Can you work in Switzerland without a permit for 90 days? For some short assignments, yes: a notification procedure exists as an alternative to a full permit. It is not open to everyone, and it is not a way to "try Switzerland out". This page explains the idea, the order of steps, and what to prepare from home, so you can ask the right questions early.
What the 90-day notification route is
Switzerland normally links paid work to a permit. For certain short, temporary service assignments, the rules allow a lighter route instead: the work is announced to the authorities in advance, and no permit is issued for the stay. People often call it "the 90-day rule", because the route is capped at a limited number of working days in a calendar year.
Two things matter right away:
- The route is aimed at service providers sent by a company based abroad, not at someone who wants to take a local job.
- The exact conditions (sectors, timing of the advance notice, documents) are set by the authorities and can change. This page does not fix them in numbers. A specialist can check the current rules for your assignment through the request at the bottom of the page.
If the work goes beyond the limit, or falls outside the cases the route covers, a permit is the normal answer. See the L permit for short stays that need one.
Who it tends to suit, and who it does not
Switzerland has two broad regimes for foreign workers: one for nationals of EU/EFTA countries, based on the free movement agreement, and one for nationals of third countries (outside the EU/EFTA). The notification route belongs mostly to the first world, because it grows out of the agreement with the EU. Nationals of other countries, such as the United States, India, Canada or Singapore, usually meet stricter rules. The official overview is on the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) site.
Some examples, all fictional:
- A Dutch software firm sends two engineers to install a system at a Basel client for a few weeks. This is the typical picture the route was built for.
- A consultant from Mumbai wants to spend a season working from Zurich for a Swiss customer. This is a different situation, and a permit question is likely to come up. Coming from outside the EU explains the logic.
- A couple relocating with children, where one partner starts a Swiss job. This is not a short assignment at all; a residence permit is the topic. Start with the B permit.
Not sure where you fall? The permit finder tool gives a first orientation in a few questions.
Step by step: how a short assignment is organized
The order below is the usual logic. The details depend on the authority and the sector.
- Define the assignment. Who is the Swiss client, what is delivered, where, and on which dates. Vague plans make every later step harder.
- Check the route fits. Is the worker employed by a company abroad? Is the work temporary and within the limit? If not, a permit is likely needed.
- Gather the documents. Typically proof of the employment relationship, the contract with the Swiss client, and identity documents. The authority sets the final list.
- Send the advance notification. It is made before work starts, through the channel the authorities indicate. The deadline before the start date is something to confirm with them, not to guess.
- Wait for the acknowledgment. Work starts only once the position is clear.
- Carry proof while working. Having papers ready on site helps if a check takes place.
- Track the working days. Every day worked counts toward the annual limit, so a running tally is useful.
What can go wrong
- Counting days loosely. Training, travel and site work may be treated differently. Ask the authority how days are counted.
- Notifying too late. Work begun before the notice is a typical source of trouble.
- Mixing up sectors. Some sectors follow stricter rules than others.
- Turning a short job into a long one. When an assignment is extended, the route may no longer apply, and a permit question appears.
- Assuming the route replaces everything. It concerns work. Housing, insurance and local registration are separate topics.
Staying longer than a visit: registration and insurance
A short assignment that grows into a move changes the picture. Once someone lives in Switzerland, the arrival rules apply: registration with the commune is due within 14 days of arrival, with an identity document, a residence or work permit and proof of health insurance, although the practice can vary by commune and canton (source: ch.ch). Our page on registering with your commune walks through it.
Basic health insurance is compulsory for anyone domiciled in Switzerland, within three months of taking up residence. If that deadline is met, cover runs back to the date of arrival; if it is missed, cover starts at enrollment and a premium surcharge may apply (source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)). A visiting worker who stays only briefly and keeps a foreign home is in a different position; what applies depends on the facts, and a specialist can look at it.
What to prepare from abroad
- A clear written description of the assignment
- Employment proof from the sending company
- The contract or order with the Swiss client
- Valid passports or ID cards for everyone traveling
- A day-by-day plan so working days can be tracked
- A note of any sector rules the client mentions
- Questions for the authority about timing of the notice
For a wider planning view, try the relocation calendar, the personal checklist builder, or the week-by-week first-weeks checklist.
Where related topics lead
- Staying a longer time on a fixed-term basis: the L permit and renewing a permit.
- Numbers of permits for non-EU workers: work permit quotas.
- Pay conditions linked to permits: work permit salary.
- Working for yourself: self-employed permit.
- Help with the paperwork: immigration support and relocation services.
- Local help: Zurich and Lucerne.
- A Canadian angle: Canadians moving to Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really work in Switzerland without a permit?
Only in limited cases. For some short service assignments, a notification replaces the permit. For ordinary employment, a permit is the rule.
Is the 90-day route available to everyone?
No. It is built around the EU/EFTA framework and around companies sending staff. Nationals of other countries generally face different, stricter rules.
Does "90 days" mean 90 days in the country?
It refers to working days within a calendar year, not time spent in Switzerland. How days are counted is something to confirm with the authority.
Is it a visa?
No. It is an advance notice of work, not a travel document. Entry rules for your passport are a separate question.
Who files the notification?
Usually the company sending the worker. The exact arrangement depends on the case.
When is the notice filed?
Before the work starts. The precise lead time is set by the authorities, so ask them rather than rely on a rule of thumb.
Can I start work while waiting?
It is safer to wait until the position is clear. Starting early is a common source of problems.
Does the route work for a Swiss employer hiring me?
No. It is meant for service assignments from a company abroad. A Swiss employer hiring a person normally goes through the permit system.
I am a US citizen. Can I use it?
Third-country nationals meet stricter conditions. The coming from outside the EU page explains the general picture, and a specialist can review your assignment.
I am from India. Is it different?
The regime is the same for all third-country nationals. Details depend on the case and on the authorities.
What if the project is extended?
An extension can take the assignment beyond the route. A permit question then appears and is worth raising early.
Does remote work for a Swiss client count?
It depends on where the work is physically done. This is a question for the authority, not something to assume.
Do I need health insurance for a short job?
Compulsory basic insurance applies to people domiciled in Switzerland. A brief visit is different, but the facts matter. Travel or employer cover is a separate topic.
What about my family?
The route concerns work. Family members who wish to stay longer have their own rules; see the B permit and the C permit.
Do my children go to school here during a short job?
Short assignments rarely involve enrollment. For longer stays, the school choice tool is a good start.
Do I register with the commune?
Registration applies when someone takes up residence. Whether a short assignment counts depends on the situation, so check with the commune.
What happens if I exceed the limit?
A permit would then be the normal route, and unauthorized work can bring penalties. Plan the calendar with that in mind.
Does it cover every sector?
Not necessarily. Some sectors have additional rules. Confirm yours with the authorities.
Which documents are usually asked for?
Proof of employment with the sending company, the contract with the Swiss client, and identity documents. The final list comes from the authority.
Can a specialist check my assignment?
Yes. Use the request at the bottom of the page, and a specialist can look at your case without any promise about the outcome.