As long as you are accommodated in a Federal Asylum Centre and for the first three months after submitting your asylum application, you cannot engage in gainful employment.
➡️If you hold a N permit, your access to the Swiss labor market is highly restricted and you can only work under authorization.
➡️If you hold a B permit or a F permit, you have unrestricted access to the Swiss labor market. However, your employer must notify the relevant cantonal authority of your employment before you start working.
➡️If your asylum application has been rejected and you are subject to a removal order, you cannot engage in gainful employment.
Once you have been assigned to a canton, and depending on your status, you may subsequently have the right to work under certain conditions.
- Consult the FAQ on employment for persons seeking or granted asylum for more information provided by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
- If you are looking for a job or if you are looking to hire someone, visit the website “A job in Switzerland” provided by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
- Employers can find more information here: Resources for employers in Switzerland | UNHCR Europe.
Your social worker, cantonal immigration and employment market authorities in your canton of residence, as well as employment placement agencies, can provide additional guidance on your right of employment and on how to look for a job.