Entering the labour market

If you hold a foreign qualification, you must first clarify whether the profession you wish to pursue is regulated or unregulated in Switzerland. 

On the recognition.swiss website, you can check whether your profession is regulated and which authority is responsible for recognition. Some professions are regulated only in certain cantons. The relevant recognition authority can provide information on the exact procedure. 

 

Regulated professions 

For regulated professions, a foreign qualification must be recognised before the profession can be practised in Switzerland. 

Depending on the profession and the responsible authority, the cost of the recognition procedure ranges from around CHF 350 to CHF 3,000. 

 

Non-regulated professions 

Most professions in Switzerland are not regulated. For these professions, formal recognition of a qualification is generally not required. 

Employers can decide for themselves how to assess a foreign qualification. Foreign qualifications are not always considered equivalent to Swiss qualifications. 

For higher education qualifications, Swiss ENIC can issue a level confirmation of your university degree. This provides information about the course of study and the qualification obtained. The confirmation can help employers better assess a foreign qualification and the skills acquired. 

Due to high demand, a level confirmation can currently only be applied for if a potential employer explicitly requests one.

 

General information on the recognition procedure 

The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) provides  a range of videos explaining the recognition process. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) also offers explanatory videos on this topic in various languages. 

Recognition procedures can be complex. It is therefore advisable to seek advice and support from a specialist organisation such as HEKS MosaiQ or the Association découvrir. 

 

Information on the recognition of teaching diplomas 

The EDK is responsible for the recognition of teaching diplomas and diplomas in special educational needs. It also provides an information video on the recognition process. 

High language requirements apply to the recognition of teaching diplomas and diplomas in special educational needs. As a rule, a C2 language level in a Swiss national language is required.  

The ANGEL project at the Lucerne University of Teacher Education (PH Luzern) published two factsheets in 2025. They provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges for teachers with foreign teaching qualifications. The factsheets explain how a teaching qualification obtained abroad can be recognised and what options are available for obtaining a teaching qualification recognised in Switzerland. 

• Factsheet: Recognition of teaching qualifications and retraining of teachers with refugee backgrounds in Switzerland  

• Factsheet: Recognition of teaching qualifications and retraining of teachers with refugee backgrounds in the canton of Lucerne  

Looking for a job can be challenging, regardless of whether you hold a Swiss or a foreign qualification. Additional challenges may arise if you lack professional experience in Switzerland or do not yet have a professional network. 

The following steps can make it easier to enter the Swiss labour market: 

• Improve your language skills: A good command of a Swiss national language is essential for most jobs. Access to the Swiss labour market can be more difficult with a good command of English alone. 

 

• Become familiar with the job application process in Switzerland: Application procedures vary from country to country. It is therefore worth finding out early about the application process, standard application documents and suitable job portals. Useful information is available from websites such as arbeit.swiss, berufsberatung.ch and Career Starter, among others. 

 

• Build a professional network: Many jobs are found through personal contacts. You can build a professional network in various ways, for example through: 
  • volunteering, e.g. via benevol; 
  • membership of a club or association; 
  • taking part in events in your local community, for example in libraries, neighbourhood centres, cultural organisations or religious communities; 
  • online professional networks such as LinkedIn. 

 

• Make use of support services: If you receive social assistance, you may be able to receive support with your job search, depending on your canton or municipality, for example through job coaching or mentoring. The services available depend on where you live. 

 

• Use internships as a stepping stone: Internships offer an opportunity to gain professional experience in Switzerland, expand your professional network and obtain references. They can make it easier to enter the labour market, particularly after completing a higher education degree. Remuneration is often around CHF 500 to CHF 2,000 per month. 

 

• Make use of university career centres: If you have studied in Switzerland, you can make use of the services offered by your university’s career centre. Career centres support students and graduates in starting their careers, provide information on the application process in Switzerland, organise networking events and may operate their own job portals for graduates and people starting their careers.