Hi all,

I plan to start work 1 December in Zurich and have read that it can take from 4-8 weeks to get the B permit - obviously, in my work contract it says i can't start work until I am 'in receipt' of the B work and residence permit.

So I need to know if there is some way I CAN start work whilst the papers are being processed - as long as the papers have been submitted therefore, I can theoretically 'work' and get paid?

I read this could be the case, but wondering if anyone has any firm guidance - obviously being out of work for one month (or two) is going to cost us a fortune out in CH.

We will write to HR on Monday to see where I stand, but if anyone has any advice, I'd be most grateful!
Cheers

You should in theory receive your permit when you register in your Gemeinde (immediately after you arrive). If the permit is not delivered, you will receive a piece of paper which will serve as your permit until you receive the actual permit by post.

As an EU citizen (my assumption based on your current location), you have to have applied for the permit, but an employer used to foreigners won't worry that you don't have the permit in your hands.

I applied on 31 August (started work 1 September) and my permit arrived on 25 October. HR were not at all worried as they knew it was only a matter of time.

If you are not an EU citizen, then it can be more tricky, since there is no right to a permit and the case has to be assessed on its merits.

It wasn`t a problem for me to start work and get paid before I had the permit in my hand (which I got 6 weeks after my contract had started). Talk to your employer, especially about the "can`t start work without permit" clause.

Visit your Kreisburo.They should be able to you some paper which will say that your permit is in progress and that might will help you to work.