Freelancer Visa In Switzerland: Expats Guide

Embarking on the journey of a freelancer in Switzerland comes with its unique set of challenges and rewards. Switzerland is your freelancing destination? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!

This guide is your compass to navigating the Swiss Freelancer Visa landscape, where we demystify the process and highlight key insights. Join us as we pave the path to your professional freedom in the heart of Europe.

Let’s dive in!

What Is The Process For Obtaining A Freelancer Visa In Switzerland?

For registering for the Freelancer work permit or applying for a freelancer visa in Switzerland, you would first need to determine the different rules associated with your nationality.

As stated, the EU and EFTA citizens may begin their freelance work in Switzerland by applying for a B Permit.

They can quickly become self-employed in this way and may easily renew this permit after a 5-year validity period.

The expats and entrepreneurs from third-world countries must undergo a more stringent process.

They will have to qualify for the Swiss labor market requirements to become eligible to receive a work permit for self-employment.

However, obtaining a freelance work permit becomes more manageable if you have a permanent residence permit (permit C) or a Swiss spouse.

The preferable and easiest way for individuals from third-world countries to work as freelancers in Switzerland is to be a part of a Limited Liability Company or a Public Liability Company with a Swiss partner.

Thus, you may be allowed to set up the following two companies to make access to work permits for freelancers easier:

Sole Proprietorship
Limited Liability Company (SARL)

The freelancer application in Switzerland is different for different cantons.

Hence, before applying for the freelancer visa, you must confirm the details with the local immigration office for all the eligibility criteria and required documents.

One necessary step for aspiring freelancers to adhere to is establishing a person as a sole proprietorship company. You need to follow the Swiss Code of Obligations to establish this company.

As Switzerland is multilingual. Therefore, the Germans of Switzerland call it Einzelfirma, the French call it Entreprise Individuelle, and the Italians call it Ditta Individuale.

Applying and registering for this company is easy as it requires no significant investment.

Documents Needed For Freelancer Visa In Switzerland

While undergoing the process of applying for the freelancer visa, you would need to provide the following documents to verify your personal information and all the other required details to the authorities:

Original Passport with 2 copies.
2 recent Photographs.
An approved Application Form and receipt of the paid fee.
Experience certificates or patent registrations for independent business owners.
Approved and registered original work agreements and prospective contracts or business plans.
Clear Criminal Record.
Applicants must submit all of these documents to the Swiss authorities, and you may need to attest and notarize the documents if the language is different.

The non-EU/non-EEA citizen might need to undergo further security clearance.

They may be asked to submit the following documents to register their residency:

Biometrics, including fingerprints.
You would also need to submit the original medical report with a copy.
Copy as well as the original insurance receipt.

After gathering all the required documents and filling out the application form, you need to submit it to the canton’s compensation office, Ausgleichskasse.

The canton will decide if one can get self-employed status by following the guidelines given by the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) and the law given by the Federal Court (TF).

What Is The Fee For Freelancer Visa In Switzerland?

The whole process of registering as a freelancer in Switzerland is inexpensive. It also involves the least amount of investment.

One can also get professional help in establishing a sole proprietorship in Switzerland quickly at minimum cost.

One may need to pay up to CHF 1,000, and this cost includes the additional cost of CHF 120 fee that is required to join the trade register.

However, joining this register is optional. It becomes mandatory only when your annual turnover reaches CHF 100,000.

What Are The Requirements For Different Freelancing Visa Permits In Switzerland?

Being a freelancer allows one to work at different companies simultaneously while retaining a flexible schedule and having the work-life balance one wants to have.

In Switzerland, the rules applied to freelancers are strict because the business taxes they pay become balanced with the support they can receive from social security benefits.

Short-Term Freelancing In Switzerland

EU / EEA and United Kingdom residents can apply for short-term residence permits if they want to stay in Switzerland for a year. They can efficiently work as a freelancer on this permit.

Requirements For Short-Term Freelancer Visa Permit

When the EU/EEA citizens apply for a short-term resident permit, they need to include the following documents:

Evidence of one’s work as a freelancer or a business work contract.
Documents like bank statements cement one’s financial stability.
Health Insurance.

However, you must stay within one year on this visa. Usually, the employer in Switzerland uses this visa to employ overseas temporary workers.

Non-EU / EEA and UK citizens can only come to Switzerland with a work contract and, therefore, cannot immediately become freelancers. They’ll need to apply for a work permit after coming to Switzerland before being allowed to start freelancing.

Long-Term Freelancing In Switzerland

If you want to stay and work in Switzerland, then it is preferable to do so by obtaining a long-term resident permit.

By obtaining the long-term resident permit, you may get full access to the same benefits as given to those working full-time or part-time workers in Switzerland.

You can work for long-term as a freelancer in two primary ways:

Having your own company.
Getting assistance from a Swiss employer.

Requirements For Long-Term Freelancer Visa Permit

You need to acquire a Swiss B-residence permit. A non-EU/EEA citizen can obtain this permit after working in Switzerland for over 3 years.
You need to have health insurance.
It is also essential to prove that the salary you would earn through individual freelancing or independent business will be enough to support yourself and any other legal dependents financially.
You can also become a freelancer through a supplementary company in Switzerland.

You may quickly become a freelancer in Switzerland by applying through a subsidiary company rather than setting up one’s own company.

