It can be difficult to navigate the Swiss immigration system, especially for citizens of countries outside the European Union or the European Free Trade Association. One of the key components of this process is the quota system, which regulates the number of work permits available each year. Understanding the quota system is crucial because it directly affects access to the Swiss labor market.
For people planning to live in Switzerland for more than four months, it is necessary to obtain a permit, with the exception of EU/EFTA passport holders who have a local employment contract. There are two main types of permits available under the quota system: L permits (up to one year of stay) and B permits (up to 5 years of stay).
For calendar year 2025, the Swiss Federal Council has decided to maintain the same quota allocation for citizens of non-EU countries as in 2024: 4,000 L permits and 4,500 B permits. These quotas are distributed among the cantons and at the federal level.
According to the latest report by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), published at the end of October 2024, 1,621 L quotas and 1,507 B quotas remain available, with approximately equal distribution between the cantons and at the federal level. In addition, 984 quotas L and 884 quotas B of previous years remain unclaimed.
The decision to maintain the same immigration restrictions for EU and non-EU citizens as in previous years underscores Switzerland's commitment to providing a sufficient number of qualified professionals for its labor market.
Source: Fragomen