On 25 November 2020, the Swiss Federal Council determined the 2021 quotas for third country nationals and service providers from the EU/EFTA. The total number of quotas for 2021 remains at the same level as 2020. From 1 January 2021, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the United Kingdom will no longer apply, therefore a separate quota for employed UK nationals will be applicable.
Third country nationals
8’500 specialists from non-EU/EFTA countries may be recruited in Switzerland.
- 4'000 quotas for L short-term residence permits
- 4'500 quotas for B residence permits
Service providers from EU/ESTA countries
The maximum number of service providers (i.e. expatriates) from EU/EFTA countries remains unchanged.
- 3'000 quotas for L short-term residence permits
- 500 quotas for B residence permits
Croatian citizens
The quotas available for Croatian citizens have increased for 2021.
- 2'000 (+842) quotas for L short-term residence permits
- 250 (+117) quotas for B residence permits
UK citizens
The agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the UK will no longer apply from 1 January 2021, following the UK's departure from the EU. Up to 3'500 workers may be recruited from the UK next year.
- 1'400 quotas for L short-term residence permits
- 2'100 quotas for B residence permits
The quota limit for UK nationals is initially valid for one year. Until further notice, work authorizations for British nationals will fall under cantonal jurisdiction and will not be subject to federal approval. This measure is a one-year transitional solution and does not set a precedent for regulations applicable after 2021.
The separate UK quotas for 2022 may be integrated into the third country quotas if no agreement on a future migration regime is reached in the next year.
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