Business Desk 
Nov 29, 2024
Switzerland has announced the recruitment of up to 8,500 skilled foreign workers from non-European Union (EU) countries in 2025.
Citing Schengen.News, ProPakistani reported that Switzerland’s Federal Council has taken this decision to guarantee that the country’s economy remains competitive by attracting the necessary talent without facing workforce shortages.
Switzerland residence permits for 2025
The quota for 2025 comprises two categories: 4,500 B residence permits for foreign workers who plan to stay in Switzerland for the long term, and 4,000 L short-term residence permits for temporary workers.
The Federal Council also highlighted the importance of allowing Swiss companies to recruit skilled foreign workers when necessary while maintaining a controlled and limited immigration policy.
Residence permit quota for UK workers in Switzerland
The council has also announced a separate quota for the workers from the UK, which is now treated as a non-EU country post-Brexit. According to this:
- Up to 3,500 UK workers can be recruited.
- 2,100 workers will receive B residence permits.
- 1,400 workers will be granted L short-stay permits.
Notably, Switzerland also aims to fully utilise its foreign worker quota in 2025 which it couldn’t in previous years, with 78% used in 2023; however, in 2024, the usage dropped to approximately 63%.
This shortage can be attributed to the country's strict entry requirements, which many foreign workers struggle to meet. Moreover, Switzerland's labour market policy prioritises hiring domestic and EU/EFTA workers over third-country nationals, further contributing to the shortfall.
