Hello Everyone,

I have been reading the forums and seen comments about L,S and B Permits but have not come across an explanation what each stands for and how to obtain it.

My wife and I are both EU (25) (Hungary) Citizens and Canadian Citizens. I noticed alot of people here moved or about to move to Switzerland due to job offers, some have been there for over +10 years. We wish to move to Switzerland and make it our home, live and work there permanently. What are the requirments to accomplishing this? I do not have any job offers, we want to pack up and move, of course with some planning

What are my options? What is the permit I need to obtain to be able to live and work in Switzerland indefinitely without any work or resident permits expiring and having to leave the country.

Sorry if this has been covered, I have not seen a post that explains all the conditions, possibilities and requirments in detail.

In short that is not going to happen. As a Hungarian citizen you are still required to obtain a work permit, subject to a yearly quota, although the EU-8 countries have their separate quota thus making it somewhat easier.

First a B work and residence permit, eventually a C establishment permit.

Szia,

Unfortunately, citizens of the new EU member-states won't be able to freely move to Switzerland until Mai 2011. While the Swiss people voted in favor of including the new member-states in their bilateral mobility agreement with the EU, there is a waiting period until 2011.
This doesn't, however, mean that there's no way for you to move to Switzerland - it simply means that until 2011 the number of people moving in is limited. You can still try to obtain a work permit and your chances aren't really that bad.

kind regards,

Peter

That's because it is the Swiss government's job to provide this information. See www.swissemigration.ch for the information you seek.

The first thing you will need to do is find a job. With a job offer it is likely that the B permit will follow.

It might also be because this information is constantly changing, just as it could for the EU15 during the coming years. The Swiss ensured that clauses were included to limit the entry of EU15 citizens if the Swiss felt (and can show) that citizens of the EU15 flooded the job market. At the same time, negotiations are now pending in terms of the EU27 (i.e. the two newest members of the EU). Those from the EU25 can, when this is taken into consideration, feel confused. The regulations can change.

That would be the case if he was part of the old EU states. Citizens of the new member states are subject to quotas until 2011. I'd be really suprised if they end up with Bs - they'll get Ls for sure. (information on quotas should be on that website).

There was also a Swissinfo story about it here.

I think you can also bet your bottom dollar that the choice of June for dropping quotas for EUers was based on them using up the quotas for this year in the first five months. Quite a deliberate date, I think

Correct - but that includes B permits which will be available for those with permanent job offers subject to the quota. If the quota is gone and an L is issued this is not so bad as the holder will be first in the queue for the next annual quota of Bs.

Typical of the Swiss to take a complicated system and modify it into a more complicated two tier system.

It is also shows the strength of the EU, which accepted this obviously unfair system and also introduced their own restrictions in some memnber states.

All members of the EU are equal, but some are more equal than others.

I suspect that since EU15 will now automatically get Bs that the quota of Bs available for everyone else will shrink to effectively zero. This would be a way of still having quotas while pretending not to if you know what I mean.

I think it's more of a way of appeasing the population to make them think that they won't be overrun with waves of immigration (which they weren't, and they won't be)

Yep - agree there. I was outraged when that was first announced - I thought the same as you - The EU is the EU - they'll never stand for it. Then I saw the UK was pulling a similar stunt! So I guess we can't point the finger at a non-EU member for this kind of behaviour when EU member states are busy doing the same thing!

It really, really hurts me to say it but the most outspoken voice against it was the French, Vive La France.

The action by the UK is shameful.

"At present Switzerland applies transitional provisions and limits the number of work permits for EU/EFTA nationals. Thus, until 31 May 2007, EU/EFTA nationals still require a residence and a work permit. However, the procedure has been greatly simplified and has been placed within the competence of the cantons"

Mark I copied this text out of the link you provided and the subsequent link on that page, living and working in switzerland.
So from what i read above we don't need work permits here from now on basically? Do you think we need to renew our current L permits when they expire? mine goes in August and I am an irish citizen.
I'm assuming its just like as if I went to work in Germany, France or England??

Cheers

Brian

Yes, you do.

Brian, your old formality should become a new, easier formality (akin to C permit renewal in the "old" days).

The "competence of the cantons" I love it.

Ok, it's important to understand the difference here. You don't technically need a work permit, but you do need a residence permit. The fact that these are two separate things but often linked is often a cause of confusion. In the old days EU citizens needed permission to work before they got permission to live. Since a few years ago this was removed, but a "quota" system was in place (which was just a big show in reality and designed so they could stitch you with an L).

So the bottom line is you just rock up to get your residence permit, but no work permit is needed. This is why the process now has nothing to do with your employer, you apply for it yourself. I think you do need to show that you have a job when you first apply I think. As far as renewals go - I see absolutely no reason that they can give you an L again. In fact - why not go along now and ask for it to be changed to a B?

Ok so. It was never really much trouble to receive my permit the two times before though. The only inconvenience I found was having an L and not a B and all the restrictions that follow with that e.g. deposit on mobile or landline phones etc.

Come to think of it I have no idea where my current L is now.....well i guess thats another 60 francs to pay.

I think it's shameful that you were given an L twice in a row - especially as an EU citizen. Ls are not supposed to be renewed, and are temporary permits. Since you had an unlimited work contract (again, especially as an EU) you shouldn't really have had an L in the first place.

Now it's time to get revenge - stick up for your rights and insist on an upgrade!

Yep I think thats the next thing on my agenda. Like you said I really can't see any reason why I'll get stuck with an L again.

Absolutely. Same story for my boss here too. He came over with me from Ireland as a french citizen and he was stuck with an L both times too.
Well fingers crossed here that it won't be a problem.
Thanks for the advice gentlemen!

Brian

Thank you for all the replies.

I am not moving to switzerland just yet, we are planning to leave late next year. They sure make things a bit complicated, let me see if I understand this, please correct me.

L Permit is a temporary permit with which you can work and live in Switzerland subject to additional taxes and fees. Once you have this permit you can then apply for a B permit, however even if you can't apply for it or you don't get it then you can simply get your L permit renewed?

B Permit is the same as the L but without the annoyences of deposits and fees?

C Permit is the last step.... you are an official Swiss Resident?

For a New Member EU Citizen the only way to get an L or B Permit is for a company to sponsor you and have them request the work permit right? I cannot apply for an L Permit myself and start looking for a job?

Am I correct in saying that once you land a job and get an L or B permit then all you have to do is keep renewing your permits and thus technically you can live and work in Switzerland for the rest of your life? I have not read one story where someone could not get their Permits renewed and had to leave the country or was not allowed to live and work there. The hard part is getting that first permit be it even an L Permit, correct?

Thanks!