Full guide
Process, exceptions, and official sources
Every step in order, with exceptions, special cases and official sources.
Work rights depend on your permit text, nationality, and canton. Always read your residence permit and confirm with the university international office before accepting a job.
Work roadmap
- Check permit
- Find job
- Written contract
- Employer registration
- Payslip & tax
- Stay within hour limits
Before you accept a job
- Permit conditions — Note work hours and sectors allowed on your B permit card.
- University policy — Some programmes limit paid work during exam periods.
- AHVN13 — You need a social security number; employer requests it.
- Bank account — Swiss IBAN for salary payments.
- Accident insurance — Employer covers occupational accidents; non-occupational accident cover may be via insurer if you work ≥8 h/week.
Work rights by nationality (students)
| Group | Typical rules (verify SEM) |
|---|---|
| EU/EFTA students | Broader access; still respect permit and cantonal rules |
| Non-EU students (Permit B study) | Often 15 hours/week during lecture period; full-time during official university holidays only |
| Internships | Curricular internships may have separate rules — university coordinates |
| Self-employment | Usually not allowed on a study permit without special authorisation |
Last updated: May 2026 — SEM
Where students find jobs
- University job boards — Tutoring, library, labs, event staff.
- arbeit.swiss — Official job portal.
- Hospitality & retail — Restaurants, hotels (German/French often required).
- Multinationals & startups — Internships in pharma, tech, finance (competitive).
- On-campus research — HiWi/assistant roles — good for STEM PhD paths.
Employment contract essentials
- Written contract — Start date, role, salary (gross), hours, probation (Probezeit, often 1–3 months).
- Gross vs net — Payslip shows AHV/IV/EO deductions, accident, and possibly Quellensteuer.
- Minimum wage — Federal minimum exists in some sectors; several cantons set higher minima (e.g. Geneva, Zurich, Basel-Stadt) — check current ordinances.
- Holidays — Minimum 4 weeks/year for employees (age-dependent rules for young workers).
- Termination — Notice periods in contract and Code of Obligations; do not quit orally only.
Quellensteuer (withholding tax)
Many foreign residents without Permit C are taxed at source on salary:
- Employer deducts tax from each payslip using a tariff code.
- You may file for a subsequent ordinary assessment or correction depending on canton and income.
- Marriage, children, or church tax can change the code — inform HR with forms.
- See the Finance guide for banking and tax filing basics.
Internships and thesis work at companies
- Paid internship — Counts as employment; permit hours apply.
- Unpaid internship — Still may need insurance and permit clarity — get university approval in writing.
- NDA & IP — Read thesis agreements; Swiss employers often own project IP unless negotiated.
Problems at work
- Unpaid wages — Cantonal labour inspectorate (Arbeitsinspektorat / inspection du travail).
- Unsafe conditions — Report to inspectorate or SUVA (accidents).
- Discrimination — Federal and cantonal equal-opportunity offices; university ombudsperson.
After graduation
- Job-search permit — Limited duration in some cases; apply before Permit B study expires.
- Work permit B/L — Employer-sponsored; labour market test may apply for non-EU.
- Networking — LinkedIn, alumni events, SECO labour-market info.
Sources
Excursions without equipment and weather check — expensive accidents without accident insurance.
Quick reference
Very safe country; risks: mountains (avalanches, weather), lakes, and administrative compliance rather than urban crime.
Day-to-day safety
Newspaper
Common scams
Less frequent than UK; attention to illegal sublets and bank phishing in German/French.
Emergencies
If something goes wrong
Rights
Tenant registry for disputes. Work over hours allowed = revocation of stay possible.
Deep dive (optional)
Go deeper
Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.
Contracts & permits (summary)
| Pattern | Note |
|---|---|
| Standard employment | Federal Code of Obligations with cantonal additions—get a written contract |
| Apprenticeship (Lehre) | Dual vocational training combining employer and vocational school |
| Student jobs | Hours and sectors depend on permit type and nationality—check SEM and your canton |
| Self-employment | AVS, accident cover, and social contributions must match your activity |
Minimum wages & payslips
Cantonal minima
Several cantons set sectoral minimum wages—verify the current ordinance.
Accident insurance
Non-work accidents may require separate cover; occupational accidents are insured via SUVA or a cantonal insurer.
SECO & labour inspection
Labour-market information
Federal hub for unemployment, working conditions, and work permits.
Wage & labour inspection
Report undeclared work, unsafe conditions, or unpaid wages to your cantonal labour inspectorate.
Students working
Stay within the hours printed on your permit; breaching limits can affect renewals.
This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.
Official sources and verification
4 HTTPS sources are already linked where they are used in the guide.