Planning a workation in Zürich? Or a business trip to Geneva or Basel? Learn the essential information you and your employees need to work safely and compliantly while traveling in Switzerland, including working conditions, safety and health regulations, tax treaties, social security, and more.
Capital city
Bern
Telephone code
+41
Official language
German, French, Italian, Romansh
Currency
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Time zone
UTC+1
Social security compliance
When working remotely abroad, your employees may become subject to the social security scheme of the destination country, which means you, as an employer, would need to pay social security premiums accordingly.
Switzerland follows regulations that coordinate social security among EU/EEA member states and Switzerland. One key regulation is Regulation (EC) No 883/2004, which ensures that social security systems operate smoothly across borders.
Additionally, Switzerland has entered into numerous social security treaties with various countries to prevent the payment of double social security premiums or non-insurance (see here)
To ensure your employees remain compliant with these treaties, they must possess a valid A1 certificate (if traveling from another EU country to Switzerland) or a Certificate of Coverage (CoC) (if traveling from a country outside the EU).
Tax compliance
As a member of the OECD, many of Swiss tax treaties are based on the OECD Model Tax Convention. This framework provides guidelines for structuring tax treaties and covers various types of income, including dividends, interest, royalties, and employment income. In addition to these guidelines, Switzerland has signed tax treaties with numerous countries, available here.
Despite the existence of many tax treaties and the adoption of the OECD Model Tax Convention, the issue of Permanent Establishment remains a significant compliance concern for employers with employees temporarily working in Switzerland, whether for a workation or a business trip. If a traveling employee is deemed to constitute a Permanent Establishment in the destination country, the employer may be required to register the company locally, allocate profits to the local business (branch), and file corporate taxes, leading to substantial administrative burdens.
To avoid this scenario, here are some key strategies:
If your employees are traveling for a workation, they should refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during the trip. Additionally, they should avoid visiting clients or any office, including the employer's local office in the destination country. Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risk for the employer related to permanent establishment.
If your employees travel for business, it may be impossible to refrain from the activities above. In this case, please make sure to inform your (tax) compliance department of this matter. If you and your organization are a WorkFlex user, this topic is covered through the WorkFlex platform.
PWD notification obligations
Even though Switzerland it is not a part of the EU, it has implemented the posted worker directive rules in its national legislation. That means, employers are generally required to register their employees’ postings with local labour authorities in the destination country, i.e. to submit a PWD notification. This notification serves several important purposes, including balancing worker mobility with the protection of their rights. PWD notification obligations apply in Switzerland.
As a consequence, to stay compliant with the PWD obligations, employees traveling to Switzerland must comply with several local working conditions, notably must receive at least the same pay as local employees in similar roles. Find out more about the PWD notifications in Switzerland here.
Visa
To work legally while in another country, employees generally need a valid work title. It's important to keep in mind that the consequences of entering without the proper documentation can be significant for both the employee and the employer.
For those planning work-from-anywhere trips to Switzerland, here's a quick overview:
- Short-term stay: If you’re a citizen or residence permit holder from a Schengen Zone country, you can enjoy a stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa. If you're coming from a non-Schengen country, you’ll likely need a Schengen Visa (Type C) for short stays of up to 90 days.
- Long-term stay: Planning to stay longer than 90 days? In that case, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit or a long-stay visa.
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
For those planning a business trips to Switzerland, here’s what you need to know:
- Short-term trip: If you’re a citizen or a residence permit holder of a Schengen country, you can enter Switzerland for short business trips without needing a visa, and you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. For travelers from non-Schengen countries, you’ll likely need a Schengen Business Visa. This visa allows you to move freely throughout the Schengen Area for your business activities.
- Long-stay visa: If your business plans involve staying longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a specific long-stay visa. The requirements can vary based on the nature of your business activities, so it's a good idea to check the specifics on the websites of Swiss authorities.
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
Working hours
Most employees in Switzerland work from Monday to Friday, with a standard workweek consisting of 42 hours. The workday is typically running from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break of 1 hour in between.
To remain compliant during your trip abroad, here are some suggestions to follow:
- Avoid working overtime: Regulations regarding overtime can differ significantly and may be much stricter compared to those in your home country.
- Refrain from working outside regular hours: The rules surrounding working outside regular hours may vary and could be stricter than in your home country.
- Do not work on weekends: If the weekend days differ from those in your home country, please avoid working on both your regular weekend days and the local weekend days.
Public holidays
- January 1: New Year's Day
- Good Friday (date varies)
- Easter Monday (date varies)
- Ascension Day (date varies)
- August 1: Swiss National Day
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: St. Stephen's Day
Additional regional holidays vary by canton. For more information about these holidays, please check here.
To comply with labor laws, please refrain from working on national or regional holidays during your trip. These days hold significant importance for locals and provide a great opportunity for you to blend in and celebrate with the community.
Working activities
When considering travel for work purposes—whether for a workation or a business trip—it is crucial to understand the implications of Permanent Establishment (PE) and associated tax risks. PE is a significant compliance concern for companies and can become costly due to the administrative burden if the compliance requirements for employees working abroad are not properly managed. To help mitigate these risks, here are a few guidelines to follow.
