Most countries in Europe have set up salary thresholds— the minimum annual or monthly wage that a foreign worker must earn to be eligible for a permit. What is the situation in Switzerland?
In terms of permit eligibility, Switzerland’s system is different from that of other European nations.
As The Local reported in 2025, “unlike its EU counterparts, Switzerland has no salary thresholds for work permits, and certainly not for nationals for the European Union or EFTA” (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).
These people have not only free entry to Switzerland’s labour market, but also equal access to jobs.
And since EU/EFTA nationals are also entitled to the same remuneration as Swiss citizens, setting a salary threshold for their work permits could be considered a form of discrimination.
All those conditions are defined in the Agreement of Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) that has been in place between Bern and Brussels for more than two decades.
So do candidates for low-paid jobs have access to Swiss jobs?
The answer is yes.
That’s because Switzerland’s work permit system is based on the needs of the economy and filling shortages in the labour market.
So if certain ’low-paid’ sectors – for instance, hotels and restaurants, home services like cleaning, and some jobs in healthcare – need EU/EFTA workforce to function optimally, permits will be given.
But that is only part of the story
Totally different criteria apply to citizens of countries outside the EU/EFTA.
Swiss economy needs highly qualified specialists and senior executives with advanced degrees and significant professional experience – the kind of skills and qualifications that command high salaries.
If these sought-after professionals can’t be found among the Swiss or EU/EFTA nationals, they will be recruited from third countries, following a strict vetting process of ensuring that their presence will benefit their employers and economy in general.
READ MORE: How can non-EU nationals apply for a Swiss work visa?
In some cases in fact, B permits are granted to US and UK citizens
“B permits are often linked to specialised or senior roles for which there are sometimes too few candidates on the Swiss market,” Samuel Mete, Senior Director for Adecco told The Local.
“These positions often fall within the global salary bands of international/multinational companies, which are usually set higher than typical local wages.”
“And yes, US and UK nationals are more common in such senior roles, but the effect is broader,” Mete added. “Swiss employees are spread across all functional levels, while foreign specialists are heavily concentrated in highly responsible, highly paid roles.”
READ MORE: Why Swiss employers are eager to hire US professionals
On the other hand, unskilled candidates from non-EU/EFTA states are not eligible for work permits.
In that sense, even though Switzerland’s immigration system is not based on salary thresholds as such, it is fair to say that not all low and high earners have equal chances of getting a Swiss work permit.
Or, to put it another way, not all nationalities have equal access to permits, regardless of salaries.
