Switzerland
Residence Permit
For financially independent persons,
without the right to work in the country
₣450,000+ per year Lump-sum tax
6+ months Obtaining period
183+ days per year Mandatory residing in the country
Wealthy foreigners can get a Switzerland residence permit by paying a lump-sum tax. This residence permit implies that the investor and their family will move to the country but will not work there. They are allowed to manage capital or business in another country.
The lump-sum tax amount depends on the canton and the family’s expenses in Switzerland and abroad. The tax is calculated individually. A residence permit for paying a lump-sum tax can be obtained in any canton, except for Zurich, Appenzell-Ausserodden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, and Schaffhausen.
The tax agreement is signed for 1 or 5 years, depending on the canton, and the residence permit is renewed annually. One must spend at least 6 months a year in the country to maintain residency.
Benefits of the Switzerland residence permit
Moving to Switzerland
The investor and their family acquire the right to reside in Switzerland while the residence permit is valid. A residence permit card is usually valid for a year. It can be extended if you live in the country for 183 days a year.
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area. Thus, Swiss residents visit other Schengen countries and spend up to 90 days out of 180 there without visas.
Access to quality education and medicine
Swiss schools and universities are considered among the best in the world. The investor’s children can get a good education there.
A Switzerland residence permit allows the holder to get medical treatment in local clinics or institutions of other Schengen countries without obtaining a medical visa.
Citizenship after 10 years of living in the country
The investor and their family can obtain citizenship after 10 years of permanent living in Switzerland. The country’s legislation allows dual citizenship, so you will not have to give up the first one unless it is mandatory under the law of the first citizenship country.
A year counts for two for children who live in Switzerland between the age of 8 and 18. They must have lived in Switzerland for at least 6 years to apply for citizenship.
Switzerland citizenship allows you to travel without visas to 186 countries and live in EU countries without obtaining a residence permit.
Tax optimisation
In some cases, paying a lump-sum tax is more beneficial than a tax on global income. However, the source country and Switzerland must have a Double Taxation Treaty.
Get maximum information about the process
- A step-by-step procedure
- Requirements for applicants
- Required documents
- Answers to frequently asked questions
PDF, 36 pages, 12 MB
Who can get a Switzerland residence permit
Investor
- Over 18
- Hasn’t lived in Switzerland for the last 10 years
- No outstanding convictions
- Ready to move to the selected canton and not work in Switzerland
- Capable of confirming the legality of the income
- Annual worldwide expenses exceed the annual rental cost of the investor’s housing in Switzerland by at least 7 times
Spouse
- No outstanding convictions
- Has lived with the investor for at least three years if the marriage is not registered officially
Children under 18
No outstanding convictions
Expenses for obtaining the Switzerland residence permit
1 option
Lump-sum tax
₣450,000+A lump-sum tax is the main item of the investor’s expenses. Its amount is calculated based on income, property, worldwide family expenses, and the requirements of the selected canton. The tax is paid annually as long as the residence permit is maintained.
The tax for non-EU citizens ranges from ₣450,000 to ₣1,000,000 per year. For EU and EFTA citizens, tax payments are lower.
2 option
Social security contributions
₣18,000+Social security contributions are paid per adult family member. They are born until the residence permit expires or the person reaches the age of 65.
3 option
Additional expenses
Additional costs include medical insurance, legal services, and translation of documents. The exact amount depends on the circumstances, such as the investor’s family composition.
Individual
cost calculation
for the Switzerland
residence permit
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Get the cost calculationWe will send you a quote by email within 1 hour.
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining the Switzerland residence permit for financially independent persons
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence 
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer conducts a preliminary check of investors who plan to obtain a Switzerland residence permit. It helps to prepare for Due Diligence, carried out during the application processing, and detect potential issues in time. A preliminary Due Diligence reduces the rejection risk to 1%.
The check is completely confidential and takes one business day. The investor and their family members only provide passports.
