Switzerland will keep its 2026 work-permit quotas for third-country nationals unchanged at 4,000 short-term and 4,500 long-term permits, the Federal Council announced on November 19, 2025. The decision also freezes separate ceilings for EU/EFTA service providers and UK nationals.

What are the 2026 quotas?

The Federal Council set the following ceilings for the 2026 calendar year:

• 4,000 "L" short-term permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals
• 4,500 "B" long-term permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals
• 3,000 "L" short-term permits for EU/EFTA service providers and seconded workers
• 500 "B" long-term permits for EU/EFTA service providers and seconded workers
• 1,400 "L" short-term permits for British nationals
• 2,100 "B" long-term permits for British nationals

All categories apply to assignments exceeding four consecutive months or 120 days per year. Non-EU/EFTA quotas release on a calendar-year basis, while service-provider and UK allocations release quarterly. Assignments at or below the four-month threshold fall outside the quota framework and do not count toward the annual ceilings.

Why did Switzerland freeze the caps?

Switzerland has not fully used its immigration quotas in recent years. By the end of 2024, authorities had used only 74% of permits for third-country nationals, 50% of EU/EFTA service-provider permits, and 21% of UK-specific quotas.

Usage stayed low through 2025. By late September, cantonal authorities had drawn down about 52% of third-country permits, 38% of EU/EFTA service-provider permits, and just 17% of the UK track. The under-use has continued a multi-year pattern, even as Switzerland records ongoing labour needs.

The Federal Council cited U.S. trade-policy uncertainty, Switzerland's still-low unemployment rate, and ongoing labour demand as reasons to keep the caps flat. The decision drew on input from cantons, social partners, current immigration data, and economic forecasts. The separate UK quota will continue for an additional year.

Who is affected?

The unchanged quotas apply to three groups: non-EU/EFTA workers on stays longer than 120 days per year, EU/EFTA service providers and seconded workers on the same threshold, and UK nationals on comparable stays.

Workers whose assignments fall at or below the four-month or 120-day threshold remain outside the quota system entirely.

What steps should employers take now?

Swiss authorities flagged that EU/EFTA service-provider allocations may still be exhausted before each quarter ends. The Federal Council advised employers to consider six operational steps:

• File priority applications early rather than waiting until December.
• Shorten assignments to four months or 120 days per twelve-month period when possible, since those fall outside the quota system.
• Notify authorities when a granted permit goes unused or the worker leaves early, so the slot can be reassigned.
• Switch seconded EU/EFTA staff onto local Swiss employment contracts where feasible.
• Use the bilateral trainee-exchange programme, which runs on separate quotas and offers a parallel route for cross-border skills development.
• Seek case-specific counsel from an immigration specialist.

What does the decision mean in practice?

The Federal Council's decision provides stability and predictability for Swiss businesses amid external economic pressure, the announcement stated, while leaving the underlying numerical framework unchanged. Employers should plan around the same ceilings they have worked with through 2025 and track quarterly releases for the EU/EFTA and UK tracks.