Work Permit Quotas (Kontingente)
Kontingente are annual ceilings on work permits Switzerland issues to non-EU/EFTA workers. Each canton and sector has limits. You apply during set windows (usually spring and autumn). Exceeding your canton's quota means your hire cannot legally work. Quotas reset January 1st.
Kontingente (work permit quotas) are Switzerland's mechanism to cap non-EU/EFTA employment. The Federal Office of Migration (SEM) sets national limits; cantons receive allocations. You cannot hire a non-EU/EFTA national without a permit, and permits only exist if quota remains.
Quotas apply to L, B, and C permits. L permits (short-term) come from a separate, smaller quota. B permits (intermediate, typically 5 years) and C permits (long-term settlement) draw from the main canton quota. If your canton's B/C quota is exhausted, your hire waits—sometimes months—or you cannot proceed.
When Quotas Matter
You encounter quotas the moment you want to employ someone from outside the EU/EFTA (including UK nationals post-Brexit). This includes executives relocating from the US, Asia, or other regions. Even temporary secondments from a parent company abroad require L permits and quota space.
SEM opens application windows twice yearly: typically March–April and September–October. If your canton quota is full, applications are rejected or queued. Timely planning—identifying non-EU hires months ahead—is essential to secure permits before deadlines close.
- L permits (temporary, ≤12 months) use a separate, smaller quota managed centrally
- B permits (intermediate, 5-year renewal) draw from your canton's main annual quota
- C permits (permanent settlement) also count against canton quota in the year issued
- Quotas are canton-specific; a full quota in Zurich does not block hiring in Geneva
- Application windows close mid-April and mid-October; missing deadlines delays hiring by months
- Quotas reset January 1st; no rollover of unused permits from prior years
Your Obligations
Before hiring a non-EU/EFTA national, you must confirm canton quota availability with your cantonal migration office (RAV, ORP, or URC—the name varies by canton). Do not extend an offer or begin employment until the permit is in hand. Employing someone without a valid permit violates the Foreign Nationals Act (FNA).
You must submit permit applications yourself (not the candidate) within the open window. Include employment contract, job description, salary (which must align with local market rates and any applicable GAV), and proof the role could not be filled by an EU/EFTA national or Swiss citizen. Processing takes 4–8 weeks after the window closes.
- Contact your cantonal migration office (RAV/ORP/URC) before hiring to check quota status
- Submit applications only during official windows; late applications are rejected
- Salary must meet cantonal minimum standards and any collective labour agreement (GAV)
- Document that you posted the role in Switzerland first and found no suitable Swiss/EU candidate
- Retain all permit correspondence and employment contracts for audit and payroll records
- Notify your cantonal office immediately if the non-EU hire's role or salary changes materially
Most Common Mistake
Employers assume quotas are plentiful or that applications can be submitted anytime. They offer the job, the candidate gives notice at their current employer, and only then does the employer discover the quota is full or the application window has closed. The candidate cannot start; relations damage; costs mount.
The fix: contact your cantonal migration office 2–3 months before you need the hire. Confirm quota space, understand the application timeline, and only then make an offer. Treat quota availability as a hard constraint, not a formality.
- Assuming quotas are always available or applications can be filed any time of year
- Offering a job before verifying canton quota status or understanding the application window
- Offering a salary below cantonal norms, which SEM rejects, wasting the entire application cycle
- Submitting incomplete applications (missing employment contract, job description, or salary justification)
- Hiring the non-EU national before the permit is approved and in hand
- Failing to budget 2–3 months for the permit process when planning the hire
Frequently asked questions
- Can I hire a non-EU/EFTA worker if the canton quota is full?
- No. Once a canton's annual quota is exhausted, no new B or C permits are issued until January 1st of the next year. L permits (≤12 months) use a separate quota, which may still have space. Your cantonal migration office (RAV/ORP/URC) can tell you the current status. Plan hiring 3+ months ahead.
- What if I miss the application window?
- Your application is rejected. SEM opens windows twice yearly (typically March–April and September–October). If you miss the spring window, the next chance is autumn. This can delay hiring by 5–6 months. Contact your cantonal office now to confirm the next window date for your canton.
- Do EU/EFTA citizens need work permits or quotas?
- No. EU/EFTA nationals (including those from Germany, France, Italy) do not count against quotas and do not require work permits. UK citizens post-Brexit are treated as non-EU and require permits and quota space, just like US or Asian nationals.
General information for Swiss employers, not legal advice. Have a lawyer confirm anything with legal consequences.