Find the right domestic worker

The employment relationship between you as the employer and your nanny shall be governed by a written employment contract. This contract is based on various legal foundations and standard work contracts (abbreviated to NAV in German).

Federal standard employment contracts (Mandatory minimum wages) (only in German, French and Italian)

Kanton Aargau

Kanton Bern

Kanton Basel Land

Kanton Basel Stadt

Kanton Genf

Kanton Luzern

Kanton St. Gallen

Kanton Schaffhausen

Kanton Solothurn

Kanton Schwyz

Kanton Vaud

Kanton Zug

Kanton Zürich

* For reasons of clarity, not all cantons are listed here. Please contact the relevant canton

In Switzerland, a minimum wage for nannies applies. In the case of employment relationships where the nanny works, on average, 5 hours per week or more for the same employer, the compulsory minimum wages stipulated in the national-level standard work contract for the domestic services sector apply. These compulsory minimum wages apply to the whole sector and may only be deviated from in the employee’s favour. What’s more, they apply across the whole of Switzerland, apart from in the canton of Geneva, which has different compulsory minimum wages.

Compulsory minimum wages for the domestic services sector in the canton of Geneva (only FRA). 

Compulsory minimum wages in the rest of Switzerland (German, as well as French and Italian only). 

Wage levels vary depending on the domestic worker’s level of education, experience and skills, on the market rate and on other elements. The market rate ranges from CHF 4,000 to CHF 6,000 gross per month.

You’ll find more information in our FAQ section.

When you employ a nanny, you are required to register them with the relevant social insurers, pay employers’ social insurance contributions and organise compulsory accident insurance. You will find more detailed information in the ‘Hausdienstarbeit’ booklet published by the OASI/DI Information Centre in conjunction with the Federal Social Insurance Office: https://www.ahv-iv.ch/p/2.06.e

and on the homepage of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO): Private Arbeitgebende (admin.ch) (in German, as well as French and Italian).

If your nanny is not from an EU/EFTA country, you must obtain a work permit for them. You can find out more about this in the ‘Work permits’ section.

Further details can be found in our FAQ section

We will gladly look after all of this for you and make your life as an employer easier.

If you and your family wish to employ a nanny who does not hold Swiss citizenship, a work permit will be required.

Nannies already resident in Switzerland

You may hire a foreign nanny who is already resident in Switzerland and holds a work permit. In the case of EU/EFTA citizens who are already gainfully employed in Switzerland, no further action is required on your part. In the case of non-EU/EFTA citizens, you will first need to check with the competent authorities whether the person concerned is entitled to work in Switzerland and to change jobs. Even though they may hold a B residence permit, which entitles them to work, it may be tied to a specific employer, meaning they cannot change jobs.

Nannies with EU/EFTA citizenship

Obtaining a work permit for a nanny who holds an EU/EFTA passport is very straightforward. The freedom of movement agreement between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA means citizens of those countries have easier access to the Swiss labour market.

It is up to the nanny him or herself to obtain the work permit from the residents’ registration office in the relevant commune. To do so, they must have a work contract that adheres to the statutory requirements for nannies.

EU/EFTA citizens who are gainfully employed in Switzerland for no more than 90 days per calendar year do not require a special permit. In such cases, the obligation is on the Swiss employer to notify the authorities of the paid employment at least one day before the employment commences. Should the employment last longer than three months, a residence permit will be required, which must be obtained before the 90-day period runs out.

Nannies without EU/EFTA citizenship

New registrations of non-EU/EFTA nannies (third-country nationals) are generally not possible under current Swiss legislation on foreign nationals.

An exception is made in the case of families who were previously living abroad and are able to prove that, while there, they employed a nanny for at least two years, whom they would like to continue to employ in Switzerland.

You can find further information in our FAQ.