The first thing to do if you receive a termination notice from your employer is to check that you have been fired legally: Has the notice period been observed? Did your manager fire you while you were sick or pregnant? The web page on termination of employment can help you to do the necessary checks.
If you lose your job in Switzerland, you are entitled to receive unemployment benefits as soon you meet the following conditions:
You have become completely or partially unemployed.
You have worked as an employee for at least 12 months in the last 2 years. (See FAQ for possible exceptions.)
Switzerland is your main place of residence. If this is not the case, please refer to the section below on foreign nationals and cross-border commuters.
You have completed the compulsory schooling and have not yet reached the AHV retirement age.
You must also:
notify the regional employment centre (RAV) of your unemployment
be ready and immediately available to accept a job that matches your professional profile;
start looking for a new job during the notice period;
if you are on a fixed-term contract, start looking for work three months before the end of your contract.
Keep a record of your search (e.g. applications and rejection letters) as you will have to submit them to the regional employment centre (RAV).
You must register as unemployed as soon as possible, but no later than the first day from which you wish to receive unemployment benefit. You are responsible for notifying your regional employment centre that you are unemployed. You can do this online using the eService ‹Signing on with the employment service (RAV)› (available in German, French and Italian), or by going to the office of the regional employment centre (RAV).
You will be invited to a preliminary meeting at the RAV within 15 days of signing on.
You will be asked to provide the following documents:
your OASI/InvI (AHV/IV, AVS/AI) insurance certificate or your health insurance card
your identity card or passport,
documents from job searches carried out so far (application letters, replies received, etc.)
any other information requested by the RAV
a PD U2 form, if you are a national of an EU or EFTA country, are already receiving unemployment insurance benefits from an EU or EFTA country, and are looking for work in Switzerland
Choose one of the unemployment insurance funds available in your region. This fund will pay your monthly benefits. You are required to submit the following documents (available in German, French and Italian) to the fund you have chosen:
the form to request unemployment benefits, available here
work certificates from the last two years, with form listed here
other information requested by the unemployment fund
a PD U1 form, if you are a national of an EU or EFTA country
How much do I get?
You generally receive benefit equivalent to 70% of your insured salary, i.e. your average salary during the previous 6 months (or the previous 12 months, if this is to your advantage).
You receive 80% of your salary if you meet any one of the following requirements:
You have dependent children younger than 25 years old
Your monthly insured salary is less than CHF 3,797
You have a disability rating of at least 40%
How long is it paid for?
The table below shows how many days you are eligible for unemployment benefit, depending on your situation:
Length of contrib. (no. of months in the 2 years prior to enrolment) | Age | Dependents | No. of days eligible for unemployment benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
12 to 24 months | Up to age 25, without dependents | 200 (1) | |
12 to < 18 | Up to age 25 | 260 (1) | |
12 to < 18 | With dependents | 260 (1) | |
18 to 24 | 25 to 55 | 400 (1) | |
18 to 24 | With dependents | 400 (1) | |
22 to 24 | Over age 55 | 520 (1) | |
22 to 24 | Age 25 to 55 | Receiving a disability pension that corresponds to a degree of disability of at least 40%. | 520 (1) |
22 to 24 | With dependents | Receiving a disability pension that corresponds to a degree of disability of at least 40%. | 520 (1) |
Exempt from paying contributions | 90/180 (2) |
(1) People who lose their jobs 4 years or less from the OASI/AHV retirement age. 120 days of unemployment benefits in addition to the time specified in this table (does not apply to people exempt from paying contributions)
(2) People are entitled to a maximum of 180 days of unemployment benefits if their disability benefits have been reduced or stopped and if they are therefore required to take up or extend employment with an employer (not self-employment).
Foreign nationals
If you are a foreign national who was working in Switzerland, you will need a settlement (C) or a residence (B) permit to claim unemployment benefits in Switzerland. Apply to have your permit extended well before it expires.
If you have a short stay permit (L permit), you can stay in Switzerland for up to six months while looking for work. You can request the necessary special permit for this purpose by contacting the authorities responsible for immigration in your canton of residence.
Cross-border workers
You will normally receive unemployment benefits from your country of residence if you are a cross-border worker (G permit), but you can still take advantage of the services offered by your regional employment centre (RAV) when looking for a new job in Switzerland. In order to receive this support, you must register with the RAV centre in the region where you last worked in Switzerland.
You are not insured against unemployment if you are self-employed. You are therefore not entitled to any form of benefit should you be unable to find work.
If you lose your job before you can draw your old-age pension and cannot find a new job, you can receive what are known as bridging payments for older unemployed persons. These benefits cover your living expenses until you reach OASI/AHV retirement age.
To be entitled to bridging payments, you must meet a number of requirements. In particular, you must:
have lost your right to unemployment insurance no earlier than the month you turned 60;
have been insured with the OASI/AHV for at least 20 years, including at least five years after your 50th birthday;
have worked and earned an annual income of at least 75% of the maximum OASI/AHV pension (as of 2024: CHF 22,050) or have been entitled to parenting and care credits in the same amount;
live in Switzerland or in a member state of the EU or EFTA; and
have basic expenses that exceed your qualifying income (statutory limits).
To receive bridging payments, you must submit an application to your commune of residence or the cantonal implementing authority.
To do so, you must complete the ‹application form for bridging payments for older unemployed persons›. The form is available online in German, French and Italian.
You can consult the SECO guidelines on unemployment and the work.swiss portal for more information.
Information specifically about short-time working compensation can be found on the corresponding web page.