Switzerland has strict rules for obtaining citizenship, even for those foreigners who are employed full time and have steady income. Where does this leave freelancers?
Switzerland doesn’t give out work permits specifically for self-employed persons / freelancers, as most Swiss permits are tied to an employer.
You can become a freelancer only if you are already living in the country, with a legal status that allows you to work here long-term, which usually means either a B or C permit (read more about it below).
That’s an important thing to know before you even begin to think about citizenship.
So what are your chances?
You may think that if you don’t have a ‘steady’ job at an established company and your income fluctuates from one month to another, you have less chance of being naturalised.
It is true that Swiss authorities are picky about these kinds of things, but being a freelancer is not automatically seen as a deterrent to citizenship.
In fact, freelancing is actually hip and trendy these days, with many companies recruiting these services:
READ ALSO: Why freelance and temp workers are in high demand in Switzerland right now
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But let’s go back to citizenship
Whether you are employed by a company or are working as a freelancer for a variety of companies, for the purpose of naturalisation you are held to the same standard as all ‘regular’ foreign employees.
This means that you must have lived in Switzerland for a required number of years; be proficient in the language of your region; be law-abiding and well integrated in your community; pay your taxes and social contributions; and be financially self-sufficient.
This last point could be a deal breaker for freelancers who work only occasionally and whose income varies from month to month.
Swiss authorities will likely see it as a warning that you could be asking for social assistance, which they obviously want to avoid at all costs (no pun intended).
So even if you have a C permit, which is a stepping stone to citizenship, but you can’t support yourself on what you earn, or else your income is not regular enough to satisfy the authorities, the odds of being naturalised are not in your favour.
The only exceptions are if you are married to a Swiss citizen with a steady income, in which case you can apply for a fast-track naturalisation and will probably be granted one.
That’s the ‘worst-case’ scenario. But there is good news as well.
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The path to citizenship is not always bumpy
Being a freelancer as such doesn’t preclude you from becoming a Swiss citizen, as long as you fulfil all the above-mentioned conditions.
Chances are that if you had obtained a C permit while freelancing, you have already shown a sufficient earning power to satisfy Swiss authorities.
That’s because freelancers need to demonstrate a viable business and financial independence to obtain and maintain their B permit — and have it upgraded to C after the required residency period.
Your chances will be even better if you have a good amount of savings and other assets as proof that you have a financial ‘cushion’ in case your freelance business will not generate enough income in the future and you will be able to support yourself sustainably.
These articles provide more information about freelancers’ rights and obligations in Switzerland:
Freelancing in Switzerland: What foreign nationals need to know
How can I move to Switzerland as a self-employed person?
