Working in Switzerland as a Foreigner

This section brings together the guides on working in Switzerland as a foreign student: the internship during your studies, the contract to sign, then the switch to a work permit once you have graduated. The rules depend first on nationality: an EU or EFTA national and a third-country national do not follow the same procedure.

Before the internship, the paid internship guide explains that an EU or EFTA national can do up to three months of internship per calendar year without a permit, on a simple online notification by the employer, whereas a third-country national needs a permit in every case. There is no federal minimum wage for interns.

When signing, the internship contract and agreement guide points out that a paid internship is an employment contract within the meaning of Articles 319 et seq. of the Code of Obligations, distinct from the tripartite agreement signed with the school.

After graduation, the guide to converting a student B permit describes the two routes: an EU or EFTA graduate who presents an employment contract of one year or more obtains a B permit valid for 5 years (an L permit if the contract lasts less than a year), while a third-country graduate can apply for a permit of up to 6 months, non-renewable, to look for a job.