Some weeks ago I accepted the offer of a Postdoc position at a research institute in the Kanton of Aargau. Last week, their Human Resorces (HR) department sent me an email stating that my application for a work-permit had been accepted. This email contained a scan of a document entitled, "Zusicherung der Aufenthaltsbewilligung EG/EFTA". The HR department have proposed giving me the original of this document during my orientation session on my first day (Monday, 3rd of December).

Having read "Living and Working in Switzerland", by David Hampshire, I was under the impression that I needed to have the original of this document stamped by an immigration official when I entered Switzerland. I have raised this point with my contact in the HR department, but she has been "conferring with her colleagues" on the matter for the last few days, and I am still no wiser.

I was wondering if anyone else on the forum has had a similar experience, and would be able to offer some clarification on this matter.

Many thanks,

Lee

No. You do not need to stamp your permit at the border.

I assume from your location that you are an EU citizen. Therefore you don't need any visa or permit to enter Switzerland. So you don't need any paperwork before you arrive here. Once you arrive here, you can collect any documentation that you need from your new work and sort out your registration from there.

I didn't even have a permit when I arrived. My agency had obviously got permission to employ a foreigner. I then arrived in town, signed the contract the next day and then registered at the kreis büro the day after that. Didn't actually receive my permit for another couple of months. No drama.

The confusion comes from the difference between countries that require a visa and those that don't. The visa will be stamped on entry but very few people get their actual residence or work permit until after they have arrived.

Hi Woodsie,

Thanks for the detailed information in your post. I'm surprised (pleasantly surprised ) to learn that as an EU citizen I don't need to worry about any paperwork before I arrive in Switzerland. From reading other threads on this forum, I have a sneaking suspicion that this will all change once I actually arrive there!

One thing that still bothers me about receiving the original copy of my Zusicherung der Aufenthaltsbewilligung on my introduction morning, is that I have read (again in David Hampshire's book) that I need to register with the Gemeindehaus before I start to work.

I don't suppose you, or anyone else, knows if this is actually/strictly the case?

Many thanks,

Lee

I don't know the exact timelines, but I think you have a couple of weeks to register after you arrive. But generally I have found the couple of kreis büro's I have delt with to be friendly and pragmatic.

How long ago was the Hampshire book written? With the new EU-B permit introduced earlier this year a lot of the rules have changed quite a bit lately, and are predicted to continue changing for the forseable future. Generally these changes are designed to make it easier for employers to recruit skilled EU citizens (of course, the down side being making it harder for everybody else).

Hi Woodsie,

I bought the 11th edition of Hampshire's book, which was printed at some time in 2007, but perhaps after the new EU-B permit you mentioned was introduced.

I'm a little disappointing that the immigration/registration information in the book seems out-of-date, since it was specifically for this type of information that I bought it! It's surprising to me that Hampshire didn't at least mention that a change in the procedures for EU citizens was on the cards.

I finally got a response from the HR department at the research institute and they have more-or-less confirmed everything that you posted.

Thanks for all the useful information. If you're every in Brugg, send me a PM and I'll buy you a pint!

Lee

I think I'm one of the few people that think that book is not up to the hype.

Anyway, you have 8 days from when you arrive to register. But again, being EU-15 makes things much much easier.

My view is the book is very good for general living and working in Switzerland stuff like how to get on with your neighbours, travelling, etc. I wouldn't recommend it (or any other book) for anything to do with legislation - as soon as books like that are written they are in danger of being out of date .

AFAIK, you have to register during the 8 days following your arrival in Switzerland (at Gemeinde / Kreisbuero).
However, if you start to work in Switzerland, you have to register this
at latest 1 working day before you start to work at your local Gemeinde /
Kreisbuero !
The above information is only for EU-17 citizens. I don't know the regulations for "new" EU countries or non-EU countries.