 | | | 
12.03.2021, 18:22
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Zurich
Posts: 9
Groaned at 3 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
Hi all!
I have a Hungarian passport and I am here in Switzerland visiting my boyfriend while working remotely for my residence country job (United Kingdom).
I am close to reaching the 90 days of staying in Switzerland as a tourist, so I believe I need to request an L permit
Now I am bit confuse on how to request an exemption from insurance in case I request an L permit since I don't understand the information on the website for my particular case.
The enquiry is, in case someone did this in a similar situation than mine: in whichcategoryof exemption my case will be and what I need to present?
Just to clarify in the events I will still be working for my residence city job in London, in which I pay compulsatoryNHS (National Health Insurance)
hence for the next months, I won't be looking for a job in Switzerland, and all my income come from the Uk.
Appreciate any information!
Thanks!
| 
12.03.2021, 18:45
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | Hi all!
I have a Hungarian passport and I am here in Switzerland visiting my boyfriend while working remotely for my residence country job (United Kingdom).
I am close to reaching the 90 days of staying in Switzerland as a tourist, so I believe I need to request an L permit
Now I am bit confuse on how to request an exemption from insurance in case I request an L permit since I don't understand the information on the website for my particular case.
The enquiry is, in case someone did this in a similar situation than mine: in whichcategoryof exemption my case will be and what I need to present?
Just to clarify in the events I will still be working for my residence city job in London, in which I pay compulsatoryNHS (National Health Insurance)
hence for the next months, I won't be looking for a job in Switzerland, and all my income come from the Uk.
Appreciate any information!
Thanks! | | | | | You will need health & accident insurance as a resident of CH.
| The following 6 users would like to thank fatmanfilms for this useful post: | | 
12.03.2021, 19:23
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wallis
Posts: 6,593
Groaned at 115 Times in 80 Posts
Thanked 7,373 Times in 3,363 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
You’ll not only have to pay health insurance here, but also tax!
| 
12.03.2021, 19:24
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | You’ll not only have to pay health insurance here, but also tax! | | | | | Tax is likely to be a non issue as the UK tax paid will likely exceed CH liability.
| 
16.03.2021, 23:08
|  | Member | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Geneva
Posts: 207
Groaned at 35 Times in 24 Posts
Thanked 254 Times in 132 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
You can temporarily suspend your permit by handing it over to the authorities if you plan to leave for a long time, but for as long as your permit is valid and you are in its possession you must have a swiss health insurance. Only exceptions are UN workers, temporary exchange students and little more.
| 
17.03.2021, 07:43
|  | Moderately Dutch | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zurich
Posts: 11,804
Groaned at 385 Times in 323 Posts
Thanked 15,430 Times in 7,122 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
If I understand this correctly you are here working as well as staying here as a tourist? You cannot work here unless you have a permit.
Maybe there are exemptions as you work remote?
| This user would like to thank roegner for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 08:42
|  | Member | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Geneva
Posts: 207
Groaned at 35 Times in 24 Posts
Thanked 254 Times in 132 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | If I understand this correctly you are here working as well as staying here as a tourist? You cannot work here unless you have a permit.
Maybe there are exemptions as you work remote? | | | | | You can for short periods of time.
| 
17.03.2021, 10:19
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Zurich
Posts: 9
Groaned at 3 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
I am working remotely for my job in the UK, which is allowed and is one of the exemption categories "having incomes or pensions exclusively from another country"
So I don't work for a Swiss company, I work remotely for a company abroad while staying here | 
17.03.2021, 10:22
|  | Moderately Dutch | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zurich
Posts: 11,804
Groaned at 385 Times in 323 Posts
Thanked 15,430 Times in 7,122 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | I am working remotely for my job in the UK, which is allowed and is one of the exemption categories "having incomes or pensions exclusively from another country"
So I don't work for a Swiss company, I work remotely for a company abroad while staying here  | | | | |
But then you still need a permit as you are not a tourist. Afaik the 90 day rule applies to short term work only.
| 
17.03.2021, 10:24
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | But then you still need a permit as you are not a tourist. Afaik the 90 day rule applies to short term work only. | | | | | If it's more than 8/9/ days then the UK company would need to register a branch in CH to go with the 90 day rule. I thought it was just filling in a form, however it's more than that.
| This user would like to thank fatmanfilms for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 10:33
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Around Lake Zurich
Posts: 6,427
Groaned at 42 Times in 31 Posts
Thanked 6,610 Times in 3,016 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
Basically you just need to walk into the local town hall and ask them what you can do.
I would not tell them you were 'working remotely' - I would say you came temporarily and delayed going back to the UK due to COVID. I assume you have a place of residence in the UK ?
As a Hungarian citizen you may have easier access to a permit, but I have no idea whether your foreign salary would be enough to allow you to live in Switzerland and get an L permit...
As others have said, it maybe not allowed as why would Switzerland want a foreign employee worker to live, take the benefit of government services, but not pay tax into the local economy ?
What you 'might' be able to do is extend your visa due to COVID. But I suspect you will be asked to either return to Hungary or UK.
| 
17.03.2021, 10:33
| Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lausanne
Posts: 343
Groaned at 21 Times in 12 Posts
Thanked 404 Times in 187 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
Are you thinking of moving to Switzerland while keep working for a UK company remotely and paying taxes in the UK?
Or are you just looking to extend your tourist visa in order to stay a bit longer?
Type of permit will depend on your medium/long term goal.
