Switzerland and Japan do not have a working holiday agreement; however, both countries concluded trainee exchange agreements (Young professionals (trainees) program) in order to enable young professionals to extend their occupational and linguistic skills in Switzerland.
Information for Japanese passport holders only
Japanses citizens don´t need a visa to enter Switzerland. Japanese passport holders may stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days within a 180-days-period in total. Previous stays in other Schengen countries within this period will also be included. To avoid overstay, please use the Short-stay visa calculator.
Working for an international organization with headquarter agreements
with Switzerland in Geneva, Bern, Gland, Lausanne or Basel: in case of employment, the international organization will request the issuing of a Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA legitimation card through the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and to the other international organizations in Geneva, Section of Privileges and Immunities, upon arrival in Switzerland; persons travelling with a Japanese passport can travel to Switzerland without a visa or without an assurance of residence permit in order to take up the employment.
Please contact your University in Switzerland directly to apply for the assurance of residence permit.
Please note that this assurance has to be obtained prior to travelling to Switzerland and that the process for obtaining it, takes up to three months.
The future employer in Switzerland has to submit the application for the visa or assurance to take up work directly with the Office of Migration of the Canton of the work place; the Embassy is not involved in this process.
