Becoming a cross-border worker in Switzerland

What is a cross-border worker?

A cross-border worker is someone who lives in one country but regularly crosses the border to work in another. In France, this is common in the regions bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland.

The cross-border lifestyle attracts more and more French people to Switzerland every year. They live near the border, for example in Annecy or other towns, and in departments such as Haute-Savoie, Ain and Jura.

These workers are subject to specific tax and social security arrangements, in accordance with the bilateral agreements in force between the two countries. Some cross-border workers pay tax in their country of residence, whilst others are taxed in the country where they work.

And when it comes to pay, how much do cross-border workers between France and Switzerland earn? Whilst salaries vary depending on seniority or sector, it is important to note that the minimum wage in Switzerland (although unofficial) is significantly higher than in France. The amount varies by canton, but in Geneva, for example, it stands at 4,368 Swiss francs gross per month, or approximately 4,623.02 euros (as of today, via the b-sharpe service). Consequently, the average salary in Geneva is around 6,123 euros.

Becoming a cross-border worker in Switzerland: the key steps

How do you go about looking for a job in Switzerland and becoming a cross-border worker? From job hunting to administrative formalities, here are our tips for making this career move as smooth as possible. Follow our guide!

Finding a job in Switzerland as a French national

If you’re a French resident looking for a job in Switzerland, you’ll need to tailor your approach to local conditions. Find out how to maximise your chances of securing a role as a cross-border worker.

Jobs in Switzerland that are suited to a cross-border lifestyle are in high demand. With its attractive salaries, Switzerland attracts many job seekers. Its unemployment rate is among the lowest in Europe: in November 2024, the unemployment rate in Switzerland stood at 2.3%.

The sectors with the highest demand for staff are finance and banking (particularly in Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland’s financial hubs), healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry, industry in the broadest sense, mechanical engineering, watchmaking and luxury goods, technology and IT. Switzerland is home to the headquarters of many international and multinational organisations, offering job opportunities in diplomacy and international relations. The tourism and hospitality sector plays a significant role in Switzerland, which is a major tourist destination, particularly during the winter season.

Tailor your CV to the Swiss job market: (one or two pages maximum), including a photo (although this is not compulsory in Switzerland, it is strongly recommended that you include one). It must include verifiable professional references. Your cover letter must be clear. Explain why you wish to work in Switzerland and outline your key skills. As for your qualifications, you must have them translated or check that they are recognised in Switzerland (particularly in the medical field).

As a multilingual country, Switzerland has several official languages. Employers therefore value a good knowledge of the local languages: French in the French-speaking cantons (Geneva, Vaud), German in the German-speaking cantons (Zurich, Basel), and Italian in Ticino. English is often essential for working in Switzerland, as it is a country with a strong focus on international trade. Thus, although French is spoken in most major cities, a working knowledge of English, and if possible German, seems essential for the vast majority of jobs in Switzerland.

So, have you found your dream job in Switzerland? Please note that you must obtain a letter of offer from your future employer. This document is essential for applying for a cross-border work permit (the G permit).

Becoming a cross-border worker: where should you live in France if you work in Switzerland?

To work in Switzerland whilst living in France, you must work remotely, or find a place to live close to the border or with transport links that can take you to Switzerland every day. Where should you settle to work in Switzerland? Where do cross-border workers in France live? In 2023, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region was home to more than 125,000 French citizens working in Switzerland. The towns closest to Geneva are home to a large number of cross-border workers: Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon-les-Bains, Évian-les-Bains, Bons-en-Chablais, Neuvecelle, Publier, Lugrin, and Vétraz-Monthoux…

Recognition of qualifications

Good to know: the education system in Switzerland is similar to that of European Union countries. Most professions are therefore accessible to those with a qualification obtained within the EU. However, if you obtained your qualification outside the EU, you will need to apply for academic recognition.

Please note, however, that certain professions are regulated in Switzerland, such as those in the health or education sectors… In such cases, recognition of your qualification will be required. Doctor, dentist, pharmacist, psychologist, vet, civil engineer, teacher, taxi driver, architect, lawyer… These professions are regulated in Switzerland. If you need your qualification to be recognised, an official platform has been set up to help you.

