Staying in Switzerland after graduation

Last checked: 10 October 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

To verify This page has 2 items that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check them yourself before relying on them:

When to apply. Apply in Vaud before your student permit ends. The law counts the 6 months from the end of your…
Whether drawing benefits affects your permit: To verify with SPOP before you apply.

Your options after a Swiss degree: the 6-month job-search stay for non-EU/EFTA graduates, job search for EU/EFTA graduates, registering with the regional employment office (ORP) and what unemployment insurance says about graduates.

Key facts

Non-EU/EFTA: after a degree from a Swiss higher education institution you can ask for a short-term permit of at most 6 months to look for a job of overriding scientific or economic interest (LEI art. 21 al. 3). You need your own financial means and housing.
A side job of at most 15 hours a week is possible during those 6 months, announced to the Population Service (SPOP) and authorised by the employment office (DGEM). EPFL says the 6-month permit cannot be extended.
EU/EFTA: you can look for work without a permit for up to 3 months; for longer, ask for an L EU/EFTA permit for job seekers.
ORP: register with the ORP of your region, online on job-room.ch ("Inscription auprès du service de l'emploi (ORP)"), where you also enter the date you want benefits to start. Register as soon as possible, at the latest on the first day you claim benefits (LACI art. 17 para. 2).
Unemployment benefit after studies is limited: you are only exempt from the contribution period if you have lived in Switzerland for at least 10 years, and a special waiting period of 120 days applies.

Already on the site: the job-search track is summarised on Working while studying (After graduation section). Your student permit renewal is a different procedure: B permit renewal in Vaud.

1. Non-EU/EFTA graduates: the 6-month job-search stay

What it is. A short-term residence permit for at most 6 months after your Swiss degree, to find a job with overriding scientific or economic interest. If you find one, the employer does not have to prove it first searched the Swiss and EU labour market (facilitated admission); the other admission conditions still apply.

Conditions (vd.ch):

degree from a Swiss higher education institution;
enough financial means and housing for the whole stay;
no "non-overriding" job, apart from a side job of max 15 hours a week, announced to SPOP and authorised by DGEM.

Documents Vaud lists, among others:

certificate of exam success or copy of your diploma showing the date you passed the exam;
copy of your lease (number of people sharing, rent) or a host's certificate;
proof of your own financial means, or a financial guarantee signed by a guarantor in Switzerland;
for a side job at the same time: form 1350 and the work contract, in 2 copies.

When to apply. Apply in Vaud before your student permit ends. The law counts the 6 months from the end of your studies or continuing education in Switzerland (LEI art. 21 para. 3); the vd.ch documents list asks for the exam date. The deadline to file in Vaud: To verify with SPOP or your commune.

Help at EPFL: the Career Development Center supports students up to six months after graduation: see EPFL Career Center and internships.

2. EU/EFTA graduates

Up to 3 months of job search without a permit.
For longer, the cantonal migration office can issue an L EU/EFTA permit for job seekers, if you have enough money and health insurance. Extensions up to one year in total are possible with proof of active job search (SEM).
Once you have a job contract, you apply for the permit that matches it.

3. Registering with the ORP

Register with the ORP (office régional de placement) of your region. Register in person as soon as possible, at the latest on the first day for which you claim benefits (LACI art. 17 para. 2).
Register online on job-room.ch; the same portal is used to file the benefit claim.
ORP support (job placement, advice) is separate from the right to cash benefits.

4. Unemployment insurance for graduates

From arbeit.swiss (SECO):

Normally you need a contribution period in a salaried job.
You can be exempt if you could not work for more than 12 months because of education, provided you have lived in Switzerland for at least 10 years (LACI art. 14 para. 1 let. a). Most international students do not meet this.
If exempt because of education, a special waiting period of 120 days applies (OACI art. 6).
The daily allowance is then 80% of a flat rate: CHF 153, 127, 102 or 40 a day depending on qualification and age, halved if you are under 25 without dependent children and the exemption is due to education (OACI art. 41).
If you worked in Switzerland and paid contributions (for example as an assistant), the normal rules apply. Check with the ORP or an unemployment fund.

Whether drawing benefits affects your permit: To verify with SPOP before you apply.

5. Working and paperwork

First Swiss job: AHV number and payslips: see AVS / AHV and Swiss tax ID and payslips.
Leaving Switzerland: deregister with your commune and close your contracts: see Leaving and deregistering.

First full-time job: LPP pension fund and pillar 3a basics: see Swiss pensions: LPP and pillar 3a.