— Guest Spot
Guest spot in Zurich — booth, paperwork, all sorted.
We open our studio to established fine-line and micro-realism artists from the EU. You get your own booth in the middle of Zurich — and we take care of the part most studios can't explain: how to work here legally.
The conditions
- Booth: CHF 150 up to 5 hours · CHF 200 full day.
- You charge your clients directly — the rest is yours.
- Your own booth with bed and basic setup, Staffelstrasse 8 (Wiedikon, 2 min from Sihlcity).
- EU/EFTA passport, self-employed. Maximum 90 days per calendar year in Switzerland.
Working legally as a guest artist in Switzerland
This is where most guest spots go wrong — yet it's simple once you know it. There are two cases:
What is the A1?
The EU certificate proving you stay insured in your home country during the spot — so Switzerland can't charge you social security. It has the same name everywhere in the EU/EFTA and is free from your national social security body: Spain → TGSS (TA.300) · Italy → INPS · France → URSSAF · Portugal → Segurança Social · Austria → SVS · Germany → your Krankenkasse or Deutsche Rentenversicherung · UK → HMRC. Request it as soon as your dates are set — it takes a few days.
Your A1, step by step
Most tattoo artists have never heard of it — because most studios never ask and simply let their guests work without it. Here is how easy it actually is:
- The fastest way: message your accountant / gestor: "I need an A1 certificate for temporary self-employed work in Switzerland, from … to …, activity: tattoo artist." Takes 5 minutes.
- Or do it yourself online: on your social security portal (see the list above), look for the "posting abroad / self-employed" service and fill it in with Switzerland and your exact dates.
- A few days later you receive the A1 as a PDF. Print it and bring it.
Requirement: you are registered as self-employed in your country and you do the same work here as there (tattooing). Request it at least 2 weeks ahead.
During an inspection you show three things
Registration confirmation (if required) · A1 · written agreement with the studio. All printed. With us you have all three before the first needle touches skin.
FAQ — Guest spot in Zurich
Do I need a work permit for a tattoo guest spot in Switzerland?
No. With an EU/EFTA passport you can work as a self-employed artist up to 90 days per calendar year without a permit. Up to 8 working days per year no registration is needed at all; beyond that, the official online notification procedure applies and must be filed at least 8 days before you start — we handle it for you.
What is the A1 form and where do I get it?
The A1 is the EU certificate proving you are self-employed and insured in your home country while working abroad — your official proof. It has the same name in every EU/EFTA country and is free from your national social security body — e.g. Spain: TGSS (form TA.300) · Italy: INPS · France: URSSAF · Portugal: Segurança Social · Austria: SVS · Germany: your Krankenkasse or Deutsche Rentenversicherung · UK: HMRC. Request it early: it takes a few days.
Isn't my self-employment registration from my country enough?
No. Your self-employment registration only proves you are self-employed at home — not which social security applies during your days in Switzerland. That is exactly what only the A1 certifies, and it is the specific document the law requires at an inspection. The registration does not replace it.
What happens at an inspection if I don't have the A1?
Two things: you risk a fine, and the work is stopped on the spot — your guest spot stands still until the documents are shown, with clients already booked. With your A1 and the signed booth agreement, an inspection takes 30 seconds. That's why we prepare both with you before the first needle touches skin.
Which documents must I show during an inspection at the studio?
Three documents, printed: the Swiss registration confirmation (if your spot requires one — we send it to you as a PDF), your A1 form, and the signed written booth agreement with the studio.
How much does the booth cost at Sinkply Zurich?
CHF 150 for up to 5 hours, CHF 200 for a full day. You charge your clients directly — the rest is yours.
Where do I stay and how do I get from the airport to the studio?
Vision Apartments Wolframplatz is one minute from the studio. From the airport: train to Zurich main station (about 10 minutes), then the S4 to Giesshübel — the studio is at Staffelstrasse 8, right by Sihlcity.
Practical things
- Stay: Vision Apartments Wolframplatz — 1 minute from the studio.
- Getting here: airport → train to the main station (~10 min) → S4 to Giesshübel.
- Supplies: there is no tattoo supply store in Zurich. Bring a backup machine or ship supplies to the studio address.
- Next door: Sihlcity — supermarket, restaurants, all walkable.
Interested? Show us your work.
Send us your portfolio or Instagram and the dates you have in mind. We'll get back to you with everything you need.