L permit: the short-term residence permit
The L permit is for a limited stay, usually under one year, with or without gainful employment. At the end of 2025, 70,474 people held one (FSO). EU/EFTA nationals are entitled to it for a job of three months to one year; for people from other countries the 2026 quota is 4,000 permits.
The rules
- EU/EFTA nationals need no permit for work of under three months per calendar year; it is reported through the online notification procedure. For a job of three months to one year they are entitled to an L permit. (SEM)
- For people from outside the EU/EFTA the Federal Council sets annual quotas: in 2026 there are 4,500 B residence permits and 4,000 L short-term permits, split between the cantons and a federal reserve. (Art. FNIA 20, VZAE 19, VZAE 20)
- Families of L permit holders can be granted a short-term permit if they live together, have suitable housing and need neither social assistance nor supplementary benefits. (FNIA Art. 45)
- Your permit ends when you deregister to go abroad. Without deregistration an L permit ends after three months, B and C after six months. On request a C permit can be kept for up to four years. (FNIA Art. 61)
People with a L permit since 2010
People with a L permit by canton, end of 2025
| Canton | People | Share of all permits |
|---|---|---|
| Aargau | 5,171 | 2.4 % |
| Appenzell Inner Rhodes | 35 | 1.6 % |
| Appenzell Outer Rhodes | 82 | 0.8 % |
| Basel-Landschaft | 1,059 | 1.3 % |
| Basel-Stadt | 2,403 | 2.9 % |
| Bern | 6,240 | 3.1 % |
| Fribourg | 1,837 | 2.0 % |
| Geneva | 4,180 | 2.0 % |
| Glarus | 471 | 4.0 % |
| Grisons | 8,987 | 17.3 % |
| Jura | 131 | 1.0 % |
| Lucerne | 2,353 | 2.4 % |
| Neuchâtel | 1,147 | 2.3 % |
| Nidwalden | 241 | 2.8 % |
| Obwalden | 394 | 5.3 % |
| Schaffhausen | 565 | 2.1 % |
| Schwyz | 547 | 1.3 % |
| Solothurn | 2,055 | 2.7 % |
| St. Gallen | 1,601 | 1.1 % |
| Thurgau | 1,520 | 1.8 % |
| Ticino | 1,895 | 1.7 % |
| Uri | 563 | 8.6 % |
| Valais | 11,858 | 10.8 % |
| Vaud | 5,613 | 1.9 % |
| Zug | 1,363 | 3.2 % |
| Zurich | 8,163 | 1.7 % |
Work permits in Switzerland: rules, priority, quotas →
B permit: the residence permit →
G permit: the cross-border commuter permit →
All permits compared →
Moving to and from Switzerland →
Sources: FSO: demographic balance and permanent resident population by permit type · FNIA · VZAE · SCA · SEM · FSO px-x-0103010000_101 · SLI-2026-10-10.39
Frequently asked questions
How long is an L permit valid?
It covers a limited stay, usually under one year; for EU/EFTA nationals its validity matches the length of the employment contract (SEM).
Do I need an L permit for under three months of work?
EU/EFTA nationals need no permit for work of under three months per calendar year; it is reported through the online notification procedure. For a job of three months to one year they are entitled to an L permit.
Can my family come with me on an L permit?
Families of L permit holders can be granted a short-term permit if they live together, have suitable housing and need neither social assistance nor supplementary benefits.
Information, not legal advice. The laws and the decision of the cantonal migration office are authoritative.
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