Switzerland - Work Skills & Ancestry - Short-Term Residence Permit L

Short-term residents are foreign nationals who are resident in Switzerland for a limited period of time – usually less than a year – for a certain purpose with or without gainful employment.

Third-country nationals can be granted a short-term residence permit for a stay of up to one year, provided the quota of the number of third-country nationals staying in Switzerland has not been met. This is fixed annually by the Federal Council. The period of validity of the permit is identical with the term of the employment contract. In exceptional cases, this permit can be extended to an overall duration of no more than 24 months if the holder works for the same employer throughout this time. Time spent in Switzerland for a basic or advanced traineeship is also considered short-term residence. Permits issued to foreigners who are gainfully employed for a total of no more than four months within one calendar year are not subject to the quota regulation. Trainees are eligible for a short-term residence permit too. The period of validity is limited to one year; in exceptional circumstances, the period of validity may be extended by further six months.

Trainees are persons who are aged 18-30, have completed their occupational training, and want to undergo some advanced occupational or linguistic training in the context of gainful employment in Switzerland. Trainees are subject to special rules, which have been laid down in special treaties. Thus they are subject to special quotas. The legal provisions concerning national priority are not applicable to them.