Fs Uebersicht Fza e
Fs Uebersicht Fza e
Fs Uebersicht Fza e
The safeguard clause provided for in the AFMP allows Switzerland to unilaterally reintroduce
permit quotas for a limited period of time if immigration from Croatia exceeds a certain thresh-
old. This threshold has been reached. The Federal Council has therefore decided to activate the
safeguard clause from 1 January 2023.
Croatian nationals who wish to work for an employer in Switzerland from 1 January 2023 and
apply for a short-term L permit or a B residence permit for the first time are affected by the
safeguard clause. Croatian nationals who require a B permit for self-employment after this date
also fall under the safeguard clause.
The Federal Council’s decision of 16 November 2022 to invoke the safeguard clause for Croatian
nationals applies initially for the year 2023. It may be extended until the end of 2024.
Scope of the AFMP and beneficiaries
The AFMP applies to citizens of EU/EFTA member states and their family members as well as to
posted workers (regardless of their citizenship) of a legal entity based in an EU/EFTA member
state. Employed persons from a third state may only be posted to Switzerland by an EU-based
company if they hold a permit authorising them to work on the regular labour market in an
EU/EFTA member state.
• Family reunification
Citizens of EU/EFTA member states have the right to bring family members with them. Family
reunification is nevertheless subject to certain conditions. More detailed information is provided
in the following factsheet: Family reunification.
You’ll find more information on the safeguard clause for Croatia here: FAQ – Free Movement of
Persons (admin.ch)
• Cross-border commuters
Citizens of EU/EFTA member states who wish to work in an employed or self-employed capacity
in Switzerland without giving up their fixed place of residence in an EU/EFTA member state must
satisfy certain conditions in order to obtain a cross-border work permit. More detailed infor-
mation is provided in the following factsheet: Cross-border commuters.
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Categories of residence permits
No permit is needed for stays in Switzerland lasting less than three months, either as a tourist or
as an economically inactive person. Here is a list of the different types of Swiss permits:
The C EU/EFTA permit does not fall within the scope of the AFMP and issuance is governed by
settlement treaties or equivalent rights considerations. This permit is of unlimited duration. Gen-
erally speaking, citizens of the western European EU member states and EFTA member states
receive this permit after having lived in Switzerland for five years. More information is provided
here: C EU/EFTA permit (Settled foreign nationals)
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