If you become unemployed in Switzerland, your first thought may be to hurry up and claim your unemployment benefits. But the first thing you must do is sign up for these payments.
Before you actually take these steps, you may be wondering whether a foreign resident is entitled the same benefits as a Swiss citizen,
The answer is yes: The general rule is that if you have been legally working in Switzerland and contributing to the social insurance scheme, then you are entitled to receive unemployment benefits.
However, when it comes to receiving benefits, not everyone receives the same.
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If you have a settlement permit C or a residence permit B, you will receive unemployment benefits, as long as you have been employed in Switzerland for at least 12 months in the last two years and have been living in the country full time during that period.
The ‘permanent residency’ requirement excludes cross-border workers, but there are other provisions for them in place in case of a job loss – they will receive unemployment benefits from their country of residence, based on that country’s, rather than Switzerland’s unemployment scheme.
As far as short-term permit L is concerned, which is issued for residency periods of three months up to a year, you are not entitled to collect unemployment benefits, but you are allowed to remain in Switzerland to look for another job after getting a special permission from your cantonal immigration office.
READ MORE: What unemployment benefits are foreign workers in Switzerland entitled to?
However, before you can claim the benefits, you must first register with your regional unemployment office (RAV).
That’s a requirement, though many people are not aware of it – which is why some cantons have launched campaigns to remind them.
What are the steps to sign up?
According to the government, “you need to register as unemployed as soon as possible, but no later than the first day from which you wish to receive unemployment benefit.”
You are responsible for notifying your regional employment centre that you are unemployed. You can do this either via the eService Signing with the public employment service’, or by visiting your local RAV office.
You will then be asked to come to a preliminary meeting at your local RAV within 15 days of signing on, and bring the following documents with you:
- AHV/AVS insurance card and your health insurance card
- Your identity card or passport
- A PD U2 form, if you are a national of an EU or EFTA country (Norway, Iceland, or Lichtenstein), or are already receiving insurance benefits from an EU or EFTA country, and are looking for work in Switzerland
- Any other additional information requested by the RAV
The whole process is explained in this government video.
