To whom do I have to communicate the start of a new business or a job change in Switzerland?

The commencement of any new gainful activity and change of job must be notified to the Migration Office. This procedure is necessary to verify that the frontier worker is eligible to work in Switzerland. For example, if you start working as a cook in Locarno, you need to notify the Migration Office of the activity.

Where and why do border guards have to present their identity document for the check?

Border workers must appear at one of the Gendarmerie posts to check their identity document. This check is necessary to verify the identity of the worker and ensure that they are eligible to work in Switzerland. The copy of the document certified by the post of Gendarmerie must be attached to the application for issuance of the permit.

What is the procedure for applying for a cross-border work permit and its validity?

The request for issuance of the permit must be sent to the Migration Office before starting the activity, and at least 10 days before. The permit, issued by the Migration Office, is valid for 12 months. Border workers must have a valid residence permit for their work.

What information and documents are required for the border work permit application?

The application for issuance of the permit, on plain paper, must contain name, surname, date and place of birth, identity document number, name and address of the working company, description of the work activity and period of validity of the permit. It must be accompanied by a copy of the identity document certified by a Gendarmerie post.

New permit request for border guards (G) - Republic and Canton of Ticino (cross-border guide)

Di Valerie Linc · Published on 23 July 2026

Border workers must notify their presence to the Municipality in which they are staying in Switzerland.

Context

In a nutshell

Border workers must notify their presence to the Municipality in which they are staying in Switzerland.
The commencement of any new gainful activity and change of job must be notified to the Migration Office.
Employees must appear at one of the gendarmerie posts to check their identity document.

Key facts

Chi: Border workers.
When: Not specified yet.
Where: Switzerland.
Amount: Not yet specified.

New permit request for border guards

Switzerland, in particular the Canton of Ticino, has introduced several rules to regulate cross-border work. Border workers, i.e. those who work in Switzerland but reside abroad, must be informed about the procedures to be followed.

Notification of presence

According to Ticino law, border workers must notify their presence to the municipality where they are staying in Switzerland. This means that they must report to the local Municipality and provide the required information. For example, if a frontier worker resides in Lugano and works in Bellinzona, they must report to the Municipality of Bellinzona to notify their presence.

Notification of gainful activity

The commencement of any new gainful activity and change of job must be notified to the Migration Office. This is necessary to verify if the frontier worker has the necessary requirements to work in

Operational details

Border workers who intend to carry out a work activity in the Canton of Ticino must appear at one of the Gendarmerie posts to check their identity document. The copy of the document certified by the post of Gendarmerie must be attached to the application for issuance of the permit. The request for issuance of the permit must be sent to the Migration Office before starting the activity.

According to the Cross-border Labour Act of 22 October 1998, frontier workers must hold a residence permit valid for work. The permit is issued by the Migration Office and is valid for 12 months. The permit application must be submitted at least 10 days before the start of work.

Example: a German worker who intends to carry out a work activity at a company in Locarno must appear at the Locarno Gendarmerie post to check his identity document. The copy of the document certified by the post of Gendarmerie must be attached to the application for issuance of the permit. The request for issuance of the permit must be sent to the Migration Office of Bellinzona before starting work.

The application for issuance of the permit must be submitted on plain paper and must contain the following data:

Name and surname of the worker
Date and place of birth
ID number
Name and

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

To engage in a gainful activity in Switzerland, frontier workers must obtain a G permit. The G permit must be requested from the Migration Office before starting the activity. Border guards must appear at one of the gendarmerie posts to check their identity document.

G Permit Application Requirements

To apply for the G permit, border guards must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 16 years old
Have an employment contract with a Swiss employer
Have a bank or insurance guarantee for a sum of CHF 10,000.- (art. 12 of the Migration Regulation of 24 March 2007)
Staying in Ticino
Not be subject to measures of expulsion or execution of a sentence

How to apply for G Permit

To apply for the G permit, border workers must follow the following steps:

1. Fill in the application for the G permit (form M-G-1) and attach it to the required documentation (art. 13 of the Migration Regulation of 24 March 2007) 2. Submit the application to the Migration Office of the Canton of Ticino 3. Submit to the control of your identity document at one of the Gendarmerie posts 4. Pay the G permit application fee, set at CHF 200.- (art. 16 of the Migration Regulation of 24 March 2007)

Concrete examples

Example 1: A 25-year-old frontier worker with an employment contract with an employer

Discover Ticino job offers updated daily: 4,000+ positions from Swiss companies hiring cross-border workers.

Source: www4.ti.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the presence notification obligations for border workers in Switzerland?: According to Ticino law, border workers must notify their presence to the municipality where they are staying in Switzerland. This means that they must report to the local Municipality and provide the required information. For example, if a frontier worker resides in Lugano and works in Bellinzona, they must report to the Municipality of Bellinzona to notify their presence.
To whom do I have to communicate the start of a new business or a job change in Switzerland?: The commencement of any new gainful activity and change of job must be notified to the Migration Office. This procedure is necessary to verify that the frontier worker is eligible to work in Switzerland. For example, if you start working as a cook in Locarno, you need to notify the Migration Office of the activity.
Where and why do border guards have to present their identity document for the check?: Border workers must appear at one of the Gendarmerie posts to check their identity document. This check is necessary to verify the identity of the worker and ensure that they are eligible to work in Switzerland. The copy of the document certified by the post of Gendarmerie must be attached to the application for issuance of the permit.
What is the procedure for applying for a cross-border work permit and its validity?: The request for issuance of the permit must be sent to the Migration Office before starting the activity, and at least 10 days before. The permit, issued by the Migration Office, is valid for 12 months. Border workers must have a valid residence permit for their work.
What information and documents are required for the border work permit application?: The application for issuance of the permit, on plain paper, must contain name, surname, date and place of birth, identity document number, name and address of the working company, description of the work activity and period of validity of the permit. It must be accompanied by a copy of the identity document certified by a Gendarmerie post.