Are you returning to your home country after having worked in Switzerland? Several EU countries have set up programmes for those returning.
Contact the consular representation of your country of origin for information about returning home.
Important information for nationals returning to the EU/EFTA
If you are registered as unemployed, you have the option of searching for work abroad while continuing to receive unemployment benefits (“benefits transfer”). However, this is only possible for up to three months and only in an EU-28/EFTA country. In principle, it is not permitted to emigrate immediately after becoming unemployed. You must usually make yourself available in the local labour market for at least four weeks before starting to seek work abroad.
If you plan to look for work abroad, you must apply to the responsible unemployment benefits office for a benefits transfer before leaving Switzerland. The regional employment centre (RAV) is responsible for this. The responsible office will issue the necessary PD U2 certification.
The unemployed person requires the PD U2 certification in order to register for unemployment benefits with the relevant office abroad. So that unemployment benefits can continue to be paid, the unemployed person must register at the responsible office in the country where they are seeking work within seven days of departing. This deadline also applies if it has not yet been possible to issue the PD U2.
For more information and to apply for these benefits, please contact the person responsible for you at your RAV.
Form U2 - Portable Documents (PD)
Authorisation to receive unemployment benefits while searching for work in another country.
Form P2 is issued by the public employment agency or the responsible social security provider in the country where you became unemployed.
It must be submitted to the national employment agency of the country in which you are looking for work.
More information on Form PD U2 (PDF, 113 kB, 04.12.2017)
The EU provides information here about the process.
Form U1 - Portable Documents (PD)
Certification of insurance periods to be taken into account when calculating unemployment benefits.
The form is issued by the public employment agency or the responsible social security provider in the country/countries where you worked.
Form PD U1 must be submitted to the national employment agency of the country in which you wish to receive unemployment benefits.
More information on Form PD U1 (PDF, 117 kB, 06.12.2017)
In order to process your application, the unemployment insurance fund requires the following information:
- The form “Antrag auf Ausstellung eines PD U1"
Download the form (PDF, 498 kB, 30.10.2017) - Have you in the past been registered with an unemployment insurance fund or have you received unemployment insurance benefits?
If so, please send your documents to this unemployment insurance fund.
If not, please send your documents to an unemployment insurance fund of your choice that operates in your last place of residence. If you have not lived in Switzerland, please send the documents to an unemployment insurance fund of your choice that operates in the place of business of your last employer.