Swiss Confederation · work sponsored
L Permit — Short-Term Residence (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Short-term work and residence permit for project-based or temporary assignments of up to 12 months — separate quota from the B permit.
- Processing time
- 3–8 weeks.
- Government fees
- Varies by canton — typically CHF 100–300.
- Typical duration
- Up to 12 months; can be extended once for up to another 12 months in exceptional cases.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
The L permit is designed for temporary work assignments, project-based contracts, and seasonal work lasting up to 12 months. It draws from a separate federal quota pool (approximately 4,000 L permits/year for third-country nationals). Like the B permit, it requires employer sponsorship and a labour-market test. L permits do not lead directly to settlement and cannot be converted to B permits — a new application is required. The L permit is commonly used for intra-company transferees on short assignments, consultants, and project specialists.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian IT and pharma consultants are common L permit holders, sent by multinational employers (TCS, Infosys, Accenture) …
American applicants
American professionals on L permits are typically executive or specialist assignees from US multinationals with Swiss su…
Japanese applicants
Japanese L permit holders are typically intra-company transferees from Japanese multinationals with Swiss operations (Ri…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Temporary or project-based employment contract of up to 12 months.
- ✓Same labour-market test and salary requirements as the B permit.
- ✓Falls within the L permit quota allocation.
Common blockers
- !Contract exceeds 12 months — use B permit instead.
- !L permit quota exhausted.
Typical evidence
- ·Fixed-term employment or project contract.
- ·Employer's labour-market documentation.
- ·Qualifications and passport.
Application pathway
Employer applies for L permit
Same process as B permit but using the L permit quota. Employer documents the temporary nature of the assignment.
Apply for entry visa and arrive
With approval, apply for a D-type visa at the consulate.
Work for the assignment duration
The permit expires at the end of the contract or 12 months, whichever is sooner.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceEmployerStart the short-term permit process ↗
Swiss employer files the cantonal application for a temporary assignment or project-based L permit.
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) · verified
- ChecklistApplicantPrepare the Swiss entry visa form ↗
Applicant uses the official national visa form route after L permit authorisation is granted.
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
Can an L permit be converted to a B permit?+
No. The L permit cannot be directly converted to a B permit. If you want to stay in Switzerland beyond the L permit duration for long-term employment, your employer must file a completely new B permit application — including a fresh labour-market test and quota check. The L permit time does not count toward the B/C permit residence requirements.
Is the L permit quota separate from the B permit quota?+
Yes. Switzerland maintains separate annual quotas for B permits and L permits for third-country nationals. An exhausted B permit quota does not affect L permit availability, and vice versa. However, both quotas are limited and competitive.
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