9 minutes read 1. What is the difference between B, C, G and L permits?
Although it signed the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP), Switzerland is not part of the European Union and runs its own migration policy. For EU/EFTA nationals, four permits cover the vast majority of situations. The right choice depends on where you live and how long your project lasts.
| Permit | Status | Main target | Initial validity | Who starts the application? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G permit | Cross-border | Workers living outside Switzerland (e.g. France) | 5 years (if permanent contract or fixed-term over 1 year) | The employer (most often) or the self-employed person |
| B permit | Resident | Newcomers settling in Switzerland | 5 years (renewable) | The employee (on arrival in the municipality) |
| C permit | Settlement | Long-term residents | Indefinite (review every 5 years) | The resident (after 5 to 10 years of B permit) |
| L permit | Short-term | Trainees, short fixed-term contracts, job seekers | Less than 12 months | The employer or the job seeker |
In one sentence: the G permit separates the place of work (Switzerland) from the place of residence (France, Germany, Italy), while the B, C and L permits assume residence on Swiss soil. The following sections detail each status. For the cross-border permit alone, see our complete guide to the G permit.
2. What is the G permit and who can get it?
The G permit is intended for EU/EFTA nationals who work in Switzerland but keep their main residence abroad. It is the standard status of the hundreds of thousands of cross-border workers from Haute-Savoie, the Ain, the Pays de Gex or Valserhône who commute to Geneva or Lausanne every day.
- The return condition: the cross-border worker must return to their main residence abroad at least one day per week.
- Who applies? In most cantons, including Geneva, it is the Swiss employer who files the G permit application with the cantonal population and migration office (OCPM) before the start date.
- Documents to provide: a copy of the ID document, a passport-format photo, proof of residence (a bill or certificate of domicile) and a copy of the employment contract.
Employee: a marketing manager living in Valserhône is hired in Geneva. The Geneva employer handles the G permit; the worker commutes via the Léman Express and is paid in Swiss francs. By converting that salary at the real market rate (for example 0.92 EUR for 1 CHF) to a French account, they avoid the hidden margins of traditional banks.
Self-employed: an entrepreneur who runs a commercial activity in Switzerland while operating a craft brewery on the French side can apply for a self-employed G permit themselves, by proving the existence of the activity (entry in the Swiss commercial register, business plan, etc.).
The G permit survives job loss: in case of redundancy, the EU/EFTA cross-border worker is compensated by their country of residence and keeps their permit while looking for a new job. For the details, see our guide on unemployment and dismissal for cross-border workers. The official legal framework is set out by the State Secretariat for Migration (G permit EU/EFTA).
3. How do you get a B permit to settle in Switzerland?
The B permit is the residence permit for people who physically settle in Switzerland to work or live there. For an EU/EFTA national with a contract, it is valid for 5 years and renewable.
- Who applies? It is the employee who must register with the residents' office of their new Swiss municipality within 14 days of arrival, and crucially before their first day of work.
- Required documents: the employment contract (permanent or fixed-term over 1 year), a valid ID document, the Swiss tenancy agreement, and proof of health insurance (LAMal) to be provided within 3 months.
- Mobility: for EU/EFTA nationals, the B permit allows you to freely change employer or canton of residence.
A B permit holder can bring over their spouse and minor children. The spouse receives an equivalent residence permit that automatically includes the right to work, without the employer having to prove the absence of a local candidate.
If you are preparing your move, our administrative checklist for moving to Switzerland details the order of the steps (municipality, LAMal, lease, bank). Students fall under a specific regime described in our guide to the student residence permit (B and L). The official framework is on the SEM page for the B permit EU/EFTA.
4. How do you move from a B permit to a C settlement permit?
The C permit is the most protective status. It grants rights almost identical to those of Swiss citizens, except for the right to vote and stand for election at federal level.
- Who applies? The resident themselves, with their cantonal migration authority.
- Conditions: it is generally granted after 5 years of uninterrupted residence for nationals of the EU-15 and EFTA, or after 10 years for other nationalities. You must prove good integration (knowledge of the local language is often required), a sound financial situation without debt or enforcement, and a clean criminal record.
- Tax impact: once the C permit is obtained, taxation at source ends in most cantons. The resident then files an ordinary tax return, like a Swiss citizen.
A Vaud manager taxed at source sees their employer stop withholding tax once they hold the C permit. On an income of 8,000 CHF per month, this is not about hundreds of francs saved but a change of logic: it is now up to you to set aside the tax and file a return. Anticipating this switch avoids the nasty surprise of an unbudgeted annual tax bill.
The detailed settlement conditions are published by the SEM (C settlement permit).
5. What is the L short-term permit for?
The L permit covers short stays and temporary assignments of less than 12 months: internships, short fixed-term contracts, or job seeking.
- Who applies? The employer, for a short fixed-term contract, or the candidate themselves if they come to Switzerland to look for a job.
- Job seeking: an EU/EFTA national can come to look for work in Switzerland for 3 months without a permit. Beyond that, they must register with the municipality to obtain a job-seeker L permit, valid for 3 months and extendable up to one year if they prove they have the financial means to support themselves.
For an assignment of less than 3 months (maximum 90 days per calendar year), no L permit is required: the Swiss employer simply files an online notification, at the latest the day before the first day of work.
The official conditions for the short-term permit are on the SEM page (L permit EU/EFTA). For an overview of all statuses, the ch.ch page on residence permits is the reference.
6. How do you manage your Swiss salary depending on your permit?
Whatever your permit, one question comes up from the very first salary in Swiss francs: how do you receive it and, for cross-border workers, how do you repatriate it into euros without losing purchasing power?
Many newcomers use their traditional Swiss bank to convert and transfer their salary to the eurozone. Banks then apply a hidden exchange margin, often between 1.5 percent and 2 percent, on each transfer. On a salary of 6,000 CHF repatriated every month, a 2 percent margin represents around 120 CHF lost per month, or nearly 1,440 CHF per year — the equivalent of a thirteenth month gone. G permit holders also face non-resident account maintenance fees of 10 to 30 CHF per month.
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To go further on the bank account, see our guide to opening a Swiss bank account, and discover our full offer for cross-border workers.
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