Self-Employment Permit
🇨🇭 Switzerland visas · Business
What it is
Switzerland permits self-employment for non-EU/EEA nationals, but only in exceptional cases where the activity is of significant economic interest to Switzerland. Very difficult to obtain without an established Swiss client base.
Key facts
- Category
- Business
- Duration
- 1 year B permit, renewable.
- Processing time
- 4 months
- 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
- Established self-employed activity with Swiss clients generating significant revenue
- Business must be of economic interest to Switzerland
- Relevant professional qualifications
- Cantonal migration office approval within federal quota
Working on this visa
Self-employment is the authorised purpose of the permit (AIG Art. 19); a change to salaried work needs a new authorisation (AIG Art. 11).
Bringing family
Spouse and children of a residence-permit holder may be admitted under AIG Art. 44 (cohabitation, housing, no social assistance).
Money you must show
Adequate independent income required (AIG Art. 19).
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 18 July 2026.