GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 9, 2026
Work permit
A work permit is the official authorisation allowing a person who is not a national of the host country to take up gainful employment there.
Quick Answer
Last updated:
Source: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home/themen/arbeit.html
Category
Logistics Concept
Reading time
1 min
Words
131
Mentioned in
–
Definition & Explanation
A work permit is the official authorisation allowing a person who is not a national of the host country to take up gainful employment there. It is distinct from a residence permit but in practice the two are often issued together: under Directive 2011/98/EU many EU Member States combine them into a single permit. In Switzerland the cantons issue the permit, for third-country nationals subject to approval by the State Secretariat for Migration and within annual quotas; the common categories are the short-stay permit L, the residence permit B and the cross-border commuter permit G. In road transport the work permit is a frequent bottleneck when hiring third-country drivers: it must be in place alongside recognition of the driving licence and proof of professional qualification, otherwise the driver cannot be deployed.
Next steps
Matching tools and partners
Related Terms
You might also be interested in these terms
Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox
Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.