Corporate Immigration Switzerland

Why corporate immigration in Switzerland needs dedicated handling

Switzerland runs a two-track system: nationals of EU/EFTA states move under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, while non-EU/EFTA nationals are admitted under quota-based rules that weigh the position against the domestic and EU/EFTA labour market first. Both tracks are administered at cantonal level, which means the same role can follow a different path and timeline depending on where the employee will actually work.

For an employer, this creates real operational risk: a permit application prepared without reference to the specific canton's practice, or without the right supporting file from the start, can be returned for additional information, delayed, or in some cases refused. When several employees move in the same period, or when the company operates in more than one canton, tracking each file individually becomes difficult without a dedicated process.

• •Cantonal migration and labour market authorities decide case by case, within the federal framework
• •Non-EU/EFTA hires are assessed against priority for the domestic and EU/EFTA labour market and against the role's qualification profile
• •Documentation requirements differ by canton and by permit category
• •Processing takes place over weeks to a few months in typical cases, and timelines are indicative rather than guaranteed

What our employer work permit sponsorship service covers

We work directly with your HR or global mobility function as the sponsoring employer's representative. That includes assessing which permit category applies to a given hire, assembling the employer-side documentation the authority expects (the role description, the labour market test evidence where required, and the contractual elements relevant to the application), and submitting and following up the file with the relevant cantonal office.

For non-EU/EFTA hires, this also means preparing the case for the labour market priority and quota assessment before submission, rather than after a first rejection. For EU/EFTA hires, the process is lighter but still requires correct registration and, depending on the canton and the length of stay, the right permit category from day one.

• •Permit category assessment for the specific role and nationality
• •Preparation of the employer's supporting file (role, contract elements, labour market evidence where applicable)
• •Submission and follow-up with the competent cantonal authority
• •Registration formalities once the permit or authorisation is granted
• •Renewal and category-change tracking for the duration of the assignment

Immigration compliance for multi-canton employers

Immigration compliance in Switzerland is an employer obligation, not only an individual one: the sponsoring company is expected to keep permit categories, registered addresses and reported employment terms aligned with what the employee actually does. That obligation multiplies for employers with staff across several cantons, each with its own registration office and, in practice, its own administrative habits.

We give employers a consolidated view of where each employee's file stands, which permit category applies, and when a renewal or a change of role requires a new step with the authorities. This is designed for HR and global mobility managers who need to report status upward, not only to close individual cases.

Confidentiality and account management for HR teams

Corporate immigration files carry sensitive personal and commercial information: salary bands, family situations, sometimes the fact that a hire has not yet been announced internally. We work under professional secrecy and structure account handling so that information about a given employee is shared only with the people your organisation designates.

For employers with recurring volume, we set up an account structure adapted to how your HR or mobility team is organised, whether that means a single relocation consultant across all cases, a named contact per business unit, or a joint file review at agreed intervals.