Working in Switzerland: permits, pay, Pensum.
For engineers from Germany and the EU. In plain sentences, with sources. The contract is the hurdle, not the language.
Information without guarantee. As of 30 September 2026.
Submit your profile- Bewilligung B
- 12 monthsemployment contract, no language test (EU/EFTA)
- Lohn
- 13monthly salaries per year, usual in building services
- Pensum
- 80-100%share of full time, printed this way in job ads
- Probezeit
- 1 to 3months (Art. 335b OR), up to 6 in Germany
Bewilligung B, G and L
As an EU/EFTA national you need no language certificate for a permit. You need an employment contract. The permit is applied for by your employer or by the municipality after registration.
| Permit | Requirement | Validity | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|
| B (residence) | Contract of 12 months or more, or permanent | 5 years, renewable | In Switzerland |
| G (cross-border commuter) | Contract; return to your home in the EU/EFTA at least weekly | 5 years for contracts over 1 year | In the EU/EFTA, for example southern Germany |
| L (short-term) | Contract of 3 to 12 months | Length of the contract | In Switzerland |
The language is tested not by the authority but by the employer: our clients expect German at B2, C1 for a project lead. The first call with us is in German.
Source: State Secretariat for Migration SEM, permits B, G and L EU/EFTA, sem.admin.ch.
Lohn and the 13th monthly salary
The Lohn (gross annual salary) is stated at 100% and in building services usually paid in 13 instalments; the 13th arrives in November or December. A salary band on our job cards includes the 13th monthly salary.
Deductions from gross pay: AHV/IV/EO (state pension and disability), ALV (unemployment), pension fund (BVG) and accident insurance; health insurance you pay yourself. Income tax is deducted at source with Bewilligung B and G.
For orientation, see the salary bands on our jobs (written as CHF 120'000, the Swiss notation); every figure comes from the employer and states its basis.
Pensum
Job ads state the Pensum as a share of full time: “80-100%” means the employer accepts four or five days. The Lohn is always stated at 100% and paid pro rata.
A full-time week has 40 to 42 hours depending on the firm; engineering firms are mostly at 42. Holiday: at least four weeks, often five in building services.
Kündigungsfrist (notice period)
By law one month in the first year of service, two months in the second to ninth, three months after that, each to the end of a month (Art. 335c OR). Contracts for project leads often set three months to the end of a quarter.
We plan the move with you: start date, handover at your current firm, remaining holiday.
Probezeit (probation)
One month by law, up to three months by contract (Art. 335b OR). During probation the notice period is seven days. All eight people we have placed in Switzerland since October 2024 whose probation is complete passed it.
Arbeitszeugnis and documents
Swiss employers expect Arbeitszeugnisse (formal reference letters) from previous jobs, diplomas and a CV with projects and software. A photo is common but not required. We ask for certificates only after the first call.
Standards: SIA instead of DIN and VDI
In Switzerland the SIA standards apply (for example SIA 380/1 heating demand, SIA 382/1 ventilation, SIA 385/1 drinking water), plus MuKEn and Minergie. VDI 6022 is adopted for ventilation hygiene. Anyone who knows DIN and HOAI learns SIA phases and standards in the first months.
Electrical: NIN (SN 411000) and NIV instead of VDE 0100. Installation responsibility requires the Sachkundenachweis or the NIV authorisation.
Qualifications: what your degree means in Switzerland
Bachelor and Master degrees are recognised. Staatl. gepr. Techniker corresponds in practice to dipl. Techniker HF; Meister to the eidg. Fachausweis. Employers ask about projects and software, not for recognition certificates.
Cost of living
Rent, health insurance and food cost more than in Germany, taxes are mostly lower. Calculate your net income with the canton's tax calculator before comparing. We help with the maths.
Cross-border commuters from southern Germany (Bewilligung G) combine a Swiss salary with German rents; Basel, Aargau, Schaffhausen and Thurgau are the usual regions.
Four questions from first calls
Do I need a German test for the permit?
No, not as an EU/EFTA national. The Bewilligung B or G depends on the employment contract. The employer tests German in the interview: B2 for design, C1 for a project lead.
Is the Lohn gross with or without the 13th salary?
On our cards always inclusive and at 100%. Ask with every offer: “13 salaries?” is a normal question in Switzerland.
Can I keep living in Germany?
Yes, with the Bewilligung G as a cross-border commuter, if you return home at least weekly. For jobs in Basel, Aargau, Schaffhausen or Thurgau this is common.
How long is my notice period in Germany, and does that work?
Often three months to the end of a quarter. Swiss employers know this and plan the start date accordingly. We agree the date with both sides.
Sources
- State Secretariat for Migration SEM: permits B, G and L EU/EFTA (sem.admin.ch).
- Swiss Code of Obligations OR Art. 335b (probation) and Art. 335c (notice periods).
- Basis of 13 salaries: jobs.ch Lohncheck and lohncheck.ch, as of 2026.
Legal information without guarantee; subject to legal review.
Next step
Submit your profile. We contact you with jobs that fit role, Kanton, Pensum and salary band.