Latest On Announcement Plans For Enforce Quotas On Cat B Residence Permits For Persons From Romania & Bulgaria

Starting from 1 June 2017 for a period of 12 months, the Swiss government will implement quotas on category B residence permit for workers from Bulgaria and Romania (EU-2 states). On 10 May 2017, Switzerland’s Federal Council had announced plans to raise the safeguard clause in the agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. The 996 B-permits quota units will be released on a trimester basis and issued in order upon request. This has changed from previous rules where Bulgarian and Romanian citizens could fully advantage from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.

L residence permit (short-term residence permits of up to 1 year) will not be restricted for workers from Bulgaria and Romania. There is a possibility that some Bulgaria and Romania applicant will be refused B permits and will be issued L permits for their employment, but this is the discretion of regional Cantons in Switzerland.

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