Moving to Switzerland without a job: how can you obtain a permit?

How long can I stay in Switzerland as a job seeker without a permit?

Hungarian and other EU/EFTA nationals may stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days, i.e. 3 months, for job seeking or tourism without a residence permit or registration. This short period may be suitable for in-person job interviews, assessing the local labour market and seeking employment while staying in temporary accommodation.

The 90-day period is not the same as a right of residence. Being allowed to stay in Switzerland does not automatically grant entitlement to long-term housing or social benefits.

After the 3-month permit-free period, a job-seeking residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung zur Stellensuche) may be requested. This falls under the L EU/EFTA short-term residence permit (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung L) category.

How long does the job-seeking period last?

Following the 3-month permit-free stay, a further 3 months of job seeking may be requested with an L EU/EFTA permit. The total job-seeking period may therefore be up to 6 months, but an extension or the issuance of an L permit must be applied for at the competent cantonal migration office (Migrationsamt).

Two key conditions must be demonstrated for the L permit:

1. Job seeking must be genuine and active. The intention to seek work and the fact that the search is genuine must be demonstrated to the cantonal authority.

2. Living expenses must be covered from personal funds. The job seeker must not rely on Swiss social assistance.

The 6 months do not mean that every applicant automatically receives this amount of time. According to the rule in the dossier, the additional 3 months require a permit; it is therefore advisable to check the procedural details and the supporting documents to be submitted with the migration office of the relevant canton in advance.

Under what conditions can I obtain a B or L permit if I do not have a job?

Without employment, two distinct legal bases apply: the L EU/EFTA permit may be relevant for temporary job-seeking, while the B EU/EFTA permit may be relevant for a longer stay in Switzerland without gainful employment. The type of permit depends on whether the person is looking for work or intends to live in Switzerland using their own financial resources.

What does a B EU/EFTA permit without employment mean?

A B residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung B) is not necessarily tied exclusively to employment. An EU/EFTA national who is not economically active may also be eligible if they can demonstrate financial independence and have comprehensive Swiss health and accident insurance.

This basis falls under the category of residence without employment (Aufenthalt ohne Erwerbstätigkeit). According to the dossier, the B EU/EFTA permit is issued for 5 years in this case.

“Without employment” does not mean that the Swiss authorities disregard the applicant’s financial situation. On the contrary, a key element of the decision is that the applicant and their family must not require social assistance.

Can the family also move to Switzerland with a B permit without employment?

Yes, an EU citizen who is not economically active and has sufficient resources may bring family members to Switzerland through family reunification. The condition is that the family’s housing and financial support are secured.

This is a particularly important planning consideration for Hungarian families. The financial means of a single person cannot be assessed in the same way as those of a household consisting of two adults and children. When determining the required amount, the canton may also take into account the size of the household, housing costs and insurance.

How much money is needed to demonstrate sufficient means of support in Switzerland according to SKOS?

There is no nationally fixed “minimum bank balance” applicable to every B or L permit application without employment. The benchmark for sufficient financial resources (ausreichende finanzielle Mittel) is the level above which a Swiss citizen would no longer be entitled to social assistance.

The Swiss Conference for Social Assistance, or SKOS (Schweizerische Konferenz für Sozialhilfe), therefore provides important guidance through its recommendations. However, these do not replace the specific assessment by the canton.

Among the monthly net basic living expenses listed in the 2026 SKOS recommendations:

The amounts above are not full relocation budgets. They do not include rent and insurance and are therefore not sufficient on their own to determine the level of savings a family needs in Switzerland.

What about a single applicant?

According to the 2026 example from canton Bern, the basic needs amount for single people over the age of 25 is CHF 1,006 per month. Locally recognised rent and health insurance costs are added to this amount.

This is not a nationwide minimum requirement and does not mean that the same amount applies in every other canton. However, the example clearly illustrates the authorities’ approach: basic living costs, housing and health insurance are considered together.

What income must a retiree demonstrate?

For retired EU/EFTA nationals, income must exceed the threshold for Ergänzungsleistungen (EL), i.e. supplementary benefits. In 2026, this is CHF 20,670 per year for a single person and CHF 31,005 per year for a married couple.

These figures are specific reference points for retirees. They should not be automatically applied to working-age applicants who are unemployed jobseekers or who live on their own assets.

Why can the required amount differ from canton to canton?

The specific assessment of the required financial means falls under cantonal jurisdiction. SKOS issues nationwide recommendations, but cantons may differ in the values they apply and in how they take housing and insurance costs into account.