If you are traveling for a workation, please:
- Refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during your trip.
- Avoid visiting clients or any office, including your employer's local office in the destination country.
Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risks related to Permanent Establishment for your employer.
If you are a business traveler, it may be difficult to avoid the activities mentioned above. In this case, please ensure you inform your employer's compliance department about this matter. If you and your organization are WorkFlex users, this topic is addressed through the WorkFlex platform.
Data protection
Data protection is fundamentally about keeping our information safe from unauthorized access, breaches, theft, or damage. This responsibility is important for everyone, regardless of where they are working.
When employees work temporarily from abroad, data protection involves ensuring continued coverage and compliance with the data protection regulations of both, the home country and the destination country. Switzerland has implemented the Federal Data Protection Act (FDPA). Its level of regulation and enforcement is characterized as heavy, learn more about it here.
For WorkFlex users, a comprehensive list of data protection activities is available in the profile, but here are some general data protection guidelines to keep your data safe:
- Adhere to Your Company's Internal Data Policies: Familiarize yourself with and follow your organization’s specific data protection protocols.
- Use Secure Network Connections: Always connect through secure networks, especially when accessing sensitive information.
- Be Aware of Phishing: Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the authenticity of emails and messages before clicking on any links.
- Utilize Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication: Create complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
- Keep Your Devices in a Secure Location: Always store your devices in safe places to prevent unauthorized access.
- Lock Your Screen Whenever Applicable: Ensure your screen is locked when you're away from your device to protect your information.
Travel health insurance
When traveling to Switzerland for work—whether for a short business trip or an extended workation—it's essential to have comprehensive health insurance coverage to ensure access to medical care.
For business trips, the employer typically arranges the employee's travel health insurance. However, for workations, these responsibilities can be less clear. For WorkFlex users, travel health insurance is included by default with every trip request to ensure there are no costly consequences for either the employee or the employer if accidents occur while working abroad.
For travelers using WorkFlex:
If you’re traveling with WorkFlex, comprehensive health insurance is automatically included if your employer has activated this feature. For more details, please refer to your trip request on the WorkFlex platform.
For other travelers
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) grants access to public healthcare services within Switzerland's national health system, covering essential services like doctor visits, hospital treatments, and prescription medications (urgent or necessary medical care to the same extent as for local residents). The EHIC is valid only at public healthcare facilities, so check your private health insurance policy to confirm whether additional coverage is provided for private healthcare services.
- Citizens of other countries: Ensure you have travel health insurance with worldwide coverage, whether for a workation or business trip, so that you can receive adequate medical treatment in case of an emergency.
Urgent safety information
For travelers using WorkFlex:
Please refer to your trip's risk assessment under the "Health and Security" dimension to review any urgent security information relevant to your travel.
For other travelers:
Please visit official authority websites to check for any current threats or urgent security advisories:
Terrorism
Follow the general cautionary measures.
Crime
- Switzerland has a low crime rate. However, pickpocketing can occur, especially in crowded areas and on public transport during travel seasons.
Safety tips
- Secure money, IDs, driver's licenses, and essential documents. Keep electronic copies/photos for easier replacement if lost or stolen.
- Prefer cashless payments; carry only necessary cash and avoid bringing valuables.
- Remain vigilant in large crowds, such as at airports, train stations, markets, and on public transport.
- Stay aware of potential scams through unfamiliar emails, calls, prize notifications, or offers. Verify any requests or suspicious contact through reliable sources or by contacting the police.
- Do not share personal data without verification.
Switzerland has distinct seasonal variations
Summer (June to August):
- Warm days (20°C to 25°C/68°F to 77°F)
- Pleasant evenings
- Occasional thunderstorms
- Ideal for outdoor activities
Winter (December to February):
- Cold temperatures (-2°C to 7°C/28°F to 45°F)
- Snow in alpine regions
- Excellent skiing conditions
- Shorter daylight hours
Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November):
- Mild temperatures
- Variable weather
- Beautiful landscapes
- Less crowded tourist sites
Airports
Zürich Airport (ZRH)
- Location: Zürich
- When to use: Main international hub, excellent connections worldwide
Geneva Airport (GVA)
- Location: Geneva
- When to use: Western Switzerland, international flights
EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL)
- Location: Basel
- When to use: Northwestern Switzerland, tri-national region
Train stations
Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB)
- Main connections: Switzerland's largest railway station
- International routes to Germany, Austria, Italy, France
- Hub for domestic intercity services
- Connection to Zürich Airport
Basel SBB
- Main connections: Major international gateway
- Routes to France (TGV), Germany (ICE)
- Key junction for international services
Geneva Cornavin
- Main connections: Western Switzerland hub
- International routes to France
- Regional connections to French border areas
- Airport rail link
Additional Services:
- Extensive domestic InterCity network
- Glacier Express and other scenic routes
- Regional and local services (S-Bahn)
- Mountain railways and funiculars
Ride-hailing services
- Uber (limited to certain cities)
- Local taxi apps
- mytaxi
Public transportation
- Integrated bus and tram networks
- Extensive city-to-city connections
- Mountain transport (cable cars, funiculars)
- Lake ferry services