Hiring of a highly skilled migrant

For your business, you might need certain expertise, which you have found in a highly skilled professional outside of Switzerland. No stress or worries, their qualities can still help you and your business out here, due to the highly skilled migrant program.

Several years ago, this program was introduced to make Switzerland more alluring for professionals with certain qualities to help increase the Swiss economy, and enrich culture and scientific research. The highly skilled migrant scheme has simplified the procedure of bringing highly educated employees to Switzerland.

Still, there are strict regulations and legislation to be able to apply. Are you looking to hire a highly skilled migrant, but you have no idea where to start? Swiss Employer of Record will explain to you all the steps and conditions to do so. 

Are you an employee that found a job and needs a work permit for Switzerland, such as the L, B or C permit? We can help you as well. For more detailed information on the different work permits, visit the Work Permits blog.

What conditions have to be met to be considered a highly skilled migrant?

To hire a highly skilled migrant, they have to be qualified as one. This means that they must meet the conditions of all migrants, and furthermore:

  • Have an employment contract with an employer or research institution in Switzerland. 
  • Earn a sufficient income, which is above a set threshold
  • That wage that is agreed upon must be in accordance with market conditions

These are just the conditions to be qualified as a highly skilled migrant. To be sure they can actually work in Switzerland, there are some more steps to be completed. As an employee, you need a residence permit to work here. Only a local employer is able to apply for the permit and to do so you have to be a recognized sponsor. Get in touch with one of the professionals at Switzerland Employer of Record. We’re happy to help out!

The process of hiring a highly skilled migrant

The way to go about hiring a highly skilled migrant for your company starts, as most international processes do, at the Immigration  Services. Here you can apply to become a recognized sponsor, which allows you to hire a highly skilled employee to work in Switzerland. Another option is to work with an affiliated recognized sponsor, for instance, a payroll company such as Swiss Employer of Record. These companies possess all the knowledge and experience necessary to fulfill the procedure of hiring highly skilled migrants in Switzerland.

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Rights and obligations sponsors

As a recognized sponsor you have some rights and also some obligations. One of them is that you can use some procedures that are fast-tracked, such as the highly skilled migrant scheme. Otherwise, you have to choose a highly skilled foreign national, who meets these specific conditions as stated above. Also, you are expected to provide potential candidates with information regarding these conditions. If you’re looking for a partner who can take on these tasks so you can focus on running your business, Swiss Employer of Record is here to help!

What Swiss Employer of Record can do for you

As a recognized sponsor, Swiss Employer of Record is there to help you and your organization get a foot in the door in the Swiss market. Since it takes a lot of time to learn and understand the whole maze of legislation and regulations of Switzerland, we thought it best for you to focus on your business instead of peripheral matters. With our English-speaking experts, we take care of or guide you on all legal and payroll matters within Switzerland. Get in touch or create a profile to get started!

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