As you mentioned that you won't be looking for work in the next months, does it mean you are looking to relocate and will eventually start looking for a job in Switzerland?
| 
17.03.2021, 10:51
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Up there over the fog
Posts: 3,683
Groaned at 429 Times in 321 Posts
Thanked 3,740 Times in 1,947 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
You really need to make serious enquiries with your Commune. The way I understand it, whether you work or not, wherever you work, after 3 months you become resident, and you have to have health and accident insurance and a work permit.
| 
17.03.2021, 10:59
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Zurich
Posts: 9
Groaned at 3 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
I am wanting to stay a bit longer (3 months top) since I have to go back to the Uk, because I have my rent contract and things to sort out there
The town hall was really unhelpful since the only thing they said it was to fill in the registration and wait for the immigration office to reply.
Ideally, it will be a tourist visa exemption, but that is something that doesn't exist according to him, is either registration or nothing. 
In terms of convenience, the fact that I am earning my salary abroad and expending my money here I think is not too bad, and that is why they have all these figures that include working for a foreign company  .
The other thing is that since I had to go out and back for personal reason between the Schengen area and there is nothing that proves my travel outside Switzerland except for my first entrance I don't want to be charge health insurance for the first 3 months that I stayed here partially, and as a tourist, not as a job seeker.
But my question is more in terms of someone requesting this exemption and giving me some clues on the request process 
You can find the links of what I am referring too here: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home...e-eu-efta.html https://www.zh.ch/en/gesundheit/kran...sicherung.html https://www.zh.ch/en/gesundheit/kran...ml#-1017222904
and the Helsana part on Special cases: https://www.helsana.ch/en/individual...newcomers.html | 
17.03.2021, 11:04
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | I am wanting to stay a bit longer (3 months top) since I have to go back to the Uk, because I have my rent contract and things to sort out there
The town hall was really unhelpful since the only thing they said it was to fill in the registration and wait for the immigration office to reply.
Ideally, it will be a tourist visa exemption, but that is something that doesn't exist according to him, is either registration or nothing.
In terms of convenience, the fact that I am earning my salary abroad and expending my money here I think is not too bad, and that is why they have all these figures that include working for a foreign company .
The other thing is that since I had to go out and back for personal reason between the Schengen area and there is nothing that proves my travel outside Switzerland except for my first entrance I don't want to be charge health insurance for the first 3 months that I stayed here partially, and as a tourist, not as a job seeker.
But my question is more in terms of someone requesting this exemption and giving me some clues on the request process 
You can find the links of what I am referring too here: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home...e-eu-efta.html https://www.zh.ch/en/gesundheit/kran...sicherung.html https://www.zh.ch/en/gesundheit/kran...ml#-1017222904
and the Helsana part on Special cases: https://www.helsana.ch/en/individual...newcomers.html | | | | | You are not a tourist, so a tourist visa is not applicable.
| The following 3 users would like to thank fatmanfilms for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 11:08
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Around Lake Zurich
Posts: 6,427
Groaned at 42 Times in 31 Posts
Thanked 6,610 Times in 3,016 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
so, did you fill in the registration form and wait for their reply ?
You can't get a tourist visa 'exemption' - you could apply for an extension of your tourist visa because of covid. But you're not really a tourist - are you ? You're here, working remotely but still employed and resident elsewhere.
If you move your residency to Switzerland, you will give up your residency in the UK - that could impact your employment contract in the UK,
Did you break your UK residency permit by leaving the UK for more than 3 months ? That may be more of a problem when you try to go back to the UK... especially post-Brexit... it looks like you are allowed maximum 6 months outside UK before it affects your UK permit.
| The following 4 users would like to thank swisspea for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 12:13
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Zurich
Posts: 9
Groaned at 3 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
Right, that is why I will be back to the Uk before the 6 months ends, and that is why I am not setting residence here since I am just visiting for now.
I didn't fill in anything yet because I still need to make decition on if I can stay, that is based on not being obligated to pay medical insurance here 3 months retroactive plus the 2 months I stay after, and that is the information based on experiences that I am trying to get from here | 
17.03.2021, 12:18
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Up there over the fog
Posts: 3,683
Groaned at 429 Times in 321 Posts
Thanked 3,740 Times in 1,947 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk
It is not that they are being 'unhelpful' it is the way it is- and there is nothing they, or you, can do about it.
''Ideally, it will be a tourist visa exemption, but that is something that doesn't exist according to him, is either registration or nothing.''
| The following 2 users would like to thank JackieH for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 12:27
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | Right, that is why I will be back to the Uk before the 6 months ends, and that is why I am not setting residence here since I am just visiting for now.
I didn't fill in anything yet because I still need to make decition on if I can stay, that is based on not being obligated to pay medical insurance here 3 months retroactive plus the 2 months I stay after, and that is the information based on experiences that I am trying to get from here  | | | | | Who do you expect to pay for emergency medical treatment? The EHIC card only covers 3 months as tourist & I don't think it covers CH anymore.
| The following 3 users would like to thank fatmanfilms for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 12:30
|  | Moderately Dutch | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zurich
Posts: 11,804
Groaned at 385 Times in 323 Posts
Thanked 15,430 Times in 7,122 Posts
| | Re: Exemption from insurance working remotely for the Uk | Quote: | |  | | | Right, that is why I will be back to the Uk before the 6 months ends, and that is why I am not setting residence here since I am just visiting for now.
I didn't fill in anything yet because I still need to make decition on if I can stay, that is based on not being obligated to pay medical insurance here 3 months retroactive plus the 2 months I stay after, and that is the information based on experiences that I am trying to get from here  | | | | |
You are not visiting unfortunately from a permit point of view. You are either a tourist without work or looking for work or you are working here and need a residency permit for that.
| The following 7 users would like to thank roegner for this useful post: | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 02:02. | |