Summer Job for an American teenager in Switzerland?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello, I am new to this forum and I hope you guys answer/have similar questions on this topic. I am 16 years of age and I have work experience in a grocery store. I also study the German language in school and I am quite fluent in it. I have grandparents in Switzerland and I have been thinking about going to live with them for the summer to improve my German language skills. They live in Zurich and they have been permanent residents of Switzerland for over 30 years, but they do not have citizenship. My question was, are there any summer jobs in Switzerland that would hire a 16 year old American and give me a work visa/permit? I could arrange this before I go and it would also be nice if it is close to Zurich so I could potentially stay with my grandparents. This will also be a great way for me to save for college since a Swiss McDonald's has wages around 20 CHF per hour. I am guessing some people have similar questions and I hope you guys can also benefit from this thread.

2
One possibility for a young American seeking work in Switzerland might be as a summer camp counselor. This website might be useful:

https://www.viamonde.com/personnel/p...p?type=support

Americans who are at least 18 yo can work as an au-pair in Switzerland (EU citizens only need to be 17). Working as an au-pair would be a great way to improve your German skills. This website gives an overview of requirements:

http://www.thebestaupair.com/en/info...itzerland.aspx

This website lists current openings for au-pairs:

http://stellenmarkt.liliput.ch/stellenangebote/au-pair

It would be beneficial if you had EU/ EFTA/ Swiss citizenship. Have you determined whether you might be eligible?

3

Welcome to the forum, but I’m afraid I have to say it’s extremely unlikely you’d be able to get a job here, especially working somewhere like McD’s. The rules for hiring of non-EU nationals are strict as priority is given to Swiss/EU nationals. The criteria for hiring is outlined here:

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home…zulassung.html

Unfortunately Mullhollander none of those options are available to him. Viamonde only accept EU/ETFA nationals and he’s too young to be an au pair.

4
Actually, Viamonde accepts US citizens for "Programme Positions":

"Programme Positions Due to Swiss work permit conditions, programme positions are ONLY offered to citizens of the following countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA ."

https://www.viamonde.com/personnel/positions.php

5

Ah, missed that there was a separate section Mullhollander. Unfortunately, looking in the available jobs there are no multi-activity ones at the moment. Suppose there might be some come springtime.

6
Unless you can find some sort of special programme, like they are talking about above... Then, no. You won't get a visa to work in a job such as McDonalds. Sorry.

7
I'd think twice about coming to Switzerland for the purpose of improving your German skills. Talk to your grandparents.