For certain foreigners, obtaining a Swiss B permit is a complicated task, and many are resorting to illegal means of obtaining one.
While nationals of the European Union as well as EFTA states – Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – have an unlimited access to Switzerland’s labour market, those from ‘third countries’ do not.
They must meet strict criteria before being granted a B permit enabling foreigners to work and live in Switzerland for more than a year – including having skills that are essential to Switzerland’s economy and not found among Swiss and RU/EFTA candidates.
READ MORE: What do third-country nationals need to do to move to Switzerland?
These restrictions are pushing an increasing number of people with no rights to work in Switzerland to forge documents in order to get the coveted B permit.
According to Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (BAZG) is raising the alarm about “fake employment contracts, shell companies, and forged European documents which are being used to obtain residence permits in Switzerland, granting access to the labor market and, in some cases, social benefits.”
What is going on?
Citizens of mostly European countries which are not part of either the EU or EFTA pay for these falsified documents to gain access to the B permit.
The number of these cases is on the rise, with the BAZG having reported 1,456 fake documents discovered in 2025 (the actual figure is likely higher, as many falsified identity papers are not detected – read more about this below).
“The number of documents showing signs of falsification that we encounter in our daily work is clearly increasing,” Alexander Ott, co-president of the Swiss Association of Resident Services told the NZZ.
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is also finding increased use of false European identity cards by third-country nationals.
‘Fake independents’
Among those seeking to illegally obtain the B permit is a significant number of ‘fake independents’ – that is, people who declare themselves self-employed when applying for a permit.
They resort to this option believing they would get the permit more easily – which is not true.
READ MORE: How can I move to Switzerland as a self-employed person?
Why are more of these falsified documents not detected?
As The Local reported in 2023, many smaller municipalities, which are responsible for issuing work permits, don’t have special equipment needed to detect fake permits.
But even those that have the needed equipment don’t systematically do ther due dilligence.
A survey carried out in 2025, “showed that only one municipality in four systematically checks the authenticity of foreign documents presented during permit applications,” the NZZ reported.
To remedy this situation, the Swiss Association of Resident Services is launching a ‘control kit ‘intended for municipalities.
“The kit includes a UV lamp, a magnifying glass, and access to a database assisted by artificial intelligence to verify the authenticity of identity cards and passports. The federal authorities are also working to strengthen controls.”
