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Losing your job

Losing Your Job: Who Should You Contact in Switzerland?

What should you do after being dismissed in Switzerland? Step by step: unemployment insurance, registration, documents, legal protection — also for Hungarians.

10 min readLast reviewed: 7/1/2026Free

What are the first steps after being dismissed?

From the moment of dismissal (Kündigung), time starts to matter. It is worth following the sequence below.

Step 1: Accept and document the notice

In Switzerland, a dismissal does not have to be received in writing to be legally valid — verbal notice is sufficient. Even so, request written confirmation stating the date of dismissal and the expected end date of the employment relationship. This is required both for your RAV registration and for submitting an insurance claim.

Step 2: Check the length of the notice period

Under the Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht / OR, Article 335c), the statutory notice period is:

Length of employment

Notice period (after probation)

Before the end of the 1st year

1 month

2nd–9th year

2 months

From the 10th year

3 months

The employment contract or collective labour agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag / GAV) may also provide for a longer notice period. A shorter period may only be applied by the employer in exceptional cases (e.g. immediate termination, Fristlose Kündigung).

Step 3: Register with the RAV

You must appear at the RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) no later than on the first day of unemployment. Ideally, registration can already be started during the notice period, before the employment relationship actually ends — this is called “Voranmeldung” (advance notification) and is expressly recommended.

The responsible RAV depends on the canton of your place of residence. You can find the nearest RAV office on the arbeit.swiss portal.

What are you entitled to under unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung)?

Who is eligible for Swiss ALV benefits?

Under the Unemployment Insurance Act (Arbeitslosenversicherungsgesetz / AVIG), you are entitled to benefits if you:

  • have a place of residence in Switzerland,

  • have paid contributions to ALV for at least 12 months during the last two years (the “Rahmenfrist” reference period), or have a recognised exemption reason (e.g. illness, childbirth, education),

  • are actively looking for work,

  • are able to work and available for work.

As a Hungarian citizen, the ALV contributions paid by your Swiss employer count in full toward this 12-month period. If you came from Hungary and also had periods of insurance there, under EU regulations (Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, which Switzerland applies via the FZA) this time may be taken into account under certain conditions — this must be clarified individually with the RAV.

How much is the ALV benefit?

The benefit amount is 80% of the previous insured earnings (versicherter Verdienst) if you have dependent children or if the benefit amount would fall below a defined threshold; otherwise 70%. The maximum monthly earnings that can be taken into account in 2026 are ⚠️ HUMAN REVIEW REQUIRED (the statutory upper limit is adjusted regularly; the most recently known value was CHF 148 200/year, i.e. approx. CHF 12 350/month).

How long is the benefit paid?

The benefit period (Bezugsdauer) depends on the previous contribution period and age:

Contribution period

Maximum number of benefit days

12–17 months

260 days

18–23 months

400 days

24 months (+ over 55 years old)

520 days

What documents are required for registration?

For registration with the RAV and submission of the benefit claim, the following documents are required:

  • Identity document (passport or identity card)

  • Residence permit (Ausländerausweis) – type B, C or L

  • Employment contract and the termination letter (if you received it in writing)

  • Payslips for the last 12 months (Lohnausweise)

  • Bank account number (Swiss IBAN) for payment of the benefit

  • CV and documentation of job-search efforts (for the first RAV appointment)

At the RAV, you must complete the “Antrag auf Arbeitslosenentschädigung” (application for unemployment benefits) form. It can be downloaded from the arbeit.swiss portal, but it is also available at the RAV office.

What social benefits and financial support are available?

ALV benefits are the primary means of income replacement, but they are not the only option.

Social assistance (Sozialhilfe)

If ALV benefits have expired, or if you are not eligible for them (e.g. you have not met the 12-month contribution requirement), the cantonal or municipal social services office (Sozialdienst) in your place of residence can provide help. The amount of social assistance varies from canton to canton and depends on the applicant’s financial situation. This is not an automatic entitlement, but a needs-based benefit.

Transitional benefit (Überbrückungsleistung)

For workers over 55 whose ALV benefits have expired and who have not found a job, transitional benefits (Überbrückungsleistungsgesetz / ÜLG) have existed since 2021. This system provides a basic income until early retirement age, but it is subject to strict conditions.

Cantonal and municipal programmes

Many cantons (e.g. Zürich, Bern, Geneva, Basel-Stadt) run their own employment programmes, retraining support schemes and forms of social assistance. The cantonal employment office (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit / AWA, or its cantonal equivalent) can provide information on these.

What legal protection does Swiss law provide against dismissal?

What is Kündigungsschutz?

Swiss employment law (OR Articles 336–336b) protects employees against abusive dismissal (missbräuchliche Kündigung). A dismissal may be considered abusive, for example, if it:

  • is based on a personal characteristic (gender, religion, political conviction, trade union membership),

  • was issued because the employee asserted a legitimate claim,

  • is given during the notice period is issued in the event of illness or accident (protected period: 30 days in the first year, 90 days in years 2–5, 180 days from the 6th year).

What can you do if you consider the dismissal abusive?

In the case of abusive dismissal, you may file a claim for compensation – the court may award compensation of up to 2 months’ salary. Important: Swiss law does not provide for a general right to reinstatement (unlike, for example, German law). The claim must be notified to the employer within 60 days of the end of the employment relationship, and then the matter must be brought before the court.

Where can you get help?

  • Trade unions (Gewerkschaften): if you are a member of a trade union (e.g. Unia, Syna, VPOD), you can receive legal assistance.