Evaluate your chancesEvaluate your chances of passing Due Diligence
Pass a quick test and learn the nuances that can prevent you from obtaining a second citizenship
Up to 2 months
Preparation of an agreement with the canton 
Up to 2 months
Preparation of an agreement with the canton
The investor chooses the canton to which they want to move. Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare documents to apply for a residence permit and negotiate with the tax office. At this stage, we agree on the amount of the lump-sum tax and receive preliminary approval.
1—2 weeks
Obtaining a D visa 
1—2 weeks
Obtaining a D visa
An investor needs a national D visa to enter Switzerland and apply for a residence permit. A visa application is submitted to a Swiss consulate.
1 day
Application 
1 day
Application
The investor arrives in Switzerland to personally submit the documents to the cantonal migration office. Immigrant Invest lawyers accompany the applicant in the country.
Upon arrival, it is mandatory to register with the Alien Control Police Department. After applying, you can leave the country or wait for a decision in Switzerland.
2 to 4 months
Due Diligence and obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland 
2 to 4 months
Due Diligence and obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland
The investor and their family members undergo Due Diligence. The check usually takes 30 to 50 days, but, in some cases, the period is extended to four months. If the applicants pass Due Diligence successfully, they come to Switzerland to receive residence permit cards.
Case studies
Malta citizenship for a Taiwanese family so that their children get prestige education
Case Studies
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship at a discount: optimising both taxes and passport costs
Case Studies
How an American retiree moved to Malta and gets treatment covered by insurance
Case Studies
St Lucia citizenship: is it possible to obtain it if there are issues with documents?
Case Studies
D7 Visa to Portugal: how a family with children moved to Europe from Bangladesh
Case Studies
Citizenship in Malta for an Israeli family: how to secure the future of children in Europe
Case Studies
Malta permanent residence for a Nigerian entrepreneur: running a business in Europe without intermediaries
Case Studies
Portugal Golden Visas and a wedding in Europe for a lesbian couple
Case Studies
Schedule a meeting
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Department
Answers to frequently asked questions
Who can get a Switzerland residence permit for financially independent persons?
An investor, a spouse and their children under 18 can get residence permits. Applicants must not have criminal records. The family’s annual worldwide expenses must be at least 7 times higher than the yearly rental price for the Swiss property they live in.
What are the requirements for investors who want to get a Switzerland residence permit for financially independent persons?
Moving to Switzerland is a prerequisite for extending a residence permit: you need to spend at least six months a year in the country.
A residence permit for financially independent persons doesn’t allow you to work or do business in Switzerland. However, you can manage a business or capital abroad.
In which cantons is it possible to obtain a residence permit for paying a lump-sum tax?
21 Swiss cantons are available for investors, except for Zurich, Appenzell-Ausserodden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, and Schaffhausen. An investor chooses the canton they plan to live in.
How is the lump-sum tax calculated?
Individually, depending on the investor’s expenses, property, and income. The amount also depends on the canton. The tax payment usually ranges from ₣450,000 to ₣1,000,000 per year.
Is it possible to get a Switzerland residence permit for a real estate purchase?
No, it isn’t. The grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland include:
- payment of a lump-sum tax;
- employment in the country;
- opening a business;
- studying at school or university;
- family reunification.
You can buy residential real estate for yourself when obtaining a residence permit on other grounds. The Lex Koller law limits the purchase of housing by non-residents: they can only purchase holiday properties subject to the availability of quotas in the canton.
Is it possible to obtain Switzerland citizenship by investment?
No, it isn’t. After 10 years of living in Switzerland with residence permits, investors obtain citizenship by naturalisation. The naturalisation period is reduced to five years in case of a marriage to a country’s citizen.
For investors’ children, a year of residence in the country between the age of 8 and 18 will count for two. To apply for citizenship, they must live in Switzerland for at least six years.
Articles and news on Switzerland
Schedule a meeting
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Zlata Erlach, Caribbean Investment Program Expert