The L permit is Switzerland's short-term residence permit: it covers a stay of up to twelve months for one specific purpose, such as a job, an au pair year, a traineeship, medical treatment or study, and can be extended to at most twenty-four months. EU/EFTA nationals with a job contract of three to under twelve months get it as of right. For everyone else it is a discretionary decision, usually subject to quotas. It never turns into a B permit on its own: you must apply for that separately and in time.

In short

  • Purpose-bound: your L is tied to one purpose and one canton. Changing purpose usually needs a new application.
  • Duration: up to 12 months, extendable to a maximum of 24 months in total. Au pair stays cannot be extended.
  • EU/EFTA: a right to an L with a contract of 3 to under 12 months, with no quotas or labour-market test.
  • Third-country nationals: discretionary, with priority for resident workers, local pay conditions and annual quotas.
  • Family: bringing your family on an L is the exception, not the rule.
  • Moving to a B: apply well before your L expires, or you risk a gap in lawful residence.

What the L permit is

The L permit (short-term residence permit) is defined in Art. 32 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, SR 142.20) and detailed in the Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment (OASA, SR 142.201), in particular Art. 55 to 58 OASA. For EU/EFTA nationals, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP, SR 0.142.112.681) also applies, in particular Annex I Art. 6 AFMP.

Your L is always granted for a specific purpose and period, shown on your card with the letter L and the purpose, for example gainful employment, au pair, stagiaire, treatment or studies. You usually cannot switch purpose (say, from au pair to a job) while it is valid; that needs a new application. This purpose link is what sets the L apart from the open-ended C permit and the annually renewable B permit.

The cantonal migration office where you live grants, extends, changes and revokes the L. For jobs subject to quotas, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) checks the application first.

What it is not

  • A visa-free short stay (tourist stays of up to ninety days per half-year under the Schengen Borders Code) is not a permit and does not let you work.
  • Notification procedures are simplified procedures, not permits: the 90-day notification for EU/EFTA nationals under the Posted Workers Act (PWA, SR 823.20), and the notification for short-term work by third-country nationals in some sectors under Art. 12 OASA. See short-term work below.

Canton and travel

Your L is valid only in the canton that issued it. To move canton, you must apply in the new canton; practice varies and is usually strict for short stays such as au pair or treatment. With a valid L you can travel in the Schengen area without a visa, for up to ninety days per half-year in each other Schengen state.

Two regimes: EU/EFTA and everyone else

This is the first thing to check, because it decides whether quotas apply, whether local workers get priority and whether you have a right to the permit.

  • L EU/EFTA (Annex I Art. 6 AFMP): if you are an EU or EFTA national with an employment contract of three to under twelve months, you receive the L as of right. The procedure only confirms your right. There are no quotas, no priority for resident workers and no pay check in the procedure (wage controls happen separately under the PWA). The L lasts as long as your contract and can be extended while the job continues.
  • L for third-country nationals (Art. 32 FNIA): the authority decides at its discretion. The general admission rules apply (Art. 18 to 24 FNIA): priority for resident workers (Art. 21 FNIA), pay and conditions usual for the place and sector (Art. 22 FNIA), and annual quotas (Art. 20 FNIA with Annexes 1 and 2 OASA) set by the Federal Council and shared among the cantons. Even if you meet every condition, you have no right to the permit.

The main types of L permit

These eight types cover most cases.

Au pair

Legal basis: Art. 32 FNIA with the exception for au pairs placed by a recognised organisation (Art. 30 para. 1 let. j FNIA), implemented in Art. 48 OASA and the SEM au pair directives.

  • Who: third-country nationals aged 18 to 25, unmarried and without children.
  • Duration: at most twelve months, not extendable. A second au pair year in Switzerland, even with another family, is not allowed.
  • Work: at most thirty hours of housework and childcare a week.
  • Language course: at least three hours a week in the local language (German, French or Italian) at a recognised school. Without proof of the course, the permit is refused.
  • Pay: a minimum amount of cash pocket money, set by the cantonal standard employment contract for domestic work, on top of free board and lodging. Some cantons, in particular Geneva and Vaud, set higher minimums. Ask the cantonal migration or labour office for the current rate.

Common problems are working more than the weekly limit (for example extra weekend duties or babysitting for others), skipping the language course and missing accident or health insurance. Any of these can lead to revocation and removal, and the host family can be sanctioned for employing a foreign national without authorisation (Art. 117 FNIA). In most cantons it is wise to have the contract checked by a recognised placement organisation, such as Pro Filia in German-speaking Switzerland, and coordinated with the migration office.

EU/EFTA nationals rarely need this route, since they can work under Annex I Art. 6 AFMP.

Stagiaire (bilateral trainee agreements)

Legal basis: Art. 30 para. 1 let. g FNIA (international exchange in business, science, culture and vocational training) with Art. 41 and 42 OASA, and Switzerland's bilateral trainee agreements with individual countries.

