Relokea
The Relokea glossary
The terms that come up in all your steps, defined in three sentences and linked to the guide that goes deeper. Updated when the rules change.
Permit G
Swiss cross-border permit: you work in Switzerland, reside in the EU/EFTA and return home at least once a week. Valid 5 years for a permanent contract. → Permit G guide
Permit B / L (quota)
Residence permit to settle in Switzerland (B ≥ 12 months; L for short stays < 12 months). EU/EFTA citizens: no quota. Non-EU/EFTA nationals: subject to the annual federal quotas (priority to CH/EU/EFTA candidates, employer sponsor). → Test my eligibility
CEFR (language levels A1-C2)
The Common European Framework of Reference: the scale from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery) that replaces the vague “read, written, spoken”. On a Swiss CV, each language carries its real level (e.g. “German: B2”) — B1 is the commonly required threshold, notably for CRS recognition of healthcare professions. Don’t over-rate: the level is checked at interview. → The Swiss CV
CRS (diploma recognition)
The Swiss Red Cross is the body responsible for recognising foreign diplomas of non-university healthcare professions (nurse, ASSC…). The procedure starts with a free, mandatory online PreCheck; budget 550 to 1,000 CHF depending on your profile and up to 4 months for a first decision. → Working in Switzerland by profession
ASSC
Healthcare and community-care assistant — the Swiss title closest to the French aide-soignant (DEAS), but from a 3-year training. Recognition goes through the CRS, often with compensatory measures, and requires B1 level in a national language. → Working in Switzerland by profession
CCT (collective agreement)
Collective labour agreement: the deal struck between employers and unions of a sector. When declared generally binding, its minimum wages apply to all employers in the sector — consult it before negotiating your salary. → Working in Switzerland by profession
LAMal
Swiss compulsory health insurance: a FIXED premium per insured person (2026 average: 465.30 CHF/month per adult), varying by canton, insurer and deductible. Compulsory within 3 months for residents. → LAMal or CMU
CMU (cross-border)
The cross-border worker’s French option: a contribution of 8% of the reference tax income (after a 25% PASS allowance), dependants included. A near-irreversible choice, within 3 months. → LAMal or CMU
Option right
The cross-border worker’s LAMal/CMU choice in France (or the equivalent by country), to be exercised within 3 months of starting work — in principle final for as long as the status lasts.
The 1983 agreement
Franco-Swiss tax agreement: in 8 cantons (VD, VS, NE, JU, BE, BS, BL, SO), the cross-border worker residing in France receives their GROSS salary and pays tax in France, against a tax-residence certificate. → Cross-border taxes
Tax at source
Tax withheld directly on the Swiss payslip. Notably the case for the cross-border worker in Geneva (1973 agreement) and foreign residents without a C permit.
Grenzgänger
The scheme for the cross-border worker residing in Germany: a Swiss withholding of 4.5% of gross credited against German tax; status kept up to 60 non-return days per year. → Cross-border taxes
AVS/AI/APG
The Swiss first pillar (old age, disability, loss of earnings): 10.6% of gross in total, of which 5.3% borne by the employee — withheld whatever your residence.
LPP (2nd pillar)
Occupational pension: employee + employer contribution on the coordinated salary, a rate rising with age. It’s savings that belong to you (vested-benefits payout on departure).
3rd pillar
Optional private retirement savings (3a tied, tax-deductible for residents and quasi-residents; 3b free). One of the employee’s rare tax-optimisation levers.
Quasi-resident
Geneva status: the cross-border worker whose ≥ 90% of household income is taxable in Switzerland can request subsequent ordinary taxation (TOU) and deduct their actual expenses — often advantageous, to be calculated each year.
Debt-collection extract
Document from the debt-collection office certifying the absence (or not) of debts in recovery. THE centrepiece of the Swiss rental file — less than 3 months old. → Rental file
Rental deposit
Swiss rental guarantee, generally 2-3 months’ rent: a blocked bank deposit, or deposit insurance without a deposit (annual premium). Returned after the exit inventory. → Rental file
Liability insurance
Private civil liability: covers damage caused to others (including rental damage). Not legally compulsory, but required in practice by letting agencies.
A1 certificate
Social-security certificate attesting the scheme you’re affiliated to in a cross-border situation (remote work, secondment) — the key to the 49.9% remote-work threshold. → The 3 remote-work thresholds
Does a term concern you directly? Rimu, your Relokea coach, applies these rules to YOUR file.