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.