I am a European citizen and have just had an interview for a position in Zurich, which went extremely well.

I was told that the Swiss work permit process had changed in June/July 2007 and that I could start work immediately, and that I can work for 8 weeks in Switzerland without the B-EC permit. Is this true, as I can't find any reference to this whatsoever and it scares me a little that nobody I know has heard about it.

How long would such an applicaton take for the work and residence permit and who would I contact if I lived in Zurich ?

What was also surprising, was that I was told that I can apply for the work permit myself. As my potential employer is in the financial industry, who employ people from all over the world, I was rather taken aback by both comments and am looking for some information to confirm this.

I am amazed that nobody replied to my post for what is the most important question pertaining to relocation.

I now have it verified and if you are a European Citizen then you no longer require a work permit. I still find this surprising, but it's now much easier. I wonder if mass migration will happen like in other countries.

Registering your address at the town hall takes no more than 30 minutes and requires your rental contract and passport.

I am amazed that you didn't find one of the numerous references to this in the forum - it's been mentioned many times.

Just curious who told you, that you no longer require a work permit? This is simply not true. The change in the law provided an EU citizen with a right to a residence and work permit without restriction as long as they held a contract of employment. Indeed it was possible to start work on the day the application was made. To make an application the EU citizen simply needs to register with a copy of the employment contract at the administrative offices in the location they will be living or without a contract if they intend to seek employment here or be self employed. At that point they are entitled to work. IF they start work and intend to get a permit later this is an offence for both the employer and the employee...

KYO, groaning at me for suggesting you didn't search the forum before posting your complaint isn't appropriate.

It is an easy mistake to make though - down at our local town hall the staff will definitely say a work permit is not required while a residence permit is required.

I concur!

I gave you a thanks to counteract the groan if it is any consellation?

2 seperate people in a bank in HR told me and another who is an international relocator. But then you seem very certain of this fact, and I would presume that you have some hard documentation that I don't have right now.

I could be wrong, but am just going on the information that i've been given 3 times by 3 Swiss people.

I am sorry if I am causing problems for anyone, I just want to get to the bottom of this, to find out the truth.

Thanks Natasha, it helps, but I'm still hurt

such a non -PC image .... jam anyone ?

I can provide you with very hard facts ie Swiss Law if you want. Post June 2007 it is a formality to get a work and residence permit for an EU person and as long as you have not been deported you have a right to it by simply asking. If you don't ask in advance of starting you commit an offence, both you and the employer. If you want the legal information as said I can provide you it but it is in Italian, French or German... I will check out some migrationamts and see if they have it in English...

Whoops I made a bloomer. You can work without permit as long as you are not working in catering or cleaning. You must register within 8 days of starting...

If two people in an HR department told you there is no need for a permit then they should be sacked for gross incompetence. Then again, I spoke to HR people who asked me if I was interested in working for a Dutch firm when I specifically mentioned I am only considering anglo-saxon firms.

Do not confuse the fact that a EU-permit is delivered quite simply upon application with a work contract with the fact that you do not need one. A passport is also delivered upon a simple application, but that doesn't mean you're exempt from the requirement of having it when travelling internationally.

As for the relocators...pah.

Just to add to the confusion I have been through the new ANAG to check what the actual status is. It states there quite clearly that the responsibility for the issuance or permits and the conditions attached to such issuances are the authority of the canton for members of EU 17 states. It futher states that there is a right to a permit and an application can only be refused if the applicant is regardeed as a threat to the internal security of Switzerland or is currently under an entry prohibition order. It also clearly says that a canton does not require a work permit for an employer but must provide a residence permit which is free of any quota.

So dependent on the canton the person is living in there may or may not be a requirement to have a work permit but there certainly is a requirement to have a residence permit. To this end I guess the HR lot have got off the charge of gross incompetence and are only subject to negligence for not stating that although you might not need a work permit you will need a residence permit and within 8 days of starting your work...

Is that the ANAG that comes into force the 1st of Jan of next year?

No because that does not apply today. It is the one from 2004 that has the timetable for the EU abkommen in. Interesting that the Zurich aliens department has still a statement saying that Permits fall under quota for EU17 which they do not any more. I guess they want to make up excuses as to why they still hand out L permits...

Aha. But Zürich still has a cantonal requirement stating work permits need being applied for regardless of nationality (is that even proper English...) - or are my memories fading away too fast?

Gramatically it is not English but Americans would say exactly that... And Zürich contradicts itself by saying in one breath you don't need a work permit as an EU citizen and elsewhere that every foreigner in Zurich needs a work permit. Maybe they give honoury citizenship to all EU citizens...

Well in one twisted sense they are right, since although EU nationals receive an automatic permission to work, they still need to be in possession of said permission in order to legally reside in Switzerland... my head is aching.

There's another slight twist here. 2 or 3 months ago, a friend (EU passport holder) told me that when he has needed his Ausweis renewing in the past, HR have done it for him, but this time they told him to apply to the authorities himself.

I believe he's a contractor rather than a permanent employee, if that makes a difference.