Work permits

The Employment Department reviews applications for foreign workers’ permits. Requirements for a permit depend on the nationality of the applicant and the length of employment. For EU/EFTA citizens, access to employment in Switzerland is easy, thanks to European regulations protecting the free movement of persons. An online registration or application for the appropriate permit at the Migration Office (Migrationsamt) is sufficient. For so-called “third-country nationals” (citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries), this is more difficult: only qualified specialists and managers can receive a permit, and the permits are subject to quotas. Permits are also required for “posting” employees of an international company to Switzerland if the posting exceeds eight days, regardless of the country from which the employee is being sent.

Registration procedure

Foreign companies with contracts in Switzerland must register their employees at least eight days before they start working. EU companies may conduct business in Switzerland for up to 90 days per year. Approximately 12,000 temporary or posted employees are registered in Schaffhausen each year, primarily in the construction, cleaning, and retail sectors. 

A finger on the pulse of the economy

«We issue around 800 work permits per year and answer many inquiries, » says Andreas Eberhard, who has been in this job for nearly 20 years. «We are never bored, because the legal requirements are constantly evolving. And we serve as the interface between politics and businesses. »