Switzerland’s federal statistics office has confirmed that net immigration to the permanent foreign resident population fell by 10.5 % in 2025, marking the second consecutive annual drop. A total of 165,386 foreign nationals moved to Switzerland last year—5,221 fewer than in 2024—while 82,659 people left the country, up 4.8 % year-on-year.
Although the country still registered a positive migration balance of 74,675 persons, policymakers see the slowdown as evidence that labour-market demand is cooling and that recent quota stability for third-country nationals is sufficient for now. Nearly three-quarters of all arrivals held EU/EFTA passports and more than half cited long-term employment as the primary reason for migration. Italians remained the largest foreign community (about 351,000), followed by Germans, Portuguese and French citizens.
For everyone from HR teams to individual contractors who need to keep pace with Switzerland’s evolving entry rules, VisaHQ provides a one-stop portal with real-time visa guidance, digital application tools and alerts on quota openings (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/). The service can simplify the process of securing B- and L-permits or short-term work authorisations, reducing administrative friction in an increasingly competitive environment.
![Switzerland’s Net Immigration Falls 10.5 % – First Back-to-Back Decline Since 2012]()
Labour economists note that the decline coincides with slower GDP growth (1.3 % in 2025 versus 2.1 % in 2024) and persistent housing shortages that have begun to dampen employer recruitment. Nonetheless, authorities stress that “immigration continues to meet Switzerland’s skills needs,” pointing out that the foreign workforce still accounts for more than one-third of all employees in critical sectors such as health care, hospitality and advanced manufacturing.
For corporate mobility managers, the data underline the importance of forward planning. With the Federal Council keeping 2026 work-permit quotas unchanged—4,500 B-permits and 4,000 L-permits for third-country talent—competition for slots is intensifying. Employers are advised to pursue early submissions, consider intra-company transfer (ICT) routes and maximise use of the 90-day service-provider exemption for urgent projects.
Longer term, the figures may influence the political debate ahead of June’s nationwide referendum that seeks to cap Switzerland’s population at ten million. Advocates of a hard ceiling claim the latest data prove that tougher limits are feasible without harming growth; business federations counter that any artificial cap would exacerbate talent shortages and jeopardise bilateral accords with the EU.
Although the country still registered a positive migration balance of 74,675 persons, policymakers see the slowdown as evidence that labour-market demand is cooling and that recent quota stability for third-country nationals is sufficient for now. Nearly three-quarters of all arrivals held EU/EFTA passports and more than half cited long-term employment as the primary reason for migration. Italians remained the largest foreign community (about 351,000), followed by Germans, Portuguese and French citizens.
For everyone from HR teams to individual contractors who need to keep pace with Switzerland’s evolving entry rules, VisaHQ provides a one-stop portal with real-time visa guidance, digital application tools and alerts on quota openings (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/). The service can simplify the process of securing B- and L-permits or short-term work authorisations, reducing administrative friction in an increasingly competitive environment.
Labour economists note that the decline coincides with slower GDP growth (1.3 % in 2025 versus 2.1 % in 2024) and persistent housing shortages that have begun to dampen employer recruitment. Nonetheless, authorities stress that “immigration continues to meet Switzerland’s skills needs,” pointing out that the foreign workforce still accounts for more than one-third of all employees in critical sectors such as health care, hospitality and advanced manufacturing.
For corporate mobility managers, the data underline the importance of forward planning. With the Federal Council keeping 2026 work-permit quotas unchanged—4,500 B-permits and 4,000 L-permits for third-country talent—competition for slots is intensifying. Employers are advised to pursue early submissions, consider intra-company transfer (ICT) routes and maximise use of the 90-day service-provider exemption for urgent projects.
Longer term, the figures may influence the political debate ahead of June’s nationwide referendum that seeks to cap Switzerland’s population at ten million. Advocates of a hard ceiling claim the latest data prove that tougher limits are feasible without harming growth; business federations counter that any artificial cap would exacerbate talent shortages and jeopardise bilateral accords with the EU.