Following are some of the most popular companies in Switzerland:

Payroll Plus
Upwork
Zebra Skill

These companies can easily handle the—official financial transaction at a flat fee. Also, by coming under the umbrella of an official company, you can get legal quirks like the social protection programs offered by the government.

Who Is Eligible To Work As A Freelancer In Switzerland?

There is an eligibility criterion in Switzerland for you to become a freelancer.

To be eligible to work as a freelancer or a self-employed individual in Switzerland, you must have the following things:

You need to be a Swiss resident or have a partner who is a Swiss resident.
You are also eligible as a freelancer in Switzerland if one has a Swiss legal entity.

After confirming your eligibility to work as a freelancer, you will need to complete and submit an affiliation form to the compensation office nearby where you live.

One will also need to submit:

Invoices of work you have completed.
Any signed and official agreements or contracts for providing service.
Proof of your Civil Liability Insurance.

You will also need to prove that you have knowledge and complete expertise in the freelance business you want to initiate.

Guidelines For Freelancers In Switzerland As An Expat

A work permit is necessary for any foreign national looking to become self-employed and own a sole proprietorship company in Switzerland.

Furthermore, obtaining a permit to work in Switzerland will also depend on whether you have the right skills, what country you are from, and the quotas available.

Furthermore, you would need to register as soon as possible with the government so that they recognize you with the status of self-employed status.

EU And EFTA Nationals

All the EU and EFTA nationals except Croatians can quickly start self-employment in Switzerland. You must register the applications to the Cantonal Migration Office.

In case of the acceptance of the application, you may obtain the residence permit, also known as Permit B, which will have a validity of about 5 years and can be renewed.

After receiving this permit, you can legally become self-employed and work as a freelancer in Switzerland.

Non-EU Citizens

Registering for a freelancer visa or work permit is slightly different for non-EU members compared to the EU citizens in Switzerland.

Switzerland is quite harsh and strict in its allowance of foreign workers working there. Only a few foreign workers from third-world countries can work in Switzerland as freelancers.

The range of workers allowed to work as freelancers falls in the range of 8,500 B and L work permits to highly qualified and skilled non-EU citizens.

Additional Information Regarding The Freelancer Visa In Switzerland

Other than the process, needed fees, and eligibility requirements, there are other facts that you should consider when applying for a freelancer visa in Switzerland.

Some of the essential information related to different queries that individuals usually ask about has been given below:

How Is The Hired Administration Operated As A Freelancer In Switzerland?

As a freelancer in Switzerland or as an independent business owner, you are allowed to have subcontracts with different professionals.

If you earn approximately CHF 500,000 a year as a registered company, you must register with the trade register.

You will also need to keep its administration in order and keep a summary of all accounts, assets, incomes, liabilities, private contributions, and deductive bank statements.

If you earn over CHF 500,000 a year, you are responsible for keeping full accounts, including a balance sheet of profit and loss.

You will also have to audit accounts of capital companies and business documents for the last 10 years.

How Does Banking Work For Freelancers In Switzerland?

Right from starting your freelancing career, having different bank accounts for professional and personal uses is imperative.

The separate accounts make the life of a self-employed person more relaxed. It will save a lot of hassle when you need to pay annual taxes or present your past record.

How Do Freelancers Pay Taxes In Switzerland?

You need to pay taxes either personally or through your company. Therefore, if you own a sole proprietary company in Switzerland, you must pay only business taxes as a freelancer.

However, if you work as a freelancer through a subsidiary company in Switzerland, you will be charged regular taxes as given by the taxation system guidelines.

You must also register for VAT at the Federal Tax Administration by declaring the profits one makes as one’s income. If you earn more than CHF 100,000, then you are subjected to VAT.

Freelancers and other self-employed individuals in Switzerland can also make a claim for business expenses and deduct their business expenses from their revenues.

They must show proof that they needed those expenses for their business.

In addition, freelancers and sole proprietors can also carry forward any loss from their business for almost seven years.

Why Is Insurance Important For Freelancers In Switzerland?

The three main pillars of the social welfare fabric of Switzerland include:

Social security
Health insurance
State Pension

The freelancers will need to register at the compensation office to gain any benefit from social security programs like disability insurance and loss of earnings insurance, etc.

Self-employed workers and freelancers can also pay the total amount of their contributions to the compensation office on their own. The maximum rate is 9.7% of the income.

Freelancers can also freely contract a pension plan with an insurance company to benefit from a state pension at the end of their retirement.

Applying for health insurance is mandatory for everyone in Switzerland, including freelancers.

Depending on your profession, you may also take advantage of the following insurance programs in Switzerland:

Professional Indemnity Insurance
Legal Protection Insurance

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Freelancer Visa In Switzerland?

✅Advantages	❌Disadvantages
✅Self-Employment: Freelancing can be a side hustle, too.	❌Less Primary Income: Freelancing as a sole job.
✅Flexibility: Easy to manage work-life balance	❌Instability: No fixed source of income.
✅Childcare Benefits: Through this visa, you can also have dependents with you in Switzerland.	❌No Fixed Hours: You might also be on the job around the clock rather than following fixed hours.
✅Social Security Benefits: Similar to other full-time jobs.	❌Taxes: Still have to pay taxes while freelancing.

Conclusion

Now that you’re equipped with the essentials of obtaining a freelancer visa in Switzerland, the Alpine nation’s world of opportunities awaits you.

Embrace the blend of professional independence and breathtaking Swiss landscapes. Your adventure as a freelancer in Switzerland starts now – with the right visa in your toolkit.

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