B permit in Switzerland: requirements, fees and processing times by canton
Who gets a B permit, how to apply step by step, which documents to bring, and what Zurich, Zug, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Vaud and Ticino charge and publish as processing times.
In short
A B permit is the Swiss residence permit for stays of over a year. EU/EFTA citizens with a job of a year or longer get one for five years, close to automatically. Most others need an employer to apply, a quota place and often a visa, and start with one year. Permit fees run from CHF 65 to CHF 147.
What is a B permit, and is it the same as a visa?
No. A B permit is a residence permit: you receive it after you arrive and register, and it lets you live in Switzerland and, where stated, work. A visa only lets you enter. The Schengen C visa covers visits of up to 90 days in any 180; the national D visa lets non-EU workers enter before their B is issued.
The B permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung, permis de séjour, permesso di dimora) is one of four permits most working expats meet: L for short stays, B for longer ones, C for settlement and G for cross-border commuters. For all four side by side, see B, L and C permits explained.
It comes as a credit-card-sized card. EU/EFTA citizens get a card without a chip; everyone else gets a biometric card with a photo and two fingerprints (VZAE, checked ) (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). The C permit is the settlement permit you can apply for after five or ten years, and has nothing to do with the Schengen “type C” visa (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ).
Visa or permit?
| Document | What it is for | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| C visa (Schengen) | Visits of up to 90 days in any 180 | Visitors from countries that need a visa |
| D visa (national) | Entry for a stay of over 90 days, e.g. a job | Non-EU citizens who need a visa, before their permit |
| B permit | Residence for over a year, renewable | Anyone whose stay of over a year is approved |
| C permit | Settlement, with no time limit | B holders after five or ten years |
SEM, entry and visa FAQ; AIG Art. 33 and 34.
Who can get a B permit: EU/EFTA or non-EU citizens?
EU/EFTA citizens get a five-year B with a job contract of at least a year or an open-ended one, as self-employed, or with enough money and health insurance. Non-EU citizens get one mainly as managers, specialists or qualified workers whose employer found no suitable candidate in Switzerland or the EU, within an annual quota.
- EU/EFTA citizens: a contract of 365 days or more, or an open-ended one, brings a five-year B; three to twelve months bring an L; work of up to three months a year needs only an online notification (FZA, checked ) (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). Self-employed people, and people not working who have enough money and full health and accident insurance, also get a five-year B (FZA, checked ).
- Non-EU citizens: the job must be in the Swiss economic interest, your employer must show that no suitable worker was found in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA, pay local wages and apply for you, and you need suitable housing (AIG, checked ) (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ).
- Quotas in 2026: 4,500 B and 4,000 L permits for non-EU citizens, plus 2,100 B and 1,400 L for UK citizens (VZAE, checked ) (Federal Council, checked ).
- UK citizens arriving since 2021 count as non-EU citizens, with their own quota (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). Croatians have full free movement in 2026 (Federal Council, checked ).
Cantons add details. For an EU/EFTA B, Zurich expects more than 15 working hours a week on average and Zug more than 12 (Canton of Zurich, Migration Office, checked ) (Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration, checked ).
EU/EFTA and non-EU citizens compared
| EU/EFTA citizens | Non-EU citizens | |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | You, when you register at your commune | Your employer, before you arrive |
| First permit valid for | 5 years | 1 year, then extended by 2 |
| Quota | None | 4,500 B permits in 2026 |
| Card | No chip | Biometric: photo and fingerprints |
| Change of job | Free | Free on a B |
| Move to another canton | Free; register at the new commune | Needs the new canton’s permit first |
FZA Annex I; AIG Art. 21–23, 37 and 38; VZAE Art. 58 and Annex 2.
How do you apply for a B permit, step by step?
EU/EFTA citizens arrive, register at their commune within 14 days and before starting work, and receive the card by post. For non-EU citizens the employer applies to the cantonal labour office first; after the canton and SEM approve, you get a visa or permit assurance, enter, register within 14 days and give biometric data.
Registering is how you apply: you register where you live, and the commune forwards your file to the cantonal migration office. Zug is an exception, where you send forms A1 or A2 to the canton by post (AIG, checked ) (VZAE, checked ) (Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration, checked ). EU/EFTA citizens may start work once they have registered and applied; non-EU citizens once both approvals exist and they have registered (Canton of Zurich, Migration Office, checked ) (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ).
Most offices want you in person. Book early: the City of Zurich warns that its next free slot can fall after the 14 days, and Basel counts the date of your online booking, not the appointment (City of Zurich, Personenmeldeamt, checked ) (Canton of Basel-Stadt, Einwohneramt, checked ). For registration itself, see registering at your commune.
