Work Permit after Graduation in Switzerland
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Work Permit after Graduation in Switzerland

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Sep 15, 2024 15:55 IST
If you wish to work after pursuing your degree in Switzerland, then this article is for you. In this article, we will talk about how you can stay back in Switzerland after graduation, get a work permit, residence permit, visa, and more.
Work Permit after Graduation in Switzerland

Every year millions of students go to study abroad. Most of the popular destinations are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Other European countries. There are several reasons for students to go abroad for studies, one of them is to broaden their education and gain vital skills for achieving their career goals. Among European countries, Switzerland is one of the most sought-after destinations among international students for higher education. Switzerland has some of the best and top-ranked universities in the world. Switzerland offers a world-class education and a very competitive economy.

Switzerland is known all over in fields such as training, research, and innovation and is an extremely beautiful country with breathtaking natural scenic beauty. When you enter Switzerland and see the opportunities, standard of life, and natural beauty, you may want to stay and work in the country. There can be several reasons to stay and work in Switzerland then mentioned earlier. However, if you decide to stay and work in Switzerland, you need to understand its Swiss visa rules and regulations for a work permit after graduation. Check out the Switzerland Study Visa Requirements for more insight into the same.

In this article, we will address this issue and bring you some very crucial and useful information regarding work permits after studying in Switzerland.

Check:

Types of  Swiss Visas

There are several types of visas issued by the Swiss government based on the length of stay and the purpose of the journey in Switzerland. Some of these are given below.

  • Schengen Visa: This visa is issued for a person wanting to enter Switzerland for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This type of visa is usually issued for tourism, a visit to relatives or friends, short-term language studies, and participating in conferences or in sporting/cultural events.
  • National Visa: This visa is issued for individuals wishing to stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days. The issuance of this visa is subject to the authorization of the Cantonal Migration Authority competent for the intended place of residence. This type of visa is usually issued for long-term study, family reunification, and marriage in Switzerland.
  • Airport Transit Visa: This visa is issued for nationals of certain countries who need a transit visa even if they are staying in the international transit area of the airport.
  • Labour/Work Permit: This type of visa is issued for the admission of foreign workers to an employer in Switzerland. The issuance of this visa is subject to the authorization of the competent Cantonal Migration Authority. This visa is granted only when the requested authorization has been delivered.

Residence Permit

All international students are required to register with the local authority at the place of residence and apply for a residence permit, within 14 days of entering Switzerland. This applies to Swiss citizens too, coming from another canton. This process takes some weeks and sometimes, even months to get a residence permit. Switzerland is divided into several administrations, i.e., canton. All the visa and residence permit-related immigration formalities must be done in the canton where you will study.

All international students other than EU/EFTA nationals must contact the Swiss embassy or consulate in their own country and apply for a visa. Once the immigration or police authorities approve the visa application, the requirements for entry into Switzerland and for residence for the purpose of study are met.

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Swiss Post Graduation Work Permit

Students can stay in Switzerland only until their current residence stays valid. If they wish to get an extended stay permission to look for work in Switzerland then, they can apply for the same only until their current residence permit is valid. While on a 








Students must note that they can get a maximum of 6 months of extended stay starting right from the date of completion of their graduation (and not from the expiration date of the current residence permit). To get a post-graduation work permit in Switzerland, you need to go to your Cantonal Migration Office and apply for a residence permit. You will also be required to take along with you the following documents:







  • Proof that you have completed your course of study
  • Proof that you can financially support yourself, must have CHF 10,500 in your bank account - sufficient for a period of stay of 6 months in Switzerland. (Source: ETH Zurich)
  • Proof of accommodation
  • An extension form with a clear mention of the purpose of the extension, i.e. job seeking purpose. 

The rest of the documents remain the same as required in the previous renewals of the residence permit.

Once you get the job in Switzerland, your employer needs to submit an application to the Cantonal Authority of your place of work. Foreign nationals are permitted to work only if it is proven by the employer that no suitable domestic employees or citizens of states can be found for the job. International students with a degree from a Swiss university may be admitted in derogation if their work is of higher academic or economic interest.

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Q:   What is Switzerland universities acceptance rate for international students?

A:

There are many top ranked universities in Switzerland that offer the best education to students. We have mentioned below Switzerland universities acceptance rate for international students:

Switzerland UniversitiesAcceptance Rate
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich27%
University of Zurich19%
University of Geneva21%
University of Fribourg8%

Q:   What are the ETH Zurich requirements for international students?

A:

Check below the ETH Zurich requirements for international students:

  • Higher secondry certificate for bachelor's degree
  • Bachelor's degree for graduate admission
  • GPA (no minimum requirements)
  • English language proficiency scores
  • Additional test score of any GMAT/GRE (if required)
  • Letters of reference
  • Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement
  • Resume or CV

Q:   What are the IMI Switzerland top courses?

A:

IMI Switzerland is a precise institute which offers undergraduate, graduate and Diploma courses across various disciplines of hospitality. Some of the top courses include:

  • Msc in International Hospitality and Events
  • Graduate Diploma in International Culinary Arts
  • Graduate Diploma in Hotel & Events Management
  • Bachelors of Arts with Honours Degree - Hospitality
  • Swiss Advanced Diploma - Hotel Management

Q:   What is the IMI Switzerland acceptance rate?

A:

The IMI Switzerland acceptance rate is nearly 85% and this figure indicates that on an average, 85 out of every 100 applicants manage to secure admission in the institution. Hence, this makes Gisma Business School a lesser competitive school to get in. However, students must not show any laxity and must fulfill all the admission, documents and English proficiency language requirements.

Note: The data is taken from unofficial sources and is subjected to change every year.

Q:   Which are top universities to study in Switzerland for international students?

A:

Switzerland is the home of 3 top 100 universities in the world that offers quality education to students. Here we are mentioned the list of top 5 universities in Switzerland for international students:

Universities

QS Ranking

ETH Zurich

7

EPFL

36

University of Zurich

91

University of Basel

124

University of Bern

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Q:   Why study at IMI Switzerland?

A:

IMI Switzerland is a leading hospitality school in Switzerland for international students. The school offers quality hotel management, business or culinary arts education programmes for international students. Small class size will help students to focus on the programme easily. IMI also offers a comfortable family atmosphere on campus and provide personalized learning support for better career.

Know more about the Work Permit after Graduation in Switzerland

Q:   Is EU Business School accredited in Geneva, Switzerland?

A:

Established in 1973, EU Business School is a private business school that was formerly known as the European University. The institute is accredited with some renowned bodies, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, CEEMAN International Quality Accreditation, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Q:   What is it like to attend the University of Bern in Switzerland?

A:

University of Bern is a beautifully built university in Switzerland and students across the globe desire to study here. Attending the University of Bern is a worth it experience as per the student reviews. However, a lot varies as per the candidate's choice of programme and its curriculum. For programs like Economics, Science, Physics, Mathematics and more, University of Bern is widely applauded. Students do work on various aasignments every week and also get exposure to practical learning. Bern University's buildings is spread all over the city and students enjoy commuting from one place to another, especially on a motor bike.

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Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert

Priya Garg is a seasoned content writer and editor. With her rich experience in content writing, teaching and research & analysis, Priya believes in providing only the correct information which is also up-to-date. H... Read Full Bio

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