Interns from the EU/EFTA area

Registration procedure for internships of max. 90 days: For internships up to a max. period of 90 days, interns from the EU/EFTA area only need to be registered by the employer: Information and form

For internships of more than 90 days interns must register with local authorities where they live with their employment contract within 14 days of their arrival in Switzerland. They will then receive a short-term residence permit (“L-Bewilligung”) for the duration of their internship.

Interns from third countries

IAESTE Switzerland organises visas and/or residence and work permits for these interns.

To ensure that the permit is ready in time, we must submit the application to the authorities at least six weeks prior to starting work. Please contact your IAESTE committee to make sure the proces is started in time and provide all necessary documents beforehand.

Prior authorisation of residence permit

Interns from Australia, the UK, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia do not require a visa but instead receive a prior authorisation of residence permit which entitles them to reside and work in Switzerland.

Authorisation to issue visas

Interns from all other third countries require an entry visa. The visa is transferred to a Swiss embassy in the intern’s home country and must be collected from there. Entering Switzerland for work purposes without this visa is not permitted and, accordingly, the visa cannot be issued in Switzerland.

Registration in Switzerland

For a stay of more than four months, interns must also register with local authorities where they live within 14 days of their arrival in Switzerland and will then receive their residence permit.

For detailed information please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) or the Swiss canton authorities.