Both its unemployment and inflation rates are particularly low in contrast to its high incomes and imports.
In addition, according to the laws of the Alpine country, as a Spaniard you will be able to benefit from the same working conditions as locals.
The road will not be easy, but we office 365 email address data recommend that you continue reading to find out how to work in Switzerland as a Spaniard. To help you achieve this, in this OnlineCV article we tell you everything you need to know, including:
General information about Switzerland
Officially the Swiss Confederation, Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the world. It is an associate member of the Schengen area but not of the European Union (EU).
It is considered one of the most culturally diverse European countries. In fact, at the end of 2023, approximately 27% of the Swiss population was foreign , with some 2.3 million foreign residents, according to data collected by swissinfo.ch .
Some of its most relevant data:
Its currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF) , which is positioned between the US dollar and the euro.
It has 4 official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
The seat of the federal authorities is located in Bern , while the private sector is more developed in cities such as Zurich, Basel and Geneva.
Most jobs in Switzerland are found in the tertiary sector, where the most important activities are finance, insurance, transport , and consulting.
How many Spaniards live and work in Switzerland?
If you are looking for work in Switzerland, you can rest assured that you will not be alone, as in 2024 more than 136,000 Spaniards will reside in the country.
Of these, almost 90,000 were permanent residents , according to data from the INE and the State Secretariat for Migration Affairs of Switzerland reported by BBVA .
Among other things, this is due to the fact that Swiss laws guarantee that foreign workers enjoy the same working conditions and salaries as Swiss citizens, promoting equality in the labour market.
In addition, Switzerland has a bilateral social security agreement with the European Union that facilitates the transfer of contributions between Switzerland and member countries, such as Spain.
These are policies that make it easier for Spaniards and other foreigners to integrate and develop professionally in Switzerland.
How to work in Switzerland? Requirements for Spaniards
Due to mobility agreements between the EU and Switzerland, Spaniards can seek employment and reside in Switzerland without needing a visa.
If after 3 months you have not managed to find work, you will have to apply for a residence permit to seek employment.
This will allow you to stay for another 3 months. You can even stay for up to 1 year , if you prove that you are actively looking for work.
Once you find a job, you must go to the Immigration Police or Immigration Office and request the corresponding residence permit:
“L” or short-term permit (purple): for stays of less than 1 year. The permit will last for the duration of the employment contract, the duration of the studies, etc. It can be renewed
“B” or residence permit (grey): for stays of 1 year or more. It has a duration of 5 years. It is renewable for periods of 5 years.
“C” or establishment permit (green): can be obtained by Spaniards who have been residing in Switzerland for five uninterrupted years. It is of an indefinite nature and is renewed every 5 years.
