Frontiersmen, this is where they live: the leap in ten years of Brianza (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The number of frontier workers from Lombardy has increased by 16% in ten years. The province of Monza and Brianza saw a 77.7% increase in active G permits in Ticino. The vast majority of frontier workers come from Lombardy.

Key facts

• What: Increase in the number of frontier workers from Lombardy. When: 2015-2025. Where: Ticino and Lombardy. Who: Frontier workers. Amount: 16%.

The new dataset from the Federal Statistical Office shows that the number of frontier workers from Lombardy has increased by 16% in ten years. This increase is particularly significant considering that in 2015, there were 43,142 border immigrants, while in 2025 they became 50,056. The province of Monza and Brianza saw a 77.7% increase in active G permits in Ticino, with an increase of 1,454 active G permits compared to 2015.

The vast majority of frontier workers come from Lombardy, followed by Piedmont. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2025, Lombardy represents 62.5% of border workers in Ticino, while Piedmont represents 21.1%.

Border migration is a complex phenomenon that involves different geographical areas and different types of workers. Frontier workers are subject to various laws and regulations, such as the International Convention on

Operational details

Data analysis shows that the province of Monza and Brianza saw a 77.7% increase in active G permits in Ticino. The vast majority of frontier workers come from Lombardy, followed by Piedmont.

In ten years, the number of total G permits has increased by about 16,000 units. Those employed in Ticino grew from 55,500 to 68,300, with an increase of about 12,800 people, equal to 23%.

The province of Monza and Brianza is the area most affected by the phenomenon of commuting from the nearby Peninsula. According to data from the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, in 2022, the majority of border workers came from municipalities such as Lecco, Como and Bergamo.

In 2020, Italy introduced the “Care Italy Decree” legislation which extended cross-border work permits until 30 September 2021. This led to a significant increase in frontier workers in Ticino. According to estimates by the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, in 2022, about 70% of border workers came from municipalities in the province of Monza and Brianza.

Most frontier workers are employed in the construction, food industry and manufacturing sectors. In 2022, most frontier workers were employed in municipalities such as Bellinzona, Lugano and Mendrisio.

The growth of frontier workers has led to an increase in demand for accommodation and services in the area. According to the estimates of the Office of

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Key points

Frontiersmen, this is where they live: the leap in ten years of Brianza

On 23 December 2020, the new Frontier Agreement was signed, which entered into force on 1 January 2024. This agreement introduces a transitional regime 2024-2033 that exempts old frontier workers from part of the income. The new frontier workers, on the other hand, have a deductible of 10,000 CHF.

But what does all this mean for border crossers living in our region? To answer this question, we need to analyze the figures. According to AFC/ESTV data, in 2022 there were about 130,000 border crossers registered in Switzerland, of which about 20,000 were residents in the Canton of Ticino. This means that about 1 in 5 border crossers live in our region.

To better understand how the transitional regime works, let's imagine a concrete example. Suppose that a frontier worker residing in Bellinzona, with an income of CHF 80,000 per year, worked for 20 years in Switzerland. Thanks to the transitional regime, it could be exempted from a part of the income, equivalent to 10,000 CHF per year. This means that his gross income could be reduced by CHF 20,000 a year.

But what if the frontier worker has not yet worked in Switzerland? In this case, the excess of CHF 10,000 applies only to new frontier workers. For example, if a frontier worker residing in Lugano, with an income of CHF 40,000 per year, starts working in Switzerland, the allowance of CHF 10,000 applies only to income earned after

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Source: cdt.ch