Switzerland will maintain the same quota for foreigners from third countries; Zurich rental agencies are taking advantage of the city’s housing shortage with dubious practices; and other news in our Wednesday roundup.
Switzerland maintains the same quotas for third-country nationals in 2026
As in previous years, a maximum of 8,500 skilled and specialist workers from third countries may be recruited in 2026, the government announced.
For these individuals, 4,500 residence permits (B permits) and 4,000 short-term residence permits (L permits) will be available.
The quotas for service providers from the EU or EFTA, whose assignment in Switzerland exceeds 120 days per year, will also remain unchanged: up to 3,500 permits may be issued, comprising 3,000 L permits and 500 B permits, in addition to 3,500 permits set aside for workers from the United Kingdom (2,100 B permits and 1,400 L permits).
Rental agencies are ‘profiting from Zurich housing shortage’
As reported by the media, a growing number of rental platforms offer apartment seekers in Zurich special subscriptions, “intended to increase the chances of finding an apartment,” but primarily “they are profiting from the housing shortage.”
Walter Angst of the Zurich Tenants’ Association, said this dubious practice was introduced by Flatfox, and other real estate agencies, like Homegate, have followed suit, awarding viewing appointments to the highest bidder.
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And speaking of lack of affordable housing…
Stäfa, a town in canton Zurich, has come with an unusual idea to solve its own scarcity of rental dwellings – building 50 apartments for seniors above the municipal sewage treatment plant.
According to the municipality, “we could build cost-effectively in a prime location.”
The idea – the first such project in Switzerland – will be discussed further during a meeting on December 1st.
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The Swiss are recycling champions
Recycling culture is quite strong in Switzerland, as reported by the Federal Environmental Office (BAFU) on Tuesday.
Residents are particularly good at recycling beverage packaging.
“Recycling rates reach 100 percent for glass, 90 percent for cans, and 84 percent for PET bottles,” BAFU reported, noting that those numbers are well above the legal minimum of 75 percent.
Statistics are also positive for paper and cardboard: In 2024, each person recycled an average of nearly 130 kg, bringing the recycling rate for this waste to 85 percent.
On the other hand, recycling rate for batteries continues to decline. It has fallen to 35 percent in 2024, compared to 38 percent in 2023.
READ ALSO: What are Switzerland’s rules for waste disposal and recycling?
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