether they are acting purely independently or if they are employed by their company. In the latter case, they assume the financial risk, and the fact that they have formally an employment agreement is irrelevant.

For independents, the duration depends on the professional project presented to the authority.

EU/EFTA nationals have access to an easier procedure to be granted Swiss work permits. Indeed, the agreement on the free movement of persons grants them an actual right to obtain a work permit. In other words, any EU/EFTA national who can prove his/her identity and demonstrate having a domicile in Switzerland as well as a valid independent activity (i.e., by showing the business plan, the budget forecast, etc.) will be granted a work permit.

Non-EU/EFTA nationals do not have a right to obtain a work permit. To obtain a work permit, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

You must provide the authorities with multiple documents establishing both your competence to start the desired business in Switzerland and the financial viability of this business.

This includes notably a business plan, a budget forecast, your CV, and your diplomas.

Book a free call here to discuss how to optimize your chances of getting a work permit for your employees.