Hi, I just recently (3 weeks) arrived in Zurich and immediately registered with my Kreisburo. Now, since I am looking for a more permanent accommodation I am wondering how long will it take for my permit (provided they will give me one ) to arrive as I wouldn't like to miss it!

Cheers.

You are from an EU country, so this shouldn't be complicated. Do you actually have a job - if so then they will want to know about it.

When I arrived here in 2000 the process was complex and mine took 8 weeks. I think that things have become a lot less complicated than they were and you may be "lucky" enough to get it in a couple of weeks. I understand you'll be keen on it because without that pass you can't do very much in this country at all.

Try to get a B permit, not an L permit.

This may be useful: http://www.arbeitsbewilligungen.zh.c...gen_eu_en.html

Note, as EU (like me) your permit is no longer tied to work.
That is, your employer does not need to sponsor it.
Despite being the "new" policy, you may still hear different from Swiss officials, employers, friends and colleagues...

As for timescales (for EU), 3-4 weeks currently.

I thought that even though it is not tied to work, they won't issue it unless you have a job. In other words you can't have a permit if you arrive here unemployed. I recall that we were talking about this as a potential "chicken and egg" situation in another thread.

Devcat - the best place to ask how long it will take would be the place where you applied - they will have the best idea.

Thanks guys. Yes I do have a job (I actually moved here because of this ;-)) and I just went to my Kreisburo to register a few days after arriving. I went there with my "Zuricherung der Aufenthaltsbewilligung EG/EFTA" and they said there were no problems. Now, the lady there did not really speak English and we had problems using Italian as well, so I wouldn't really count on the infos I got from her. She said it should have taken just about 10 days, but now it's getting closer to three weeks and, as you said, that piece of paper helps quite a bit, especially if you are looking for a flat.

Cheers

[quote=mark]I thought that even though it is not tied to work, they won't issue it unless you have a job. In other words you can't have a permit if you arrive here unemployed. I recall that we were talking about this as a potential "chicken and egg" situation in another thread.quote]

For old EU 15, you can have a permit without a job. For up to 12 months. My better half (not married, so just as herself) got a 6 months "L" to look for a job.

[quote=gbn] Interesting this. I was under the impression that the only real change was that from a work permit to a residence permit but that you still needed a job to "stay". The residence permit per se is given over the L permit as this has substantially more availability than a "B" permit and a max 18 months. If and when you get a job you, as far as I am aware still need to apply for a change of status and tell them that you have an employer. At this point you "can" be rejected - actually more like fobbed off. I know someone who went down this route and now has a problem because his L is now on its last extension. He can defend himself pretty well - he is a lawyer...

Richard

Yes, if you got a job then the permit would be changed.
I have a PDF at home from a gov.ch webby with all the stuff.

She got a permie job though just as her "looking for work" L expired.

EU "B" are limited to 15300 per year until 31 May 2007, L are 115000. Both of us are "L"

But if they turn around and say no residence permit, what happens?
It could mean a lot of Swiss companies losing a lot of workers...