Switzerland has kept its non-EU/EFTA work permit quotas unchanged for 2026, but that stability comes with a rising cost floor and a new regulatory framework that took effect at the start of the year.
What Has Changed
The Federal Council maintained 2026 quotas at the same level as 2025: 8,500 permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals, split between 4,500 B permits and 4,000 L permits. Separately, 3,500 permits are ring-fenced for UK citizens and another 3,500 for EU/EFTA service providers on assignments longer than 120 days per year — allocations that stayed flat rather than expanding.
The revised Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Activity (OASA) took effect on 1 January 2026, updating the regulatory basis for work and residence permits. Alongside quota stability, the minimum annual remuneration (MAR) required for employment permits continues its scheduled climb, with the next increase taking effect from 1 March 2026 as part of a gradual rise planned through 2030.
What This Means for HR and Mobility Teams
Flat quotas mean employers shouldn't expect easier access to Swiss work permits in 2026 — the same limited allocation is being distributed, and competition for B and L permits remains as tight as in 2025.
The steadily rising MAR threshold is the more actionable change: a role that cleared the salary floor in 2025 needs to be re-checked against the 2026 figure, and again against future annual increases already scheduled through 2030. Compensation planning for Swiss roles now needs a multi-year view of the MAR trajectory, not a one-time check.
Cross-border service providers working in Switzerland for more than 120 days a year should confirm they fall within the ring-fenced EU/EFTA allocation rather than competing for the general non-EU/EFTA quota.
Action Steps
- Re-verify compensation for any 2026 Swiss role against the current MAR threshold before submitting a permit application.
- Build the scheduled MAR increases through 2030 into multi-year compensation planning for Swiss assignments.
- Confirm long-duration EU/EFTA service providers are filed against the correct ring-fenced allocation, not the general quota.
- Apply early for B and L permits given the unchanged, limited 2026 quota — allocation exhaustion risk hasn't decreased.
xpath.global's immigration and tax advisory team tracks Switzerland's quota allocations and MAR schedule directly, helping employers plan Swiss hiring and compensation around the real availability and cost trajectory rather than last year's numbers. [Speak to our team.](https://xpath.global)
"Sources: Fragomen — 2026; Newland Chase — 2026."
