Free movement of persons

Thanks to the free movement of persons, it has become easier for EU/EFTA citizens to live and work in Switzerland. Employees, self-employed persons and persons without gainful employment who have adequate financial resources have a right to a residence permit (L or B) and in many areas enjoy the same treatment as Swiss nationals. Service providers (employees sent by a foreign employer or self-employed persons) may work in another country for up to 90 days per calendar year. For citizens of the original 15 EU member states and Malta and Cyprus, controls on wages and other working conditions and quotas have been lifted. At the same time, preference is no longer given to Swiss nationals. The free movement of persons also works in the same way on the other side of the fence – Swiss nationals can live and work in the EU.

This freedom of movement is reinforced by the mutual recognition of vocational qualifications and coordination of social insurance benefits, making it easier for the business community to recruit employees in the EU region and to use education and training facilities there. The agreement boosts the efficiency of the labour market and promotes the availability of highly qualified personnel.

This freedom also applies to the new members of the EU. But for the eight Eastern European countries that joined in 2004, restrictions on immigration will remain in place until 30 April 2011 at the latest. For the states of Bulgaria and Romania, which joined in 2007, immigration restrictions will enter into force on 1 June 2009 and remain for seven years. There is also a special protection clause that applies to these two countries for a further three years. Appropriate transition arrangements will help control and stem the flow of immigration while accompanying measures to counter wage dumping and social dumping also apply.