Switzerland’s Federal Council has closed the debate on next year’s immigration ceilings by confirming – at its 11 February meeting – that the 2026 quota for hiring non-EU/EFTA nationals will stay exactly where it is. Employers will again have access to 8,500 places (4,500 long-term B-permits and 4,000 short-term L-permits) for highly-skilled professionals from third countries, while separate envelopes remain in force for EU/EFTA service-providers (3,500 permits) and for British workers covered by Switzerland’s post-Brexit arrangements (3,500 permits). The announcement, first reported by Swiss Observer, locks in numbers that have barely been fully utilised in recent years – utilisation has hovered below 75 % – yet remain crucial for life-science, fintech and engineering companies that cannot always find expertise inside Europe.
Source: Swiss Observer