  • Who: young professionals aged 18 to 35 with completed vocational training, from a country that has a trainee agreement with Switzerland.
  • What: work in your trained profession to improve your language and professional skills.
  • Duration: up to eighteen months (twelve plus six).
  • Quotas: stagiaire permits count against the maximum numbers set in each agreement (Art. 42 para. 2 OASA), but are granted regardless of the labour market, with no priority check for resident workers. Local pay conditions still apply.

The SEM keeps the current list of partner countries on its Stagiaires page. It includes several non-European industrialised countries and countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe, but agreements change, so only the official SEM list counts. EU/EFTA nationals use ordinary free movement instead.

Artists, athletes and performers

Legal basis: Art. 32 FNIA; Art. 30 para. 1 FNIA (in particular let. g, cultural exchange) with Art. 22 FNIA; SEM directives on artists and short engagements.

Stage artists, musicians, athletes and similar performers from third countries can work in Switzerland for up to eight months within twelve months, under SEM practice. The permit is in principle subject to quotas, with simplifications for short engagements. For very short performances, EU/EFTA nationals can use the 90-day notification under the PWA, and third-country nationals the simplified procedure under Art. 12 OASA via the national notification platform. The SEM directives set the day limits.

The cantonal labour office checks the engagement contract against local and sector pay and conditions (Art. 22 FNIA), in particular the collective agreements of the Swiss Stage Association or the rules of the sports federation.

Compulsory internships during university studies

Legal basis: Art. 27 FNIA with Art. 38 OASA; for foreign universities also Art. 30 para. 1 let. g FNIA.

  • Studying at a Swiss university: a compulsory internship that is part of your study regulations is covered by your existing student permit. You need no separate work permit.
  • Studying at a foreign university: you receive a quota-free L for an internship that is part of your studies. You must prove this with a confirmation from your university, the module description and a transcript. It lasts as long as the internship, and can go beyond twelve months if the curriculum requires it.

In both cases the internship must not be regular work in disguise. The office looks at the pay, the tasks and the balance between learning and productive work.

Short-term work of up to four months (notification procedure)

Legal basis: Art. 12 OASA; for EU/EFTA nationals also the PWA and Annex I AFMP.

  • Third-country nationals: for work of at most four months per calendar year, a simplified procedure applies (Art. 12 OASA). Your employer reports the work through the EasyGov platform or the cantonal system. It usually counts towards quotas (with exceptions in some sectors), but involves much less paperwork.
  • EU/EFTA nationals: up to ninety working days per calendar year need no permit, only an online notification eight days in advance. Beyond ninety days, you need an L EU/EFTA.

If you do several short jobs in Switzerland in a year, as a consultant, artist or seasonal worker, count the days together and switch to the ordinary procedure before you reach the limit. Going over can lead to fines for unauthorised work (Art. 117 FNIA).

Self-employed third-country nationals on short assignments cannot use the PWA (which is for employees) or the Art. 12 OASA employee procedure. You need an ordinary L or B permit for self-employment under Art. 19 FNIA, with demanding requirements on business plan, capital, overall economic interest and qualifications. See self-employment in Switzerland.

Medical treatment

Legal basis: Art. 29 FNIA and the SEM directives on stays for medical treatment.

Third-country nationals coming for medical treatment or a cure receive an L for the certified length of treatment. It does not allow you to work, and switching to a work permit is possible only exceptionally. You need:

  • a treatment contract with a Swiss clinic or hospital, stating the expected duration;
  • financial guarantees for treatment and living costs, such as a bank confirmation, a cost guarantee from a foreign insurer or a deposit. The cantonal migration office sets the amount case by case, and it can be large for costly treatment;
  • health insurance for the duration of treatment;
  • a commitment to leave afterwards, usually shown by a return ticket or a declaration.

For long or open-ended treatment, such as cancer care or transplants, the L can be extended step by step while the need is medically certified.

Accompanying persons, such as the parents of a child in treatment or the spouse of a seriously ill patient, usually receive their own L for the same or a shorter period. You must show that your presence is medically needed, that you have enough money and health insurance. This L does not allow you to work, and offices increasingly check for sham accompanying arrangements.

Family of an L holder

Legal basis: Art. 44 and 45 FNIA, Art. 26 OASA and Art. 73 to 75 OASA.

Family reunification on an L is the exception. Unlike with a B permit, you have no ordinary right to it. Offices allow it only if:

  • the L is issued for more than twelve months from the start, or an extension is certain;
  • you have suitable housing, usually one room more than the number of people;
  • you can support the whole family without social assistance;
  • there are no integration concerns (language, children's schooling).

In practice it is ruled out for au pairs, short traineeships, performers and treatment stays. For longer traineeships and some student cases, some cantons allow it as a hardship case, without any right to it. Families who want to live here together often switch from L to B as soon as they qualify.

