Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: November 2026.
Nursing is a regulated profession in Switzerland, so a foreign nursing diploma must be recognised before you can work as a nurse there. For nurses, recognition is handled by the Swiss Red Cross (SRK) in Wabern, near Bern, and it starts with a free online PreCheck.
Imagine posting a full dossier to Switzerland and paying the fee, then learning your B2 language certificate was missing. Swiss recognition only starts once the dossier is complete and the invoice is paid, so getting it right the first time saves months.
Quick answer: Start with the Swiss Red Cross’s free PreCheck (up to four weeks). If it tells you to proceed, post your full dossier and pay CHF 930, or CHF 1,000 if compensatory measures are needed. You need B2 in German, French or Italian. A first decision follows within about four months of a complete dossier.
Step 1: The PreCheck
The PreCheck is compulsory and free, and takes up to four weeks. Its result tells you whether you can go ahead with a full application. You do not need your certificate of good standing at this stage.
Step 2: The full application
- Follow the PreCheck instructions and collect your documents.
- Include a certificate confirming you are entitled to practise in your last country of work, with no sanctions against you. It must be no more than three months old when you apply.
- Include proof of B2 in German, French or Italian. The certificate can be issued abroad.
- Pay the fee and post the complete dossier with the signed form to the SRK in Wabern.
The procedure only starts once the SRK has received the complete dossier and the invoice has been paid.
Fees
| Situation | Fee (CHF) |
|---|---|
| No compensatory measures needed | 930 (two partial invoices) |
| Compensatory measures needed | 1,000 (two partial invoices) |
| Diploma listed in Annex V of EU Directive 2005/36/EC for your country | 550 |
| Possible registration in the national health professions register (NAREG/GesReg) | 130 extra, depending on the profession |
Step 3: The decision
The SRK aims to give a first decision within about four months of a complete dossier. It will either recognise your qualification or require compensatory measures, such as an aptitude test or an adaptation course. If measures are required, the procedure takes longer.
But is recognition the same as a job and a permit?
No. Recognition confirms your qualification for the Swiss labour market. Finding an employer and getting the right to live and work in Switzerland are separate steps, and the language you certify (German, French or Italian) should match the region where you want to work.
Your next step: Do the free PreCheck now, and in parallel book a B2 exam in German, French or Italian for the region you are aiming for. Then compare Switzerland with Germany in our Nursing Councils of the World series.
Source: Swiss Red Cross, “Recognition of foreign qualifications”, checked November 2026. Check recognition.swiss to confirm your profession is regulated.
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