Unemployment for Cross-Border Workers
General information — France / Switzerland
Key Principle
In the event of total unemployment, cross-border workers register and receive benefits in their country of residence (France), not in Switzerland. This is a specificity of European Regulation 883/2004 that surprises many cross-border workers.
Reform in progress: a revision of Regulation 883/2004, which changes among other things the unemployment rules for cross-border workers, was adopted by the European Parliament on 07/07/2026; the Council of the EU must still approve it. It will not apply directly to Switzerland: it must first be taken over into the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (Joint Committee decision, with Switzerland's explicit agreement — SECO). Today, the rule above remains in force. SECO
Total vs Partial Unemployment
Total Unemployment
Complete loss of employment in Switzerland (dismissal, end of contract, non-renewal).
Registration: France (Pôle Emploi / France Travail)
Partial Unemployment / Reduced Hours
Reduction in working hours while maintaining the contract with the Swiss employer.
Compensation: Switzerland (RHT — short-time work compensation)
France Travail Registration: Steps & Documents
Register with France Travail as soon as the contract ends, without waiting for the PDU1 (you provide it afterwards): benefits only run from registration, and registration must take place within 12 months of the end of the contract (extendable in some situations, e.g. sick leave).
Documents for France Travail
- The PDU1 / U1 form issued by the Swiss cantonal unemployment office (caisse de chômage) — provide it as soon as you receive it, even after registering.
- The other documents France Travail asks for when you register (its list; no official list for former cross-border workers was found on the pages read).
Registration steps
Online registration, as soon as the contract ends
Register on francetravail.fr without waiting for the PDU1 (request it in parallel from the Swiss unemployment office); registration must take place within 12 months of the end of the contract.
Registration interview
Say from the start that you are a former cross-border worker; bring the PDU1 if you already have it, otherwise provide it as soon as you receive it.
Calculation of your entitlements
France Travail reviews your file and calculates your benefits based on your Swiss salaries converted to euros.
Monthly status update
Each month, declare your situation to continue receiving your benefits.
Benefits only run from registration, and registration must take place within 12 months of the end of the contract (service-public F38881).
If your PDU1 is not yet available at registration, say so and provide it as soon as you receive it.
Obtaining the U1 / PDU1 Form
The U1 form (also called PDU1, formerly E-301) is a standardized European document that certifies your periods of employment and unemployment contributions in Switzerland. It is essential to claim your rights with France Travail.
Who to contact?
Contact one of the unemployment offices (caisses de chômage) in the canton where you worked (not where you live). The office issues and delivers the PDU1 form.
Documents to provide to the cantonal office
- International employer attestation (Attestation internationale de l’employeur) — completed, dated, stamped, and signed by the employer.
- Last 6 payslips (some cantons may request up to 12).
- Employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag / contrat de travail).
- Termination letter (dismissal, resignation, or contract expiration proof).
- Copy of identity card or passport.
- Copy of AVS card (Swiss social security card).
Download the international employer attestation
Form 716.052 — arbeit.swiss (PDF)Give this form to your employer to complete before submitting it to the unemployment office.
Steps to obtain the PDU1
The processing time depends on the office. Request it as soon as the contract ends — and register with France Travail without waiting for the PDU1.
Benefit Calculation
Unemployment benefits are calculated according to French rules (France Travail). The reference salary is converted from CHF to EUR.
- The reference salary is built, under the French rules, from the pay of the last 24 months before the end of the contract (36 months from age 55); France Travail takes the Swiss salaries into account (Reg. 883/2004 art. 62 § 3).
- The CHF → EUR conversion is done at the exchange rate applicable at the time of calculation.
- The benefit duration depends on age and total contribution period (France + Switzerland combined via the U1).
- Swiss contributions (AC) are taken into account through the European coordination mechanism.
Benefit rules may vary depending on individual circumstances, length of employment, and canton. Verify with France Travail and the relevant cantonal office.
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