The vast majority of cross-border commuters in Switzerland are citizens of the neighbouring European Union states where they reside. But what are the rules for third-country nationals who live in neighbour nations?
Switzerland relies on cross-border commuters for jobs that can’t be filled with the resident workforce — either Swiss citizens or those from the EU or EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) — especially, but not only, in sectors like healthcare and service industry.
This is a win-win situation for the Swiss economy and cross-border commuters alike, with both sides drawing benefits from this arrangement.
For Swiss industries, thousands of jobs that would likely remain vacant are filled, and for cross-border commuters (G-permit holders), working in Switzerland means higher salaries and lower taxes than they would have in their countries of residence.
Another (though closely related) advantage is that higher Swiss wages allow them to live much better in their (cheaper) home countries than they would be able otherwise.
That is the reason an increasing number of these workers cross their respective borders each day — in the first three months of 2025, over 400,000 G-permit holders worked in the country — a higher number than in previous years.
Who can receive the G permit — and who can’t?
According to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), “cross-border commuters are foreign nationals who are resident in a foreign border zone and are gainfully employed within the neighbouring border zone of Switzerland.”
The term “border zone” describes the regions with have been fixed in cross-border commuter treaties concluded between Switzerland and its neighbouring countries — that is, people living in the immediate vicinity of a Swiss border in France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Cross-border commuters must return to their main place of residence abroad at least once a week, but usually daily.
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What about non-EU nationals living in border zones of neighbour countries?
If you are an EFTA citizen (as described above) living in France, Germany, Italy, Austria or Liechtenstein, you can get a G permit.
There are also no restrictions if you happen to be a dual national of a third country AND a EU or EFTA states — as long as you apply for a G permit with your EU / EFTA passport.
And what rules apply to those third-state nationals who don’t have a second citizenship?
Again according to SEM, “third-country nationals will only be given a cross-border commuter G-permit, if they have a permanent residence permit in a neighbouring country.”
So a British worker who is legally resident in France can work across the border in Switzerland.
But there are conditions: they must have lived with this permit in the neighbouring country’s border zone for at least six months and fulfil the labour market requirements — which means have an employer lined up on the Swiss side willing to hire them.
There is also another distinction between them and EU nationals: while the latter’s G-permits are valid for up to five years and entitle them to change jobs within the same border area, the third-state citizens’ permits are usually valid for one year, and are limited to the border zone of the issuing canton.
Also, third-country border commuters must have the canton’s permission to change employers or occupations.
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How can you apply for a G permit?
The company willing to hire you will request a permit from the cantonal immigration office by presenting an employment contract, accompanied by your identity document or valid passport.
More information about this procedure can be found in this article:
READ ALSO: How to get a permit as a cross-border worker in Switzerland
