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Permit allowing third-country nationals to establish or run their own business in Switzerland. There is no dedicated 'startup visa'; instead the applicant must show the activity serves Switzerland's overall economic interest, and the same quotas and admission rules for gainful activity apply.
Non-EU/EFTA entrepreneurs and business owners whose venture will have a lasting positive impact on the Swiss labour market.
Our licensed advisors assess your eligibility, build a strategy to strengthen your application, and manage the process end to end, so you submit a complete, competitive application with confidence.
There is no dedicated startup or investor visa in Switzerland; non-EU/EFTA entrepreneurs apply under the self-employment route and must show the business serves Switzerland's overall economic interest, subject to the same quotas and labour-market rules as employment.
Yes, but admission is restricted. You must show that your self-employment will have a lasting positive impact on the Swiss labour market and meet the conditions of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act.
Employee admissions focus on the priority of Swiss and EU/EFTA workers, while self-employment is judged mainly on the broader economic benefit and sustainability of your business.
Typically a detailed business plan, financial forecasts, evidence of sufficient capital, your professional qualifications, and company documents such as articles of association and a commercial registry extract.
Typically a detailed business plan, financial and investment forecasts, projections for jobs created, evidence of organisational ties, a commercial register extract and the company's articles of association.
Yes. The principle that domestic and EU/EFTA workers have precedence applies to the labour-market review, so your project must show value that justifies admitting a third-country national.
Yes. Permits for gainful activity by third-country nationals, including self-employment, fall under Switzerland's annual quota system, so numbers are limited.
The cantonal immigration and labour-market authorities carry out the first assessment of your application and then forward the file to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) for final approval.
