Working while and after studying Healthy finances are part of the experience, too

• You may pursue part-time employment during the semester.
• You must register employment of up to 15 hours per week with the relevant authorities. Students who live in the Canton of Lucerne (other cantons may have different rules) must report this by sending a copy of their employment contract, signed by at least the employer, to the cantonal migration office with the note ‘part-time employment’.
  Employment may be taken up on the day following the notification.
• A permit is required for employment exceeding 15 hours per week. If your place of residence is in the Canton of Lucerne (other cantons may have different rules), you must submit the following documents with the cantonal migration office:
  - Application form 1
  - Copy of employment contract (signed by employer) containing agreed weekly hours of work
  - Brief explanation why application is filed
  - Current confirmation of enrolment
  Employment may be taken up on the day following the submission of the documents. 
• In both cases, students may work full-time during the semester break.

The same conditions apply if a mandatory work placement is part of your degree programme.

In any case, studying must always remain the main purpose of your stay in Switzerland—gainful employment must not prolong the duration of your studies.

° EU: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, Czech Republic, Cyprus; EFTA: Island, Liechtenstein, Norway

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• You can only start to work during the semester (for up to 15 hours per week) after having stayed in Switzerland for at least six months.
• Responsibility rests with the local labour market authority. 
• If your place of employment is in the Canton of Lucerne (other cantons may have different regulations), your employer must submit the following documents with the cantonal migration office:
  - Application form 2
  - Copy of fixed-term work contract (limited to the duration of studies and no more than 15 hours per week, with wages customary for the industry and region)
  - Current enrolment confirmation from the relevant Swiss university-level institution
  - Confirmation, issued by the university, that part-time employment is compatible with studying
  - Copy of passport
• During the semester holidays, you may work full time.
• You must have a work permit before you start working.

If a work placement is part of your study programme, the following applies:

• The work placement must be compulsory.
• You do not have to have stayed in Switzerland for six months before your work placement commences.
• The work placement must not take up more than half of the overall workload. 
• If your place of employment is in the Canton of Lucerne (other cantons may have different rules), your employer must submit the following documents with the cantonal migration office: 
  - Application form 2
  - Copy of fixed-term work contract (limited to the duration of the work placement)
  - Current enrolment confirmation from the relevant Swiss university-level institution
  - Confirmation from the university that the work placement is compulsory
  - You must have a work permit before you start working.

In any case, studying must always remain the main purpose of your stay in Switzerland—gainful employment must not prolong the duration of your studies.

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• You need a residence permit to work.
• It also acts as a work permit.

Learn more here.

° EU: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, Czech Republic, Cyprus; EFTA: Island, Liechtenstein, Norway

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• Normally, you must leave Switzerland after finishing your studies and wait for the decision of the migration office abroad (see exceptions).
• Your employer must apply for your work permit with the local authorities of your place of employment.
• Granting a work permit to a non-EU/EFTA citizen must be in the overall economic interest of Switzerland. The authorities will consider the current labour market situation and decide in the interest of the country’s sustainable economic development.  
• Your residence permit is subject to a quota: a permit can only be granted if a corresponding quota is available.
• Employment is only possible if no suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidates can be found for the position
• A permit can only be granted if you are an executive, a specialist or other type of skilled worker. Your professional qualifications must be commensurate with your new role. In the residence permit process, it will be assessed whether the applicant’s professional qualification, professional and social adaptability, language skills and age allow for complete integration in the job market and social environment.
• Exceptions:
  - “Foreign nationals may be admitted to pursue gainful employment without precedence given to the domestic workforce if it is of high scientific or economic interest. This regulation only applies to degrees obtained from recognised Swiss university-level institutions (universities and universities of applied sciences).” (learn more here)
  - “By way of derogation from paragraph 1, foreign nationals with degrees from Swiss university-level institutions may be admitted to pursue gainful employment if it is of high scientific or economic interest. They will be admitted for a period of six months after finishing their studies in Switzerland, during which they may seek relevant employment.” (learn more here)

There is no legal entitlement to the granting of a residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment. The application must be filed by the employer. If the desired place of employment is in the Canton of Lucerne, it is strongly recommended that the employer contacts the Lucerne Office for Migration before submitting the application. 

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