Switzerland Trainee Permit for Young Professionals

Start Your Career Abroad With the Swiss Trainee Exchange

Switzerland has trainee exchange agreements that allow young professionals to broaden their professional and language skills in the country. The program grants a work permit for a maximum of 18 months, and you must work in the profession you trained in or your field of study. It is open only to citizens of agreement countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, San Marino, South Africa, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the USA. It is a real chance to add international experience to your CV.

Who Can Apply

You must have completed your education, with at least a bachelor's degree or a two-year apprenticeship or vocational training. Age limits are generally 18 to 35, but they are stricter for some countries: 20 to 30 for Australia, and 18 to 30 for New Zealand and Russia. Part-time work and self-employment are not allowed, and you must find your own job. Your salary must match what people earn at the beginning of their career in that region and sector, with the same conditions as Swiss employees. An employer may not hire more than 5% of its workforce as trainees.

How to Find a Job and Apply

First, look for a position in your field. Search jobs.ch using terms such as Junior Engineer, Graduate Trainee, Junior Accountant, or Trainee together with your profession, and contact employers directly. Next, agree on an employment contract that includes a training programme. Then you apply for yourself: submit the application form, the contract, your diploma, CV, passport copy, and any other listed documents to the competent authority in your home country, which forwards it to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Do not enter Switzerland before approval, and register with the local authority within 14 days of arrival before starting work. Processing typically takes four to eight weeks depending on the country.

Emig can also help you identify relevant opportunities, improve your CV, and prepare stronger job applications.

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