Work Permit after Graduation in Switzerland

If you wish to work after pursuing your degree in Switzerland, then this article is for you. In this article, we will talk about how you can stay back in Switzerland after graduation, get a work permit, residence permit, visa, and more.

Every year millions of students go to study abroad. Most of the popular destinations are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Other European countries. There are several reasons for students to go abroad for studies, one of them is to broaden their education and gain vital skills for achieving their career goals. Among European countries, Switzerland is one of the most sought-after destinations among international students for higher education. Switzerland has some of the best and top-ranked universities in the world. Switzerland offers a world-class education and a very competitive economy.

Switzerland is known all over in fields such as training, research, and innovation and is an extremely beautiful country with breathtaking natural scenic beauty. When you enter Switzerland and see the opportunities, standard of life, and natural beauty, you may want to stay and work in the country. There can be several reasons to stay and work in Switzerland then mentioned earlier. However, if you decide to stay and work in Switzerland, you need to understand its Swiss visa rules and regulations for a work permit after graduation. Check out the Switzerland Study Visa Requirements for more insight into the same.

In this article, we will address this issue and bring you some very crucial and useful information regarding work permits after studying in Switzerland.

Check:

• Cost of Living in Switzerland for Indian Students

• Can you Study Abroad for Free?

• When to start thinking about Finances to Study Abroad

Types of  Swiss Visas

There are several types of visas issued by the Swiss government based on the length of stay and the purpose of the journey in Switzerland. Some of these are given below.

• Schengen Visa: This visa is issued for a person wanting to enter Switzerland for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This type of visa is usually issued for tourism, a visit to relatives or friends, short-term language studies, and participating in conferences or in sporting/cultural events.
• National Visa: This visa is issued for individuals wishing to stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days. The issuance of this visa is subject to the authorization of the Cantonal Migration Authority competent for the intended place of residence. This type of visa is usually issued for long-term study, family reunification, and marriage in Switzerland.
• Airport Transit Visa: This visa is issued for nationals of certain countries who need a transit visa even if they are staying in the international transit area of the airport.
• Labour/Work Permit: This type of visa is issued for the admission of foreign workers to an employer in Switzerland. The issuance of this visa is subject to the authorization of the competent Cantonal Migration Authority. This visa is granted only when the requested authorization has been delivered.

Residence Permit

All international students are required to register with the local authority at the place of residence and apply for a residence permit, within 14 days of entering Switzerland. This applies to Swiss citizens too, coming from another canton. This process takes some weeks and sometimes, even months to get a residence permit. Switzerland is divided into several administrations, i.e., canton. All the visa and residence permit-related immigration formalities must be done in the canton where you will study.

All international students other than EU/EFTA nationals must contact the Swiss embassy or consulate in their own country and apply for a visa. Once the immigration or police authorities approve the visa application, the requirements for entry into Switzerland and for residence for the purpose of study are met.

Swiss Post Graduation Work Permit

Students can stay in Switzerland only until their current residence stays valid. If they wish to get an extended stay permission to look for work in Switzerland then, they can apply for the same only until their current residence permit is valid. While on a 

Students must note that they can get a maximum of 6 months of extended stay starting right from the date of completion of their graduation (and not from the expiration date of the current residence permit). To get a post-graduation work permit in Switzerland, you need to go to your Cantonal Migration Office and apply for a residence permit. You will also be required to take along with you the following documents:

• Proof that you have completed your course of study
• Proof that you can financially support yourself, must have CHF 10,500 in your bank account - sufficient for a period of stay of 6 months in Switzerland. (Source: ETH Zurich)
• Proof of accommodation
• An extension form with a clear mention of the purpose of the extension, i.e. job seeking purpose. 

The rest of the documents remain the same as required in the previous renewals of the residence permit.

Once you get the job in Switzerland, your employer needs to submit an application to the Cantonal Authority of your place of work. Foreign nationals are permitted to work only if it is proven by the employer that no suitable domestic employees or citizens of states can be found for the job. International students with a degree from a Swiss university may be admitted in derogation if their work is of higher academic or economic interest.