Applying for a B permit, step by step
-
Before you move (non-EU)
Your employer applies
The employer files a work-permit application with the cantonal labour office, in Bern at least eight weeks before the start date. The canton decides and SEM approves.
-
Before you travel (non-EU)
Visa or permit assurance
The canton authorises the Swiss embassy to issue a D visa, or sends your employer a permit assurance if you need no visa.
-
Within 14 days of arrival
Register at your commune
Bring your passport, job contract and rental contract. EU/EFTA citizens may start work once registered.
-
Days to weeks later
Photo and biometric data
Non-EU citizens give a photo and fingerprints at a cantonal centre; EU/EFTA citizens a photo and signature.
-
After the decision
The card arrives
The card comes by post; in the canton of Bern you collect it at the commune. You pay the fees there or by invoice.
-
2 weeks before expiry at the latest
Renew
Apply no earlier than three months and no later than 14 days before expiry. SEM posts an expiry notice in advance.
Documents most cantons ask for
0 of 5 done
Your ticks are saved in this browser only.
What does a B permit cost, and how long does it take, canton by canton?
Federal law caps the fees. EU/EFTA citizens pay at most CHF 65 for permit and card, though Zurich adds CHF 7 postage and Ticino publishes CHF 75. Non-EU citizens pay up to CHF 137 with card and biometrics, CHF 144 in Zurich and CHF 147 in Ticino. Geneva publishes six to eight weeks; most cantons publish no time.
The federal fee ordinance sets maximums: CHF 95 to grant a B, CHF 75 to extend one, CHF 22 for the biometric card and CHF 20 for taking biometric data. For EU/EFTA citizens, permit and card together cost at most CHF 65 (GebV-AIG Art. 8, checked ). Cantons charge up to these amounts, and the commune adds a registration fee, such as CHF 25 in Basel and Bern or CHF 40 in the City of Zurich (Canton of Basel-Stadt, Einwohneramt, checked ) (Canton of Bern, checked ) (City of Zurich, Personenmeldeamt, checked ).
For non-EU hires the employer also pays the cantonal labour office for its decision: CHF 100 in Ticino, CHF 100 or 180 in Basel, CHF 320 or 400 in Zurich, CHF 350 in Geneva, CHF 400 in Vaud, and CHF 200 or 300 to 500 in Bern (Canton of Ticino, Sezione della popolazione, checked ) (Canton of Basel-Stadt, checked ) (Canton of Zurich, Amt für Wirtschaft, checked ) (Canton of Geneva, checked ) (Canton of Vaud, DGEM, checked ) (Canton of Bern, Amt für Wirtschaft, checked ). No canton publishes how long the card takes; Zug says only that it is posted within a few working days of the biometric appointment (Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration, checked ).
First B permit: fees and processing times in seven cantons
| Canton | Apply at | EU/EFTA | Non-EU | Published processing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | Commune, in person | 72 (65 + 7 postage) | 144 | None |
| Zug | Cantonal migration office, by post | No amount; federal cap 65 | No amount; federal cap 137 | None; card posted a few working days after biometrics |
| Basel-Stadt | Residents’ office, in person | 65 + 25 registration | 137 + 25 registration | None |
| Bern | Commune; City of Bern online | 65 + 25 registration | 137 + 25 registration | None; employer files 8 weeks ahead |
| Geneva | OCPM, online or by post | 65 | 137 | 6 to 8 weeks for a first permit with work |
| Vaud | Commune, then the cantonal SPOP | 65 + commune fee of 15 to 30 | 105 to 117 + 20 biometrics | Non-EU: about 4 weeks, plus about 10 days if SEM approves |
| Ticino | Cantonal migration office, online | 75 | 147 (incl. 10 postage) | None; a reminder is possible after 30 days |
As each canton publishes them, checked 21 October 2026: fee ordinances or fee tables (Zurich LS 142.21 via the City of Zurich, Basel SG 519.400, Bern BSG 122.26, Geneva OCPM table of 28 January 2026, Vaud and Ticino permit pages). Zug and Vaud publish no complete amounts, so the federal maximums in GebV-AIG Art. 8 apply.
Renewing a B permit
| Canton | EU/EFTA | Non-EU |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 65 (+ 7 if a new card is posted) | 104, or 124 with new biometrics |
| Zug | No amount; federal cap 65 | No amount; federal cap 97 or 117 |
| Basel-Stadt | 65 | 97, + 20 if biometrics have expired |
| Bern | 65 | 97, + 20 for new biometrics |
| Geneva | 65 | 97, or 117 with biometrics |
| Vaud | No amount; federal cap 65 | No current amount; federal cap 97 or 117 |
| Ticino | 75 | 107, or 127 with biometrics |
Cantonal fee tables and GebV-AIG Art. 8; biometric data stay valid for five years.
