Published on 17/07/2026 · Sources last reviewed: 17/07/2026 · Our method

The G permit, without the myths

The G permit is the Swiss cross-border authorisation. Plenty of received wisdom circulates about it — “you have to live within 30 km”, “it is up to me to apply” — so here are the actual rules, checked against the SEM pages.

The conditions (EU/EFTA citizens)

An employer in Switzerland. The permit is tied to the work, not to your nationality;
A home in an EU/EFTA state — since 2007 there is no longer a border-zone requirement for EU/EFTA citizens: you may live in Lyon or in Dijon;
A return home at least once a week. This is THE criterion of cross-border status. (The German TAX regime additionally has its own rule on 60 days of non-return — see the tax guide.)

Who files the application, and how long it is valid

Your employer starts it

The application is filed by the employer with the cantonal authority (in Geneva: OCPM; in the canton of Vaud: SPOP). You supply the documents — ID, contract, photo, proof of address.

Five years for a permanent contract

Valid for five years with a permanent contract or one of twelve months or more; otherwise for the length of the contract (three to twelve months), renewable.

Mobility included

The EU/EFTA G permit carries professional and geographic mobility: you may change employer or canton — provided you notify the competent cantonal authority.

Frequently asked questions

If I lose my job, do I lose the permit? The G permit is tied to your employment. If you become unemployed, as a rule it is your country of residence that pays your benefit, under the EU coordination rules — not Switzerland, where you paid your contributions. Think that through before you resign: the amount, the registration process and the waiting periods are those of your home country, not Swiss ones.

Does working from home put my permit at risk? Not for the most part. Up to 49.9% remote work, your Swiss social security affiliation is maintained (A1 certificate). The TAX thresholds are a separate question and they are much lower — 40% for France, 25% for Italy. Crossing a tax threshold does not cost you the permit, but it changes where your income is taxed. See our tax guide.

What if I am not an EU/EFTA citizen? This guide describes the G permit for EU/EFTA citizens, so it is probably not your route. A G permit remains possible under strict conditions: a durable residence permit in a neighbouring country and at least six months of residence in the border zone. Otherwise your realistic route is a B or L resident permit, which is subject to quotas.

The permit is only one piece of the file. Relokea's Swiss File prepares every document — permit, housing, bank — and checks them one by one before you send anything.

Prepare my file

Official sources

SEM — G permit for EU/EFTA cross-border commuters (accessed on 17/07/2026)
Canton of Geneva — cross-border employment, EU/EFTA nationals (accessed on 17/07/2026)
FSIO — telework and social security affiliation (accessed on 16/07/2026)

Related guides: the hub · impots frontalier · permis suisse lequel cout · frontalier