Getting Jobs and Residency in Switzerland

It is wise to look at the career options while deciding a study abroad destination. Students should consider if they have the option of making a career in the country they want to study in. They should know whether they have job opportunities in the country after completing their education and if they can get residency there. Not all countries let students stay after they have completed their course.

There are also some countries where getting permanent residency or citizenship is next to impossible. If students are planning to start a job after study then they should also have knowledge if there are any opportunities for foreign students or not. This article will provide answer to all your questions regarding work, career and living in Switzerland for a student.

Can Foreign Students Work in Switzerland?

Let’s us first discuss whether foreigner students can work in Switzerland while continuing their studies as many countries don’t allow it. However, Switzerland is not one of them. Most youngsters studying abroad get a part time job in order to afford their educational and living expenses. However, university must report that the job is not affecting your academic performance.

Switzerland allows foreign students to work 15 hours a week. It means about 3 hours a day excluding weekends. Students earn from 20 CHF – 35 CHF per hour working in Switzerland which is enough to cover their living expenses. What job students do depends on their skills. If you can learn at least one of the four Swiss languages, it will increase your market value.

Can They Work After Completing the Education?

This is one of the advantages of studying abroad in Switzerland. After completing study, student just have to get a residency permit from cantonal migration offices. That permit will allow the student to stay for more six months in Switzerland. Purpose of this extension is to allow students to look for a full time or permanent job.

During this search periods, students are allowed to work for up to 15 hours a week. It gives you time to find and work for a company. If you do good on this period, employer can offer you permanent job. Based on which you can further apply for work visa.

How is Job Market of Switzerland?

Switzerland is very rich and developed however relatively small country. There are a lot of multinational companies. It is also home to some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies. Getting a job in Switzerland is not very difficult however also not very easy. Over 20% of total Swiss population comprises foreigners. They are also earning a living so we can’t say that foreigners can’t find work. It is necessary to have knowledge of at least one of four languages spoken in Switzerland. Majority in Switzerland speaks German.

Switzerland pays one of the highest salaries in the world making an attractive work place for potential employees. As per the Swiss law, native Swiss and foreigner workers have the same rights. Foreign workers are also given the same work conditions and salaries as Swiss citizens. One can find job here if he/ she is highly skilled in selected profession. Switzerland has separate job quotas for foreigners. Unemployment rate in Switzerland is one of the lowest in the world.

Getting Swiss Work Visa

Foreigners are usually required to find and get a job from their homeland in Switzerland. Once they get the job, their company or employer will get authorization for a work visa for them from the proper authorities in Switzerland. Meanwhile, they will apply for entry visa from their home country. Residence and work permit is received after arrival in Switzerland.

It is simpler for foreign students in Switzerland as they can get 6 months extension in Switzerland to find a job. Once they find a job, employer will get work permit for them while they get a work visa. After they have worked a couple of years in Switzerland, they also have permanent residency or citizenship opportunity discussed below.

Getting Swiss Permanent Residency

If you are a student in Switzerland you will be given Settlement Permit B. When you get the Swiss permanent residency, you are granted the settlement permit C. Getting Swiss permanent residency is simple. One is eligible for Swiss permanent residency if he/ she has lived about 10 years (or less in some cases) continuously in Switzerland. You can leave country but only for short periods of time.

In this time period, you must not have committed a crime and proved yourself a good citizen. Moreover, you must be able to prove that you can now speak one of their official languages. You will apply for permanent residency or settlement permit through your local canton immigration office. If you can fulfill all above mentioned conditions then you will certainly get this permanent residency.

Getting Swiss Citizenship

Getting Swiss citizenship also has almost the same procedure as for settlement permit. If you get citizenship, you have more rights than permanent residents. For example, you get the right to vote. You can stand for public offices. Moreover, you can even leave the country if you are a citizen and come back whenever you want. Switzerland also allows dual nationality as long as your country allows it.

Swiss passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world with visa free access in 171 countries. In order to get Swiss citizenship, you must have settlement permit (permanent residency) and must have lived about 12 years in Switzerland. Getting Swiss citizenship is more difficult than permanent residency. However, Most Swiss settlement holder don’t even apply for citizenship as they are already happy with what they have. Just so you know, there are also other short cuts for citizenship i.e. marriage to a Swiss national.