How do renewals, job changes and moves to another canton work?
Renew no earlier than three months and no later than two weeks before expiry; SEM posts an expiry notice beforehand. EU/EFTA permits are renewed for five years, non-EU permits usually for two after the first year. On a B you can change job freely; moving canton needs the new canton’s permit unless you are EU/EFTA.
- Renewal: SEM posts the expiry notice one to two months ahead; Basel sends it six to eight weeks ahead (VZAE, checked ) (Canton of Bern, Migrationsdienst, checked ) (Canton of Basel-Stadt, Migrationsamt, checked ). Zurich takes renewals in person at the commune; the City of Bern by email or post (Canton of Zurich, Migration Office, checked ) (City of Bern, Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei, checked ).
- EU/EFTA: renewed for five years; the first renewal can be limited to one year after more than twelve months of involuntary unemployment (FZA, checked ) (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ).
- Non-EU: the first B is valid for one year and can then be extended by two; Vaud renews third-country B permits every year (VZAE, checked ) (Canton of Vaud, DGEM, checked ).
- Job change: free anywhere in Switzerland on a B (AIG, checked ).
- Canton change: non-EU B holders need the new canton’s permit before they move and are entitled to it unless unemployed or there are grounds for revocation. EU/EFTA permits are valid throughout Switzerland; you register at the new commune within 14 days (AIG, checked ) (VFP, checked ) (VZAE, checked ).
Leave without deregistering and a B lapses after six months abroad (AIG, checked ). Apply in time and you may stay while the renewal is processed; in Geneva you may also keep working (VZAE, checked ) (Canton of Geneva, OCPM, checked ).
When does a B permit lead to a C permit?
Usually after ten years in Switzerland, the last five on an unbroken B, with spoken A2 and written A1 in the local language. Citizens of many European countries, the UK, the US and Canada can qualify after five years, and anyone well integrated can apply early after five years with spoken B1.
The C permit has no time limit and no conditions; the canton grants it once you meet the federal rules (AIG, checked ) (VZAE, checked ). Requirements, documents and the C permit fees in the same seven cantons: C permit requirements. Language levels, test format and test centres: the fide test.
Until you hold a C, your salary is usually taxed at source, unless your spouse is Swiss or holds a C permit (ch.ch, checked ). English-speaking advisers who handle withholding tax are listed under tax advisors in Zurich and tax and finance.
Who can help with a B permit application?
For EU/EFTA citizens with a job, the commune and employer usually handle it. Non-EU hires depend on the employer’s application, which relocation agencies and immigration specialists often prepare. Lawyers can represent you if a permit is refused or revoked, and the cantonal migration office answers questions about your own case.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Our directory lists immigration and permit specialists, immigration lawyers and relocation agencies, with the languages they work in.
Immigration and permit specialists
Premium and Featured listings are paid and shown first
Prime Relocation
Full-service relocation · ZugPrime Relocation is a family-owned relocation agency in Zug, founded in 2006, helping expats, families and HR teams with home search, permits, temporary housing, schools and settling in.
ReloNest
Destination services · ZürichReloNest is a Zurich-based relocation company, founded in 2023, that provides home search, school search, permits and settling-in help through consultants in nine Swiss cities.
Auris Relocation
Full-service relocation · ZürichAuris Relocation is a Swiss relocation and global mobility firm with nine offices from Geneva to Lugano, handling permits, home search, schools and moves for companies and families.
Lifestylemanagers
Full-service relocation · ZugLifestylemanagers is a family-run relocation and real estate firm in Steinhausen that has helped private clients and companies settle in the canton of Zug since 2007.
RelEx
Full-service relocation · AndelfingenRelEx is a relocation company from Andelfingen that helps expats find a flat and settle in around Zurich, Zug and Lucerne, with every service bookable on its own.
Welcome Service
Full-service relocation · GenèveWelcome Service is a family-owned relocation firm founded in 1990, with offices in Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich, handling permits, home search, schools and settling in for families and HR teams.
B permit questions
How long does it take to get a B permit in Switzerland?
It depends on the canton and your nationality. Geneva publishes six to eight weeks for a first permit with work, for EU and non-EU citizens alike. In Vaud the labour-market decision for a non-EU hire takes about four weeks, plus about ten days if SEM must approve. Zurich, Zug, Basel, Bern and Ticino publish no processing times.
How much does a B permit cost?