Students from outside the EU/EFTA

Legal basis: Art. 27 FNIA, Art. 23 to 27 OASA.

Third-country students at a recognised Swiss university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education or recognised college receive a residence permit (B) for study purposes, issued for the length of studies and renewed each year while the study conditions are met. An L is used only for short courses of up to one year. You need:

  • confirmation of enrolment;
  • proof of enough money for fees and living costs. The canton sets the yearly minimum based on local living costs; ask the cantonal migration office or the university's international office;
  • health insurance;
  • sufficient skills in the language of instruction;
  • a credible intention to return home after your studies (derived from Art. 5 para. 2 FNIA; Art. 27 para. 1 let. d FNIA covers education and personal qualifications). Federal Administrative Court and Federal Supreme Court case law shapes how it is applied.

Working while studying (Art. 38 OASA): at most fifteen hours a week during term and full time in the holidays, but only from six months after you start studying in Switzerland, and always with the migration office's approval. Doctoral candidates and assistants whose job is part of their training are exempt from the six-month wait.

After graduating: under Art. 21 para. 3 FNIA, graduates of a Swiss university with a job offer in a field of scientific or economic interest can be admitted without the priority test for resident workers. This is the main route from a student permit to a work B.

Moving from L to B

An L never becomes a B automatically. To stay after your L ends, you must apply for a B at the cantonal migration office under the rules for that type of B.

  • Third-country workers: the general admission rules apply (Art. 18 to 24 FNIA): priority for resident workers, local pay and conditions, your qualifications, language and integration, and available quotas. B quotas are tight, so even a spotless L record does not guarantee a B.
  • EU/EFTA workers: with a permanent contract or a fixed-term one of at least twelve months, you have a right to a B under Annex I Art. 6 AFMP.
  • Marriage to a Swiss citizen: you have a right to a B through family reunification (Art. 42 FNIA), unless the marriage is meant to get around immigration rules. Your L is converted before it expires, whatever its original purpose.
  • Marriage to a C holder or an EU/EFTA B holder: family reunification under Art. 43 FNIA or Annex I Art. 3 AFMP, with a shared home and enough money.
  • Students: graduates benefit from Art. 21 para. 3 FNIA, the most important path for young third-country nationals with a Swiss degree.
  • Treatment or au pair: switching is possible in law but almost always fails for lack of a job offer passing the priority test, and because of quotas. Offices expect you to leave when the L ends and apply again from abroad.
  • Stagiaires: with a job offer from your trainee employer you can apply for a B. It is not guaranteed, but you have already shown your skills and language; the quotas are the same as for any third-country B.
  • Artists and athletes: with a lasting contract with a Swiss stage, orchestra or club, a work B is possible, often helped by the recognised economic and cultural interest.

Timing matters. If you apply for the B only after your L expires, you risk a gap in lawful residence and possibly a removal order. Apply well before expiry; ask your migration office how early. Do not wait until the last working day: if your application is incomplete (a missing document or signature) and not corrected within a few days, a break in residence can arise, which can count as an interruption of residence for a later C permit (Art. 34 FNIA).

Extending an L

Under Art. 56 OASA, the standard twelve months can be extended to a maximum of twenty-four months in total. After that, you must leave or switch to another permit. For an extension:

  • the original purpose must continue (same employer, same treatment, same studies);
  • all conditions must still be met (pay, money, insurance);
  • you must apply in good time before expiry; ask your migration office how early.

Going beyond twenty-four months needs a hardship case (Art. 30 para. 1 let. b FNIA), for example unexpectedly long treatment, study delays due to illness, or a longer traineeship allowed by a bilateral agreement. The SEM decides case by case, and such extensions are rare. Au pair stays can never go beyond twelve months, not even as a hardship case.

Cantons and quotas

The cantonal migration office where you live grants the L. Practice differs a lot between the twenty-six cantons: hardship interpretation, speed, documents required and use of quotas.

The Federal Council sets the annual quotas (Art. 20 FNIA with Annexes 1 and 2 OASA) and shares them among the cantons based on past use and economic indicators, not population. The Confederation keeps a reserve to redistribute during the year. Large, high-demand cantons get bigger quotas but often use them up sooner.

Quotas are usually easiest at the start of the year and often used up towards the end, especially in high-demand cantons. Then some cantons grant permits subject to next year's quotas, while others refuse and ask you to reapply in January. This can delay a start date by months. Your cantonal migration office, or your employer, can tell you whether quotas are available.

EU/EFTA nationals are no longer subject to quotas. Only a safeguard clause can temporarily reintroduce them in exceptional circumstances; the SEM or the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will say whether one is in force.

Getting advice

This page is general information. To find out whether you are likely to get an L, contact the cantonal migration office where you intend to live, or a lawyer on the cantonal bar register under the Lawyers Act (LLCA, SR 935.61). For recognition of foreign qualifications, ask Swissuniversities or SERI.

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