L Short Stay Permit
🇨🇭 Switzerland visas · Work
What it is
Swiss short stay permit for a limited stay of up to one year, granted for a specific purpose of stay and subject to conditions. Extendable by up to two years; a change of job is only possible for good cause.
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- Up to 1 year; may be extended by up to two years (AIG Art. 32).
- Processing time
- Decided by the canton of residence.
- Maximum validity
- 1 year
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Conditional
- How to apply
- Embassy
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (federal maximum; canton sets the actual fee)
- CHF 95
- Application fee (federal maximum (GebV-AIG Art. 8(2)(a)))
- CHF 22
- Application fee (federal maximum (GebV-AIG Art. 8(3)(a)))
- CHF 20
Key requirements
- A specific purpose of stay
- Granted by the canton of residence
- May be subject to additional conditions
Working on this visa
Short-stay admission with gainful employment under AIG Art. 32; working requires the authorisation (AIG Art. 11).
Bringing family
Spouse and children of a short-stay permit holder may be granted a short-stay permit under AIG Art. 45 (cohabitation, housing, no social assistance).
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 18 July 2026.