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Residence by investment

Swiss Residence Program

Live in Switzerland on a fixed annual lump-sum tax agreed with your canton.

Annual tax from
CHF 250,000
Passport visa waiver (on citizenship)
185
Processing
Varies by canton
Visit / stay
Main home in Switzerland; no gainful work in Switzerland

Buy online · 2026

Swiss Residence Program

Live in Switzerland with a fixed annual lump-sum tax agreed with your canton, starting from CHF 250,000 a year.

  1. ReserveUS$500 online
  2. Pre-eligibilityDue diligence screening
  3. Submit & investPaid to the government
  4. Residence permitVaries by canton

Investment options · Frequently asked questions

Overview

Switzerland has no golden visa, but non-EU/EFTA nationals who are financially independent can move there under lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal). Instead of paying income and wealth tax on their worldwide assets, the resident pays an annual tax based on their living expenses, agreed in advance with the canton. The main applicant must be over 18, move their main home to Switzerland, not work there, and must not have lived in Switzerland in the past ten years. Non-EU applicants also need the canton's approval, which is granted where their move is in the canton's significant fiscal interest.

For federal tax, the taxable base is at least CHF 400,000 a year (indexed, about CHF 434,700 for 2025) and at least seven times the annual rent or rental value of the home; cantons set their own minimums on top. In practice the annual tax ranges from about CHF 250,000 to CHF 1 million, depending on the canton. Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen and Appenzell Ausserrhoden have abolished lump-sum taxation.

The investor and their family receive a B residence permit, renewed every year. Permanent residence (a C permit) can follow after ten years, or after five with good integration. Swiss citizenship is possible after ten years of residence with a C permit, language skills and integration into Swiss life.

Key benefits

  1. Fixed annual lump-sum tax agreed with the canton, instead of tax on worldwide income
  2. No mandatory investment – rent or buy your Swiss home
  3. Spouse and dependent children included
  4. Live in one of the world's safest and most stable countries
  5. Visa waiver travel across the Schengen Area
  6. World-class private banking, healthcare and international schools
  7. Choose your canton, from lakeside cities to Alpine resorts
  8. Path to permanent residence (C permit) and Swiss citizenship

Investment options

Lump-sum taxation – lower-tax cantons

Annual tax agreed in advance with the canton; the lower end of the typical range.

CHF 250,000

Lump-sum taxation – most sought-after locations

Up to about CHF 1 million a year, depending on the canton and municipality.

CHF 1M

Family & requirements

Who can be included
Spouse and dependent children (parents only in special cases)
Visit or residence
Main home in Switzerland; no gainful work in Switzerland
Processing time
Varies by canton
  • Annual lump-sum tax instead of tax on worldwide income
  • Federal tax base at least CHF 400,000 (indexed) or 7× annual rent
  • Not offered in Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen or Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Switzerland passport: travel access

185destinations without a visa in advance

Visa waiver, visa on arrival or electronic travel authorisation (eTA), per the Henley Passport Index. eVisas are not counted.

  • Schengen Area – no visa in advance
  • United Kingdom – no visa in advance
  • Ireland – no visa in advance
  • Canada – no visa in advance
  • United States – no visa in advance
  • Singapore – no visa in advance
  • Japan – no visa in advance
  • South Korea – no visa in advance
  • Brazil – no visa in advance
  • Russia – visa required
  • China – no visa in advance
  • United Arab Emirates – no visa in advance
  • Australia – no visa in advance
  • New Zealand – no visa in advance
Show visa waiver countries

Albania · Andorra · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Austria · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burundi · Cambodia · Canada · Cape Verde · Chile · China · Colombia · Comoros · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Estonia · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Finland · France · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Hungary · Iceland · Indonesia · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · South Korea · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Nepal · Netherlands · New Zealand · Nicaragua · North Macedonia · Norway · Oman · Palau · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Suriname · Sweden · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Tuvalu · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · United States · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vatican City · Venezuela · Vietnam · Zambia · Zimbabwe

Count: Henley Passport Index, updated 5 Oct 2026 (227 destinations incl. territories). Country list: Wikipedia – Visa requirements for Swiss citizens (sovereign countries only). Always confirm entry rules with the destination before travel.

How Citizenship Shop helps

Add the program to your cart or click Buy now to reserve it for US$500. Create your client account and complete the pre-eligibility questions at checkout. A senior advisor then reviews your profile within one business day, confirms the best investment route and the exact government fees for your family, and prepares your application with a licensed local agent.

Swiss Residence Program: FAQ

How much does the Swiss Residence Program cost?

There is no investment threshold. You pay an annual lump-sum tax agreed with the canton, starting from about CHF 250,000 a year in lower-tax cantons and reaching CHF 1 million or more in the most sought-after locations. For federal tax the taxable base is at least CHF 400,000 (indexed) or seven times your annual rent, whichever is higher.

Who is eligible for Swiss lump-sum taxation?

Non-EU/EFTA nationals over 18 who are financially independent, move their main home to Switzerland, do not work in Switzerland and have not lived there in the past ten years. Each application also needs approval from the canton.

Which cantons offer lump-sum taxation?

Most cantons do, including popular choices such as Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Zug, Schwyz, Ticino and Graubünden. Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen and Appenzell Ausserrhoden have abolished it.

Do I need to live in Switzerland?

Yes. Switzerland must become your main home and you are expected to spend a significant part of the year there. You may not take up gainful employment in Switzerland, although you can manage your own assets and business interests abroad.

Can I get Swiss citizenship through the program?

Not directly. After ten years you can usually apply for permanent residence (a C permit), and Swiss citizenship by naturalisation is possible after ten years of residence with a C permit, plus language skills and proof of integration.

Official source

Prices and rules on this page were verified on 5 October 2026 against: Henley & Partners – Switzerland Residence Program.

Governments revise fees and thresholds without notice. Your advisor confirms the exact figures in writing before any investment is made.

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