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Work permit

When foreign guests come to ETH Zurich for a temporary stay, they may require a work permit and/or need to register. For academic guests, visiting professors, scholarship holders and compulsory interns, HR administration will obtain the necessary permits. Different legal provisions apply to all other guest categories.

This page provides information on the regulations for visitors in each category. Please note that the information on this page is provided for guidance only and may be subject to change. For legally binding information, please consult the website of the external page State Secretariat for Migration SEM or contact the external page Swiss representation in your guest's country of residence.

The Immigration Office Zurich officially recognises four guest categories. For these guests, HR administration handles permits and entry documents. For all other guest categories, there is no legal basis for entry and the guest or their employer must arrange the necessary permits. Jump directly to the information relevant to you on this page:

Guests with a role specified by the Immigration Office

Academic guests

Visiting professors

Scholarship holders

Compulsory interns (EU/EFTA)

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Guests without a role specified by the Immigration Office

from academic partner institutions,

research collaborations,

individual collaborations,

the ETH Domain,

and more

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Students from other institutions

Special case: students from other institutions in the guest category «Individual collaborations»

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Guests with a role specified by the Immigration Office

The Immigration Office officially recognises the roles of four guest categories. Guests in these categories are legally entitled to apply for a work permit, which can only be processed through HR administration.

If you create a workflow for a guest in any of the following categories, HR administration will automatically handle your guest's work permit:

Please start the workflow at an early stage. It can take up to six weeks for HR administration to process.

Guests without a role specified by the Immigration office 

The roles of all other guest categories are not officially recognised by the Immigration Office. As a result, ETH Zurich cannot apply for residence permits for these guests, as there is no legal basis.

Guests without a role specified by the Immigration Office include:

Various provisions apply to these guests depending on their country of origin, residence status and visa:

Please contact your HR Administrator if you have any questions or concerns. According to the immigration regulations, staying at ETH Zurich (e.g. as a tourist) and/or working without a work and residence permit is not allowed.

Citizens of EU or EFTA countries

The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA enables EU/EFTA citizens to visit ETH Zurich.

Third-country nationals with a Schengen visa

In principle, guests with a Schengen visa can stay at ETH Zurich for up to three months.

Third-country nationals without a Schengen visa

Guests from non-EU countries without a Schengen visa can independently apply for a business visa for a maximum of eight days.

Special case: students from other institutions in the guest category «Individual collaborations» 

Various provisions apply to students from other institutions in the guest category «Individual collaborations» depending on their country of origin, residence status and visa:

Students who are citizens from EU or EFTA countries

Students who are third-country nationals with a Schengen visa

Students who are third-country nationals without a Schengen visa

Please contact your HR Administrator if you have any questions or concerns. According to immigration regulations, staying at ETH Zurich (e.g. as a tourist) and/or working without a work and residence permit is not allowed.

Students who are citizens from EU or EFTA countries 

The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA enables students who are EU/EFTA citizens to visit ETH Zurich.

Students who are third-country nationals with a Schengen visa

In principle, students with a Schengen visa can spend up to three months at ETH Zurich.

Students who are third-country nationals without a Schengen visa

Students who are citizens of a non-EU country and do not have a Schengen visa cannot obtain a guest visa. We recommend checking the options available within the framework of «project mobility students».