  • Cantonal labour inspectorate (Arbeitsinspektorat): in cases of occupational health and safety violations.

  • Schlichtungsbehörde (conciliation authority): in civil employment disputes, this is a mandatory first step before court proceedings.

  • Free legal advice (Rechtsberatungsstellen): available in many cantons, especially for low-income applicants.

How does the RAV help with returning to work?

The RAV does not merely pay benefits – it also provides active support in finding work.

Personal counselling and job-search obligations

You must attend regular meetings at the RAV (usually once a month). At these meetings, you need to document your job-search efforts: how many jobs you applied for and what feedback you received. The minimum number of applications required is set by your RAV adviser (usually 8–12 applications per month).

Training and retraining support

The AVIG allows the RAV to order or recommend training measures (Bildungsmaßnahmen). These may include:

  • short professional courses,

  • language training (especially relevant if the local cantonal language is not your strong point),

  • retraining programme (Umschulung).

During the training period, ALV benefits generally continue.

Programmes for returning to work

Under “Arbeitsmarktliche Maßnahmen” (AMM), the RAV also offers practical programmes: workplace training, employment programmes, mentoring. Participation may also be mandatory if required by the RAV.

What tax and insurance obligations apply during unemployment?

Taxation

ALV benefits are taxable income in Switzerland. If you were previously subject to withholding tax (Quellensteuer) (meaning your employer deducted tax from your salary), the cantonal tax office (Steueramt) continues to deduct tax from the benefit during unemployment. If you file a regular tax return, you must declare the benefit there.

Health insurance (Krankenversicherung / KVK)

Swiss mandatory health insurance (Krankenpflegeversicherungsgesetz / KVG) remains in force during unemployment and is compulsory. As an unemployed person, you must still pay the premium (Prämie) yourself – this has to be covered from ALV benefits. If you are facing financial difficulties, it is advisable to apply for cantonal premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung / IPV), which are paid by your canton of residence.

AHV/IV/EO contributions

During unemployment, the ALV fund pays the AHV (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung – old-age and survivors’ insurance), IV (Invalidenversicherung – disability insurance) and EO (Erwerbsersatzordnung – income compensation scheme) contributions on your behalf. This means your AHV entitlement does not lapse.

Second pillar (berufliche Vorsorge / BVG)

When your employment ends, your second-pillar savings (Pensionskasse) are not lost. The amount is transferred to a so-called Freizügigkeitskonto (vested benefits account), which must be opened with a Swiss bank or insurance company if you are not starting a new job soon. This is handled by the employer or the Pensionskasse, but it is worth following up actively.

Sources

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In Brief

After a dismissal in Switzerland, it is advisable to request written confirmation immediately, check the notice period, and register with the RAV no later than the first day of unemployment. Unemployment insurance benefits (ALV) are generally 70% of the previously insured earnings, or 80% if you have children or in certain lower-benefit cases, but eligibility also depends on contribution periods and active job searching. If ALV expires or is not available, social assistance, transitional benefits for those over 55, and certain cantonal programmes may be options.

Key Takeaways

  • Request written confirmation of the dismissal, because the dates are needed for RAV registration and for claiming benefits.
  • Check the notice period in both your employment contract and any collective agreement, as these may require a longer period than the statutory minimum.
  • You must appear at the RAV no later than the first day of unemployment; pre-registration during the notice period is expressly recommended.
  • To qualify for ALV, you need Swiss residence, at least 12 months of contribution payments in the last two years, active job searching, and the ability to work.
  • Prepare an identity document, residence permit, employment contract, payslips, a Swiss IBAN, and your CV for registration.
  • If ALV expires or is not available, the cantonal or municipal social welfare office at your place of residence, or transitional benefits for those over 55, may be relevant.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to register with the RAV after being dismissed?

You must appear at the RAV no later than the first day of unemployment. Registration can already be initiated during the notice period with advance notification, which is expressly recommended.

What is the notice period in Switzerland after dismissal?

The statutory notice period after the probation period is 1 month until the end of the first year of service, 2 months from years 2 to 9, and 3 months from the 10th year onward. Your employment contract or a collective agreement may provide for a longer period.

Who is entitled to unemployment benefits in Switzerland?

Anyone who has Swiss residence, has paid ALV contributions for at least 12 months in the last two years, or has a reason for exemption, and who is actively looking for work, fit for work, and available for placement. As a Hungarian citizen, ALV contributions paid through a Swiss employer count fully toward this period.

How much is the ALV benefit?

The benefit is 70% of the previously insured earnings, or 80% if you have dependent children or if the amount would fall below a defined threshold. According to the article, the maximum monthly earnings taken into account in 2026 are tied to the statutory upper limit.

What documents are needed for RAV registration?

You need an identity document, residence permit, employment contract and dismissal letter, payslips from the last 12 months, and a Swiss IBAN. For the first appointment, you should also bring your CV and documentation of your job-search efforts.

What happens if ALV is not available or the benefit expires?

In that case, the cantonal or municipal social welfare office at your place of residence may provide social assistance, which depends on need and assets. For those over 55, if ALV has expired and no new job has been found, transitional benefits may also be an option.

What legal protection exists against abusive dismissal?

Swiss law protects employees against abusive dismissal, for example if it is based on personal characteristics or occurs because a lawful claim was asserted. The claim must be raised within 60 days of the end of the employment relationship, and the court may award compensation of up to two months' salary.

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