Passport Atlas
Switzerland

Passport Atlas

Switzerland travel, immigration and PR

Switzerland is Schengen but not EU: 90/180 for short stays, cantonal-quota B permits to live, and C settlement whose years depend on nationality.

TravelImmigration

Openness rank

#92

Entry openness

93

Visa free

93

Briefing updated

2026-09

Country profile

Capital

Bern

Population

9.1 million

Area

41,290 km²

Currency

Swiss franc CHF

Languages

French, Italian, Swiss German

Time zone

UTC+01:00

Foreign-born

2.8 million · 2024

Migrant share

31.1%

Ethnic groups · 2020

  • Swiss69.2%
  • other16.7%
  • German4.2%
  • Italian3.2%
  • Portuguese2.5%
  • French2.1%
  • Other2.1%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site

Who this handbook is for

For Alpine trips, high-salary hires of Swiss firms, and families comparing B and C permits.

How to visit, and for how long

Schengen 90/180 applies. Chinese passports file a Schengen visa with Switzerland as main destination when relevant. Visitors cannot work. Cross-border commuters use a G permit.

How to work or reside

Third-country work needs a cantonal labour-market test and a quota; B permits are employer-tied. EU/EFTA nationals have a looser regime. Study and family rules vary by canton.

PR and citizenship

A C permit is often about ten years for third-country nationals, five for some treaty countries. C is not a passport. Naturalisation needs longer residence, language and a communal decision or review. Confirm with SEM.

Time to PR：Faster for EU/US/CA (~5 years); others often 10

How popular passports enter

FAQ

Is a Swiss B permit PR?

No. B is time-limited and usually tied to an employer or family. C is the settlement permit.

Does a Schengen visa let you work in Switzerland?

No. Short stays have no work right. Employment needs a cantonal work/residence permit.

Does a Chinese passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa required”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.

Does a US passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa free”. typical stay on the matrix is 90 days. The port and mission are authoritative.

Related destination guides

Handbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.