Fragomen

What Fragomen Brings to Switzerland

Fragomen, formally Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP, is an international immigration law firm. The firm's Zurich branch, officially registered as a limited liability company providing immigration consultancy services in Switzerland, represents the firm's presence in the country. In 2026, Fragomen expanded its Swiss operations by opening a second office at the Unlimitrust Campus on Route des Flumeaux in Prilly, near Lausanne. The firm advises multinational corporations, local businesses, and private clients on navigating Swiss immigration law. This two-office presence, with one in the German-speaking center Zurich and one in the French-speaking region near Lausanne, enables the firm to serve clients across multiple cantons and language regions.

Fragomen's international reach means it can handle cases where clients are relocating from multiple countries or where companies need to coordinate moves across several jurisdictions simultaneously. The firm's core expertise is in employment-based immigration, though it has extended its practice to spousal and family matters, as well as naturalisation and citizenship questions. For corporations moving employees to Switzerland or for individuals planning a relocation, Fragomen offers the perspective of a firm that has handled similar cases internationally and can benchmark Swiss requirements against other jurisdictions.

The firm's website emphasizes that Switzerland's immigration system offers "several options for employers of foreign nationals", and that the system is "complex" enough to warrant professional guidance. This positioning reflects the reality that Switzerland's cantonal system, combined with federal law and bilateral agreements with the EU and EFTA, creates real complexity for arriving professionals. The firm positions itself as experienced in untangling that complexity.

What Switzerland's System Requires

The site explains that Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area and the European Free Trade Organisation (EFTA), but not the European Union or European Economic Area. This distinction matters. It means that EU/EFTA citizens have streamlined rights to reside and work in Switzerland, but the country retains sovereign control over non-EU immigration. Switzerland is also a federal state divided into 26 cantons, each with the authority to interpret and enforce federal immigration law within their territory. As the site states, "Immigration processing and document requirements vary considerably among the 26 Swiss cantons." This is not merely a bureaucratic detail; it means the actual requirements, processing times, and approval rates can differ dramatically between cantons.

For business visitors, Switzerland generally requires an Entry Business Visa unless the visitor is visa-exempt based on nationality. Business trips are typically limited to no more than 14 consecutive days, though circumstances may allow shorter or longer stays in specific cases. Critically, the Schengen Area as a whole limits stays to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted cumulatively across all Schengen countries, not just Switzerland. This ceiling affects frequent business travelers who visit multiple European countries in succession.

Switzerland offers several main work permit categories. The eligibility criteria, permitting process, and document requirements all depend on the planned duration of stay, the applicant's nationality, and the nature of the transfer (whether the worker is transferring within a company or moving to a new employer). Labour market testing and quotas typically apply to all transfers, though some transfers benefit from limited or no labour market testing. These quotas are split between the federal and cantonal levels, meaning a company may receive federal approval for a position but still face cantonal restrictions in the specific canton where the work would occur.

Services Fragomen Provides in Switzerland

Fragomen's site lists the range of services the firm offers to arriving clients and companies. For work permits, the firm guides companies and individuals through the labour market testing and quota process. This is particularly important for non-EU nationals, where the employer must document why the position requires a foreign worker when Swiss or EU candidates are not available. The firm prepares the justification reports and manages the application timeline. The firm's experience across multiple jurisdictions means they understand what documentation different cantons typically require and how to structure arguments persuasively.

The firm also consults on business visitor visas, helping companies understand the requirements and restrictions for short-term business travel to Switzerland. This service is valuable for multinational firms whose employees frequently transit through Switzerland and need to understand cumulative Schengen limits.

For family matters, Fragomen assists with applications for spouses, partners, and dependent children to accompany the primary applicant or to follow later. The firm advises on whether family members can work in Switzerland and how their permits interrelate with the principal applicant's status. Family reunification in Switzerland is subject to specific income thresholds and integration requirements, and the firm can navigate these.

On naturalisation, the site indicates Fragomen "can consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance". This careful phrasing reflects the fact that naturalisation in Switzerland is a complex, canton-dependent process that varies significantly by jurisdiction and is not uniformly available on the same timeline everywhere. Some cantons have residence requirements of five years before eligibility; others require ten. The political process also varies by canton.

The firm's website indicates it serves clients in both French and English, and uses the expression "one of our team members" to indicate active presence and responsiveness. However, the site does not specify office hours, standard response times, or a direct scheduling link. The Swiss team "advises in French, English and German," providing language coverage across Switzerland's official languages.

What Fragomen's Site Does Not Publish

The site publishes no pricing for immigration services. No information is given about whether Fragomen charges hourly rates, flat fees per permit type, or a percentage of relocation costs. No typical timelines are provided for any permit category. The site does not detail which cantons Fragomen has particular expertise in or whether the firm has relationships with specific cantonal authorities. Given Fragomen's two-office structure, one might infer stronger presence in the Zurich and Lausanne regions, but the site does not state this.

The site does not explain Fragomen's experience with appeals of rejected permits or with cases that have already received a negative determination. Naturalisation process costs, timelines, and success rates are not discussed. The site does not clarify whether Fragomen can represent clients in appeals before cantonal or federal administrative courts, though immigration law firms often do this work. The site mentions "Immigration Enforcement Defense Services" as a firmwide offering, but does not explain how this translates to the Swiss market.

Who Fragomen Suits

Fragomen is appropriate for multinational employers relocating employees to Switzerland, particularly those with multiple relocations in progress or those whose employees need business travel guidance. It is well-suited to non-EU nationals because the firm has experience navigating labour market testing and quota systems across jurisdictions. It suits professionals whose relocation involves family members or spousal work considerations, since the firm handles family applications.

Fragomen is less suitable for those seeking a boutique, local immigration law practice focused on a single canton. The firm's international scale and multipractice structure means it is oriented toward corporate clients rather than to individual newcomers on a budget. Those seeking detailed, transparent pricing before engagement may find the lack of published rates a drawback. Those relocating to cantons where Fragomen has weaker relationships or local recognition might benefit from consulting a local firm in parallel. The firm's strength lies in international coordination and complex, multi-jurisdiction scenarios rather than in streamlined, straightforward single-canton work permits.