Can you work in Switzerland without qualifications? Yes, it may be more difficult, but it is still possible. Certain sectors, such as retail, the high street, construction, the hospitality industry and personal care, recruit without requiring specific qualifications. However, it is important to note that, even in these fields, relevant work experience or practical skills can play a crucial role.

Obtain a G licence

To work in Switzerland as a cross-border employee, an EU citizen must obtain a Swiss work permit, known as a G permit. This essential document is required to be able to work in Switzerland. To obtain it, the application must be submitted by the Swiss employer. The employer will complete the work permit application form themselves and then submit it to the Swiss cantonal authorities. If you are hired on a permanent contract, your G permit will be valid for 5 years.

The requirements for obtaining a G licence are as follows:

• Have a Swiss employment contract or a job offer;
• be employed by a Swiss company;
• Return to their home outside Switzerland at least once a week.

Transferring your Swiss salary to France

As a reminder, Switzerland is not part of the eurozone. The local currency is the Swiss franc (CHF).

Working in Switzerland means receiving a salary in Swiss francs, but spending most of it in France, even though your French bank account is in euros. To receive your salary in Swiss francs, a Swiss personal IBAN is usually required (which often involves opening a bank account in Switzerland). You will then need to transfer your salary to a French account every month.  Living in France whilst earning a Swiss salary is a reality for many cross-border workers. But converting Swiss francs into euros every month can quickly become a headache: high fees, delays and complex procedures. To convert your salary from Swiss francs to a euro account more easily and quickly without having to open a bank account in Switzerland, you can use the b-sharpe converter. Whether you’re working in Switzerland and spending money there, or simply want to convert your salary into euros, b-sharpe offers a reliable Swiss franc to euro currency converter that’s updated in real time, highly intuitive and easy to use.

Health insurance

If they work in Switzerland, French cross-border workers are no longer covered by the French general social security scheme, nor by their French mutual insurance or supplementary insurance. To obtain cover, cross-border workers must therefore choose between the French scheme (CMU) and the Swiss scheme (LAMAL).

France and Switzerland have signed an agreement allowing cross-border workers to choose their health insurance scheme from among the options available in both countries. They may therefore opt to join either the Swiss or the French system:

• In Switzerland, employees can register with their local health insurance fund under the Swiss statutory health insurance scheme (LAMal).
• In France, he can register with the Social Security Scheme for Cross-Border Workers (CMU) through the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie.

Under both schemes, the reimbursement rates for medical services are the same. Both schemes entitle the holder to a Carte Vitale. However, there are a few differences: for example, whilst the LAMal Frontalier scheme provides access to healthcare networks in both Switzerland and France, the CMU Frontalier scheme provides access only to the French healthcare network.

Being a cross-border worker: benefits, but also everyday challenges

Working in Switzerland and living in France… This lifestyle offers numerous financial and professional benefits. The Swiss job market stands out for its dynamism: salaries there are the highest in Europe. In January 2023, the ‘minimum wage’ in the canton of Geneva stood at 4,368 Swiss francs gross, or 4,623.02 euros (as of today via the b-sharpe service). For a French worker, Swiss pay is therefore very attractive, and higher than in France. Certain sectors, such as finance, chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry, are actively recruiting, offering attractive salaries.

Living in France whilst earning a salary in Switzerland allows you to make real savings. Although wages are high in Switzerland, the cost of living there is particularly high. Housing, transport, food and leisure activities are more expensive than in France. By being resident in France, cross-border workers can also maintain their routines and family life in France, for example by sending their children to school there.

Being a cross-border worker is a unique way of life, but it does have its drawbacks. Living in France and working in Switzerland means spending time in the car or on public transport every day to cross the border. It also means working longer hours than in France. In Switzerland, the working week is not fixed, as it is in France. On average, Swiss workers put in longer hours, with a working week generally ranging from 42 to 50 hours.

Whilst many French people have decided to move to Switzerland to work or live there, others have chosen to continue living in France, close to the border, so that they can commute to their employer in Switzerland. This is cross-border commuting, an increasingly popular way of life, made easier by the widespread adoption of remote working. As a result, by the end of 2022, 380,000 people were crossing the French-Swiss border daily to work in neighbouring Switzerland, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.