Vietnamese citizens moving to Swiss Confederation
Vietnamese nationals typically move to Swiss Confederation through its standard work, study, family, and skilled-migration routes rather than through a dedicated bilateral scheme. Eligibility and processing times are set by State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), so check each route below for its primary source.
We cover 5 Switzerland routes — 2 can be started without a job offer, and 3 lead to permanent residence.
Tourist entry
No. Vietnamese nationals require a visa to enter Swiss Confederation, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Treaty & bilateral memberships
No nationality-specific treaty routes apply.
Consular processing: a Swiss Confederation consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
What this means for Vietnamese citizens
Of the 5 Swiss Confederation routes we cover, 2 can be started without an employer sponsor and 3 can lead to permanent residence. Expect a language test or qualification-recognition step, since language alignment is only partial.
All Swiss Confederation routes open to Vietnamese applicants
General routes available to all nationalities. Click any to read the full guide.
B Permit — Third-Country National (Aufenthaltsbewilligung)
Annual residence permit for non-EU/EFTA workers with a Swiss employer — subject to federal and cantonal quotas and a full labour-market test.
Job offer required · Leads to permanent residence
L Permit — Short-Term Residence (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung)
Short-term work and residence permit for project-based or temporary assignments of up to 12 months — separate quota from the B permit.
Job offer required · Temporary
C Permit — Settlement (Niederlassungsbewilligung)
Swiss permanent residence permit — unrestricted work rights, no employer sponsorship, granted after 5–10 years of continuous B permit residence.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
Student Residence Permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung für Studierende)
Residence permit for international students at Swiss universities and higher-education institutions — limited work rights and a 6-month post-graduation job search extension.
Job offer required · Temporary
Family Reunification (Familiennachzug)
Residence permit for spouses and children of B and C permit holders — conditions vary by the sponsor's permit type and nationality.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
Frequently asked questions
Can Vietnamese citizens enter Swiss Confederation without a visa?+
No. Vietnamese nationals require a visa to enter Swiss Confederation, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Which Swiss Confederation visa routes are best suited to Vietnamese applicants?+
Vietnamese nationals typically move to Swiss Confederation through its standard work, study, family, and skilled-migration routes rather than through a dedicated bilateral scheme. Eligibility and processing times are set by State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), so check each route below for its primary source.
Where do Vietnamese applicants typically apply for a Swiss Confederation visa?+
Applications are typically processed at a Swiss Confederation consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Some digital and in-country applications can be filed directly with Swiss Confederation's immigration authority without a consular visit.
Do Vietnamese citizens need a job offer to move to Swiss Confederation?+
Not necessarily. 2 of the 5 Swiss Confederation routes we cover can be started without an employer sponsor, while the rest need a sponsoring employer or job offer. If you do not have an offer yet, the no-sponsor routes are the place to start.
Can Vietnamese citizens get permanent residence in Swiss Confederation?+
Yes. 3 of the 5 Swiss Confederation routes we cover lead toward settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.