Following the Swiss Federal Council’s move to streamline third country nationals work and residence permit applications, by the end of 2022, employers hiring in industries with a skills shortage will no longer be required to conduct a local labor market test. Furthermore, applicants in skills shortage professions will be eligible for a residence permit without holding an academic education and individuals with an existing Residence Permit will be permitted to change from employment to self-employed status without having to apply for a new permit.
In particular, employers hiring third country nationals in skills shortage industries such as engineering, information technology, education, technical and scientific fields, and the health sector will no longer be required to complete a labor market test prior to filling the position. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden and time taken for the labor market test before an applicant can be hired. Additionally, even though employers will still be required to meet minimum salary levels and third country applicants will need to have proven experience in their area of expertise, they will no longer be required to hold a diploma in higher education, thus opening up the pool of potential candidates.
Finally, those third country nationals in Switzerland holding a current Residence Permit will be permitted to change from employment to self-employed status without having to reapply for a new residence permit. New rules related to this change of status process will be laid out by December 2023.
For further information on immigration in Switzerland, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team.
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