For example, since April 2025, canton Zürich has applied the referenced SKOS values following a 2.9% inflation adjustment. In canton Bern, the basic needs amount of CHF 1,006 for a single person mentioned above is supplemented by locally recognised rent and health insurance costs.

In practice, this means that the same bank statement or proof of income may not necessarily receive the same assessment in two different cantons. The relocation plan should therefore always be tailored to the canton where registration and the residence permit application will take place.

What should be considered in your own budget?

At least three separate items should be distinguished in the financial plan for relocating without a job:

• Basic living costs: the SKOS household basic amount is only a starting point; the size of the household is decisive.

• Housing: rent is not included in the SKOS basic amount of CHF 1,624 or CHF 1,974.

• Health insurance: the cost of health insurance is also not included in the SKOS basic amount, while a B permit requires comprehensive Swiss health and accident insurance.

It is therefore not safe for applicants to rely solely on a supposedly nationwide “minimum amount”. The specific coverage is assessed by the competent canton.

What are the pitfalls of renting accommodation and obtaining health insurance?

In many cases, the most difficult aspect of relocating without a job is not the legal basis for the permit itself, but the timing of registration of residence, the rental arrangement and insurance. Legally, proof of financial means and insurance is required; in practice, registration and administrative procedures may also become more difficult without a housing solution.

The issue of residence registration and the permit must be clarified with the municipality concerned and the cantonal migration office before moving. A landlord may also review the residence status, while proof of a Swiss address may be relevant in the permit procedure. This is not a uniform nationwide rule, but a practical risk that must be checked locally.

When must Swiss health insurance be taken out?

Swiss basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months of moving to Switzerland and registering residence. The insurance premium must be paid retroactively from the date of moving in.

Mandatory basic health insurance is linked to the KVG (Health Insurance Act) system. For a B EU/EFTA permit without employment, the dossier requires comprehensive Swiss health and accident insurance as a condition.

The three-month administrative period does not mean a premium-free period. Because premiums must be paid retroactively, insurance costs must already be included in the financial plan for the move.

Why does Hungarian health insurance not resolve the situation on its own?

According to the dossier, Swiss basic health insurance must be taken out after moving to Switzerland and registering residence. Therefore, the transition between Hungarian health insurance coverage and mandatory Swiss insurance should not be based on assumptions.

As a Hungarian citizen, settling one’s Hungarian social security status may also be a separate administrative task. Hungarian notification obligations and healthcare entitlements must be checked before moving, based on official Hungarian information.

What can non-EU/EFTA nationals expect?

The rules presented in this article concerning the 90-day permit-free stay for job seeking, the subsequent L EU/EFTA permit and the B EU/EFTA permit apply to EU/EFTA nationals. As a Hungarian citizen, the EU/EFTA category is applicable.

The situation of non-EU/EFTA nationals should not be inferred from this. Different, stricter residence and employment rules may apply to them, so the possibility of moving without a job must be checked individually with the competent Swiss authority.

This is particularly important if a Hungarian citizen intends to move with a third-country national spouse, partner or other family member. The family member’s own nationality and legal status may affect the administrative process.

When is it advisable to seek the help of an expert or relocation agency?

Involving an expert or relocation agency may be appropriate if the move is not a straightforward case of a single job seeker. This may include family reunification, supporting oneself through pension income or assets, or an insurance and tax situation involving multiple countries.

Additional preparation may also be required if the applicant does not yet have long-term accommodation but already wishes to apply for a residence permit. In such cases, coordinating the address, financial means, insurance and cantonal procedure is more important than a general online checklist.

An expert does not replace the decision of the cantonal migration authority. However, they can help the applicant clarify questions relating to their own household, chosen canton and purpose of residence before moving.

Sources

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) / ch.ch — short-term visa-free residence in Switzerland for EU/EFTA citizens

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — B EU/EFTA permit for residence without gainful employment

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — Family reunification for EU/EFTA citizens with sufficient financial resources

• SKOS (Swiss Conference for Social Welfare) — basic living allowance amounts

• Canton of Zürich — inflation adjustment of SKOS amounts as of April 2025

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) / ch.ch — L EU/EFTA permit for job seekers and compulsory insurance

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — interpretation of sufficient financial resources

• Canton of Bern — basic needs for single persons, recognised housing and insurance costs

• Swiss supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen, EL) — 2026 thresholds

Related Articles

• What is an L permit, and how can I obtain one in Switzerland?

• How does compulsory health insurance work in Switzerland?

• How can Hungarian citizens move to Switzerland? Step by step

• What should Hungarian citizens know about living in Switzerland?