Non-EU member states (third countries): Self-employment

• The foreign citizen is in possession of a residence permit (C).
• The spouse or registered partner is in possession of a residence permit (C)
• The foreign citizen is married to a Swiss or living in a registered partnership
• The foreign citizen is married to or living in a registered partnership with an EU-/EFTA member state citizen

Please note

Third-country nationals who do not meet any of the above criteria can submit an application to the Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) to take up self-employment under the following conditions:

• There is an overall economic interest
• The required financial and operational resources exist
• The personal conditions are fulfilled

«If all conditions are fulfilled, you can submit the application with the documents (application for self-employment for third-country nationals, reasoning, business plan (see business plan check-list) etc.) on-line under this link as “local employment, employee, newly arrived/start of job”:

Online application for a work permit for a foreign worker or cross-border services (in German only)