For EU/EFTA citizens, at most CHF 65 for the permit and card (CHF 72 in Zurich with postage, CHF 75 as published in Ticino). Non-EU citizens pay up to CHF 137 for the permit, biometric card and data (CHF 144 in Zurich, CHF 147 in Ticino). Communes add a registration fee, and employers of non-EU staff pay a labour-market fee.
Can I start working before my B permit card arrives?
EU/EFTA citizens can start once they have registered and applied at their commune. Non-EU citizens need the canton’s and SEM’s approval first and may start once they have registered.
Is a B permit the same as a type C visa?
No. A Schengen C visa is a short-stay visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A B permit is a residence permit for longer stays. Non-EU citizens who need a visa enter on a national D visa and then receive their B.
Can I get a B permit without a job?
EU/EFTA citizens can, with enough money to live on and full health and accident insurance, for example as retirees; job seekers get an L permit after three months instead. Non-EU citizens need another basis, such as study, family reunification or the rules for retirees.
Can I change jobs on a B permit?
Yes. A B permit lets you change employer anywhere in Switzerland without a new permit. Non-EU B holders who move to another canton need that canton’s permit first.
How long is a B permit valid?
Five years for EU/EFTA citizens with a job of a year or more, renewable for five more. For non-EU citizens the first B is usually valid for one year and can then be extended by two years.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- Fedlex, SR 142.20 Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (AIG/LEI), Art. 10–12, 18–25, 33, 34, 37, 38 and 61 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 142.201 Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment (VZAE/OASA), Art. 9–15, 58, 59, 71b and Annexes 1–2: 2026 quotas (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 142.203 Free Movement of Persons Ordinance (VFP), Art. 4 and 9 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 0.142.112.681 Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA/ALCP), Annex I Art. 2, 6, 12 and 24 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 142.209 Fees Ordinance for the AIG (GebV-AIG), Art. 8: maximum fees and the CHF 65 cap for EU/EFTA citizens (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) Permit B EU/EFTA (residence permit) (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) EU/EFTA citizens: permit cards without a chip (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) Admission to the labour market for non-EU/EFTA nationals (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) Procedure for non-EU/EFTA workers: canton, SEM approval, entry and registration (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) Entry and visas FAQ: C visa for 90 days in 180, D visa for longer stays (opens in a new tab)
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) United Kingdom: nationals arriving from 1 January 2021 (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Council Quotas for workers from non-EU/EFTA states and the UK in 2026 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Council No safeguard clause for Croatia in 2026: full free movement (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Tax at source in Switzerland (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Migration Office Aufenthalt für EU/EFTA-Staatsangehörige: registration in person, 15 hours a week (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Amt für Wirtschaft Arbeitsbewilligung beantragen: labour-market fees (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Personenmeldeamt Zuzug: appointments, registration fee and Migration Office fees (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration Einreise EU/EFTA-Staatsangehörige: 12 hours a week (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration Form A1: registration of EU/EFTA citizens by post (in English) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug, Amt für Migration Biometrische Datenerfassung: card posted within a few working days (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Basel-Stadt, Migrationsamt Einreise und Aufenthalt: permit fees and renewals (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Basel-Stadt, Einwohneramt Zuzug in den Kanton Basel-Stadt: online booking and CHF 25 registration (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Basel-Stadt Fees for work permits, SG 122.700 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Bern EV GebV-AIG, BSG 122.26, Art. 10: permit and registration fees (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Bern, Migrationsdienst Ausweis B: expiry notice, card collected at the commune (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Bern, Amt für Wirtschaft Anstellen aus Drittstaaten: apply 8 weeks ahead; fees in BSG 154.21, Annex 2E (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Bern, Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei Arbeitsbewilligungen: online form for EU/EFTA workers (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, OCPM Taxes et émoluments de l’OCPM: fee table of 28 January 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, OCPM Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l’OCPM, 19 October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, OCPM Activité salariée, ressortissant UE/AELE: online or form M (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva RaLEtr, rsGE F 2 10.01, Art. 12: OCIRT fees for employers (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, OCPM Renouvellement du permis B durable: work continues while pending (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud, Service de la population Conditions ALCP pour entrer en Suisse: CHF 65 and the commune fee (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud, Service de la population Conditions États tiers pour entrer en Suisse: CHF 105–117 plus biometrics (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud, DGEM Permis pour activité salariée: DGEM decision in about 4 weeks, CHF 400 (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Ticino, Sezione della popolazione Permesso B: costs for EU/EFTA and third-country citizens (in Italian) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Ticino, Sezione della popolazione Sollecito: reminders after 30 days (in Italian) (opens in a new tab)