Two main seasons and the quieter months between
The winter season generally runs from December to April in the resorts of Valais, Graubünden and the Bernese Oberland. Summer keeps hotels, terraces, ski lifts and campsites busy from June to September. Recruitment often starts several months before opening.
The resorts that hire the most staff
Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Saas-Fee, Davos, St. Moritz, Grindelwald and Gstaad hire cooks, waiters, chambermaids, instructors and ski lift staff every winter. Large hotels often house their employees, a decisive advantage given local rents.
Fruit picking, vegetable harvests and grape picking
Farms hire for strawberries, cherries, apples and vegetables, especially in Thurgau, Valais and the Seeland. In September and October, the grape harvests of Lavaux, Valais and La Côte bring in temporary helpers to support the work of the winegrower.
Under three months: the notification procedure
An EU/EFTA citizen hired for no more than 90 days per calendar year does not receive a permit: the employer registers them online no later than the day before work starts. Beyond that, the canton issues a short-term L permit.
The L permit for a full season
A four or five month contract in a resort entitles a European national to an L permit covering the length of employment, renewable the following season. Unskilled nationals of non-EU countries, by contrast, have no admission route at all for these jobs.
What the CCNT hospitality agreement gives seasonal staff
In hotels and restaurants, the national collective agreement, known as the CCNT, sets minimum wages by training level, weekly working hours, the thirteenth month's salary and rest days. For Swiss hotel jobs, it also applies to contracts lasting only a few months.
Board and lodging deducted from pay
When the employer provides a room and meals, their value is deducted from gross pay according to amounts governed by the CCNT or AVS standards. Checking these deductions on the payslip avoids nasty surprises, especially in resorts where rooms are shared.
Seasonal pay in Valais compared with Geneva
With no cantonal minimum wage in Valais or Graubünden, the CCNT pay scale is the reference. In Geneva the cantonal minimum applies: the 2026 union scale shows about 4,131 francs a month for a hospitality employee without an apprenticeship.
Farm work: cantonal standard contracts
Farm workers are not covered by the CCNT. Each canton issues a standard agricultural employment contract with minimum or indicative wages and hours that are often longer than in hospitality. Valais, Vaud and Thurgau publish their own rules, worth checking before signing.
Unemployment benefits between two seasons
Seasonal workers living in Switzerland can register with the ORP employment office between seasons after contributing for at least twelve months in the previous two years; several short contracts can count together. A fully unemployed cross-border commuter depends on their country of residence.
The most sought-after seasonal profiles
Cooks with a CFC (Federal VET Diploma) or equivalent experience, hotel receptionists speaking English and German, waiters, housekeepers and dishwashers are needed every season. Instructors often need a qualification recognised by Swiss Snowsports or training from a Swiss ski school.
Coming back season after season
A well-regarded seasonal worker is often rehired the next year, sometimes with more responsibility. Asking for a work certificate at the end of each season builds a strong file, useful for later aiming at a year-round job in a hotel in Montreux or Lucerne.
How to organise a working season in Switzerland
- Apply directly to hotels and ski lift companies, usually between August and October for winter and between February and April for summer.
- Prepare a Swiss CV with photo, languages spoken, exact availability dates and references from previous seasons.
- Check that the written contract states gross pay, CCNT category, hours, days off and deductions for board and lodging.
- Have the employer complete the notification procedure for stays under three months, or the L permit application for longer ones.
- Join a LAMal health insurer or request an exemption, depending on the length of stay and cover from your home country.
- At the end of the season, ask for your work certificate and salary certificate for the next step in your career.
Seasonal wages and deductions to expect (indicative)
| Item | Indicative benchmark | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality without apprenticeship, Geneva 2026 | About CHF 4,131 per month | Geneva minimum, other cantons lower |
| Employee with CFC, Geneva 2026 | About CHF 4,528 per month | Union scale, training and experience |
| Holidays, public holidays and 13th salary | About 21% extra if paid by the hour | Hourly or monthly pay |
| Board and lodging provided | Deducted from gross pay | Amounts governed by the CCNT |
| Health insurance | LAMal or foreign cover | Length of stay and home country |
| Social contributions | 5.3% AVS/AI/APG and 1.1% AC | Deducted from gross pay |
What to provide for a seasonal job
- Passport or identity card from an EU or EFTA country
- CV with photo and precise start and end dates of availability
- Work certificates from previous seasons or jobs
- CFC, hospitality diploma or ski instructor qualification depending on the job
- Bank details for salary payments
- Health insurance certificate or European card for short stays
Seasonal job traps in Switzerland
- Accepting a resort job without a written contract, then finding housing deductions on the payslip that are higher than expected.
- Applying from outside the EU for a waiter or fruit picker job, when no permit is ever issued for these unskilled positions.
- Paying a foreign agency that promises a guaranteed seasonal job in Switzerland: genuine employers never charge candidates any fees.
- Leaving the resort before the contract ends without respecting the notice period, which can mean paying compensation and receiving an unfavourable certificate.
- Neglecting German for a season in Zermatt, Davos or Grindelwald, where guests and colleagues use it every day.
Seasonal work in Switzerland: common questions
Can a French student do a summer season in Switzerland?
Yes. As a European citizen, a student can work up to three months per calendar year through the notification procedure handled by the employer. A longer season requires an L permit. In hotels and restaurants, pay follows the CCNT and, in Geneva, the cantonal minimum wage.
Is accommodation always provided in ski resorts?
Not always. Many mountain hotels have staff rooms, often shared, but independent restaurants do not necessarily offer any. Since resort rents are high in peak season, it is best to get a written answer on housing before signing the contract.
Can non-EU nationals get a seasonal work permit?
The old seasonal worker status was abolished in 2002 when free movement came into force. Today a non-EU national is admitted only as a qualified person, within the quotas. Jobs such as waiter, dishwasher or fruit picker do not meet these conditions.
Can I combine a winter season and a summer season?
Yes, it is common: many seasonal workers follow a Valais ski resort in winter with a hotel on Lake Geneva or a Ticino lake in summer. For a European citizen, each contract follows its own notification or L permit procedure depending on its length.