Before an employee can be assigned to Switzerland by an entity abroad or transferred on a local contract, he or she must have been employed by the entity abroad for a certain period of time. The cantons require different minimum periods of employment. In the canton of Zurich, for example, a highly qualified employee for an international management transfer or assignment to Switzerland does not need to have a minimum period of employment but must have at least 3 years of professional experience.

The cantons of Basel-Stadt, Solothurn, St. Gallen and Zug, on the other hand, require a minimum employment period of one year.

An application for a management transfer or an international assignment with less than 12 months‘ employment within the entity (same company) abroad can be submitted for review in the Canton Berne. A plausible justification (e.g. new location, start-up) is needed.

International HR Services is happy to support you with management transfers and international assignments to Switzerland.