Notes on Swiss visas
The process for moving to Switzerland to work is daunting, especially if you're a citizen of a non-European country. Here's what I learnt about the process and what I wish I had known to start with. While I hope this helps people who might be interested, please note: I am by no means an authoritative source of information! This summary could be total rubbish for all I know, so please only trust information given to you by the Swiss authorities.
If you're in a rush, here's the executive summary:
First you need a job contract.
A visa lets you in, a permit lets you stay.
You apply for your visa at a consulate, your employer applies for your permit.
Switzerland doesn't recognise de facto partnerships.
Apply at least three months before you want to move.
Visa applications are loosely related to this picture of globes of the world.
If you're still reading I guess you want all the juicy details! Here they are.
The first thing to know is that in Switzerland, there are two bodies that govern who can enter, stay, and work in the country. They are the Federal Office for Migration, and the Cantonal Authorities. Switzerland is split into twenty-six cantons, or states, which is rather a lot of states for a small country. The cantons are highly independent - they have different courts, governments, and laws. While the Federal Office for Migration controls whether or not you can enter the country, the canton you will live in controls whether you can live and work there.
Something to be aware of: Switzerland does not recognise de facto relationships. Moving as a couple is infinitely easier if you are married or in a civil union, and may even be impossible if you are de facto. This is strange for people like me who have grown up in societies where those in de facto relationships are given the same rights as couples who are married or in a civil union, but it is the way it is.
Visa applications are also loosely related to planes like this 737.
The steps are, in order:
You need a job offer. Unfortunately, as a non-EU citizen, you'll need a job offer in a specialised field to be allowed to live and work in Switzerland, due to their strict immigration rules. I was lucky enough to be offered a job in early June 2012. You need to accept the job and get a contract signed before doing anything else.
You need a living/work permit from cantonal authorities. These permits are called a "permis de séjour" in French, or a residence/work permit. They are entirely controlled by the canton in which you'll live and work, and your employer has to apply for one for you, after you've signed your contract. There are various types of permits, and of course the rules vary by canton. My employer applied for a "Permit B" in Canton Vaud, which is granted for one year and must then be extended. If you are moving with your spouse, they should be given the same rights as your permit affords you; but make sure your employer knows to apply for them too.
You (almost certainly) need a visa from the Federal Office for Migration. The type of visa you use to enter the country matters, so for example it is not possible to enter Switzerland as a tourist and then try to take up work there. While your employer applies for your work permit, you need to apply for your visa yourself, through your closest Swiss consulate or embassy. This application should be made in parallel with your employer's application for a permit. There are various types of visa: I applied for a "Long Stay Type D" visa. Make sure that on the form you select "multiple entry" so that you can enter and leave Switzerland during the time you are working there. You'll need a copy of your work contract, passport photos, the visa form, and to pay a fee. Note that some embassies do not deal with visa issues! For example, in Australia, the Swiss Consulate General in Sydney deals with visa issues, and the embassy in Canberra does not. When you get your visa it will give you a certain time window (usually three months) during which you can enter the country. This is not the time you're allowed to stay in the country - that is determined by your cantonal work permit! Strangely, New Zealand Citizens don't need a visa to enter Switzerland, even for the purpose of working (NZers still need a work permit). The Federal Office for Migration provides a list of entry requirements by nationality.
Apply at least 3 months before you leave. You should apply for the visa and have your employer apply for your work permit at least three months before you plan to arrive in Switzerland. Hopefully they will arrive in time! Once your visa is approved it needs to be added to your passport by the closest Swiss consulate or embassy.
Wait nervously! Once you've applied for your permit and visa, all you can do is wait. Estimates of how long the application process vary wildly; the general consensus seems to be that about eight weeks is normal, and two to four months is not unheard of. My visa took a couple of days short of two months to be approved.
Collect the visa. When the visa is approved, you'll get a form titled "Autorisation habilitant les représentations Suisses à délivrer un visa". You can turn up at the consulate where you applied for the visa with this form and your passport in order to have the visa put into your passport. You can also post your passport to them if you have time. I didn't have sufficient time for the postal service so I went to Sydney and got the visa in person. Budget a bit of time for this - when I went it took half an hour to get to the counter, an hour to have the visa put into my passport (during which time I left for a restorative coffee) and a few more minutes to collect it again.
Go to Switzerland! Once you arrive in Switzerland and have entered using the visa, you have a limited time (I was told 8 days, but I've also seen 14 days written somewhere) to go to the "Contrôle Des Habitants" office to announce your arrival and get your permit.
If you're looking at moving to Switzerland - or anywhere overseas - and you're about to launch into the visa process, I wish you the best of luck.