Spouse & Partner Support in Switzerland

Who dual career support in Switzerland is for

This service is built for the accompanying spouse or registered partner of an employee, executive or entrepreneur relocating to Switzerland, whatever their own career stage: an established professional who intends to keep working, someone considering a career change during the move, or a partner who wants to explore study, volunteering or freelance options first.

It applies equally to EU/EFTA nationals, whose work permit path is comparatively direct, and to non-EU nationals, whose right to work depends on the type of permit issued to the accompanying partner and on separate work authorisation rules. HR and global mobility teams also use this service as part of a broader relocation package, to reduce the risk that a posting fails because the family, not the employee, could not settle.

What we handle as part of spouse and partner support

Dual career support in Switzerland covers the practical and administrative steps that determine whether a partner can work at all, and how efficiently they can then look for a role or build an activity.

• •Clarifying the partner's right to work based on their nationality and the type of residence permit issued to them, before any job search begins
• •Guidance through the permit and registration steps that affect the partner specifically, in coordination with the assignee's own immigration process
• •An orientation session on the local job market: how recruitment works in the target canton, which sectors and language combinations are realistic, and what employers typically expect
• •Access to our network of local contacts, professional associations and relocation partners relevant to the partner's field
• •CV and application coaching adapted to Swiss conventions, including language and formatting expectations that differ from other countries
• •Introductions to language schools, coworking spaces, chambers of commerce or entrepreneur networks when the partner is considering self-employment or a career shift
• •Practical support for school runs, childcare and daily logistics during the transition period, so job searching does not compete with keeping the household running

How the process runs

Spouse and partner support runs as its own track alongside the assignee's relocation, starting as early as possible so that permit questions do not surface only after arrival.

What you need to provide

The support is only as fast as the information we can work with. To start, we typically ask the partner for their CV and a short summary of career goals, copies of relevant diplomas and professional certifications, and a description of the assignee's contract and permit type, since it directly shapes what the partner is allowed to do.

• •An up-to-date CV and a short note on the type of role or activity being considered
• •Diplomas, professional certifications and any language certificates already held
• •Details of the assignee's employer, contract and planned permit, since the partner's rights are tied to it
• •Realistic constraints: children's ages and schooling needs, mobility, and whether the partner is open to retraining or a sector change

Realistic timelines

Timelines vary with nationality, permit category, canton and profession, so the ranges below are typical and indicative rather than guaranteed.

Common mistakes partners and families make

The same avoidable issues come up repeatedly across relocations, regardless of nationality or seniority.

When to involve My Swiss Relocation

Involve us as soon as the assignment to Switzerland is confirmed, ideally before the family relocates, so that permit questions affecting the partner are answered before they become a source of delay or disappointment. If you are already in Switzerland and the partner's career has stalled, it is still worth engaging: much of the orientation and network-building work is just as effective mid-assignment as it is on day one.