1st December 2023
Immigration
Switzerland | Immigration | Release of quotas applicable in 2024 for Non-EU, EU seconded employees, UK nationals & steady approach for Croatia
Impact High
Summary
The Swiss economy will further need continuous recruitment of highly skilled specialists in 2024. The Swiss Federal Council decided on 29 November 2023 on the number of quota applicable for the year 2024 for EU nationals on secondment, Non-EU nationals* as well as UK nationals. Furthermore, the Swiss government has decided to further apply the safeguard clause (covered by the Agreement on Freedom of Movement) for the second year in a row and apply quota restrictions to Croatian nationals.
The Detail
Foreign workers coming to work in Switzerland are subject to various restrictions, as provided by law. EU nationals on secondments, Non-EU nationals as well as UK nationals post Brexit are subject to quota restrictions and priority access to labour market is given to Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals.
In order to ensure that Swiss companies can also recruit from Non-EU states, the Swiss Federal Council has decided to set the same quotas as for the year 2023. This aims to alleviate the labour shortage affecting several economic sectors while stabilizing and strengthening the Swiss economy.
In 2024, 8500 new qualified workers from Non-EU countries will be able to be recruited for whole Switzerland. The split will be of 4500 B-permits (long-term residence permits) and 4000 L-permits (short-term permits).
The quota for services providers from the EU/EFTA (seconded employees) whose work activity exceed 90 or 120 days per year will also be maintained, with 3’000 short-term permits (L) and 500 long-term residence permits (B).
As the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons no longer applies to relations between the United Kingdom and Switzerland, UK citizens are now considered as third-country nationals (i.e. Non-EU). However, as a transitional solution, they are subject to a separate quota system. Pursuant to the Swiss government’s decision from 2021, 3500 work permits will be available to British workers in 2024 for whole Switzerland, with 2100 long-term permits (B) and 1400 short-term permits (L).
Croatia
At the end of October 2023, the total quota for B permits available for Croatian nationals was fully used. The latter represents 1204 B permits. Also, 76% of available L permits (1053) were delivered during the same period. Based on this postulate and given quota were highly demanded, the Swiss government has decided to apply the so-called safeguard clause for a further year hence applying the same level of quota to Croatian nationals in 2024.
What this means
The number of permits available for foreign workers is an important aspect of the Swiss immigration process. Authorities work in the interest of the local economy and allocate quota to in consequence. Furthermore, once the cantonal allocated quotas have been reached, it is up to the cantons to request additional units to the federal authorities. However, in practice we can notice that for the year 2022 and 2023 the entire amount of available quotas (exception for Croatian B permits) have not been used which presumes Swiss authorities are allowing sufficient skilled workers can be hired by Swiss companies in order to cover potential shortage on local market.
*Note : for the sake of simplicity, we use “Non-EU” as a simplification for “Non-EU/Non-EFTA nationals”.
How we can help
Please do reach out to your Vialto Partners contact should you have any questions on the above. Vialto Partners can help with:
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Ara Samuelian
Europe & Swiss Immigration Lead
ara.samuelian@vialto.com
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