Switzerland Residence Permit

Switzerland, famous for financial services, watchmakers and its popular tourism regions, ranks among the world's top countries due to the very high quality of life, with Zürich, Bern, and Geneva frequently nominated as some of the best cities in the world to live in.

Switzerland is home to a large number of international organizations, such as the International Red Cross, World Trade Organization (WTO), Universal Postal Union, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Many leading international corporations are relocating their headquarters to Switzerland, as the country is business-friendly by tradition.

In Switzerland, there are different categories of residence permits available, with a distinction between permits for EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals.

EU/EFTA nationals can obtain a residence permit easily if they have an employment agreement with a Swiss employer, if they become self-employed in Switzerland, or, if no gainful occupation in Switzerland is intended, they can prove that they are financially independent with sufficient income or wealth to cover their living costs.

The process for obtaining residence for non-EU/EFTA nationals is more challenging, but it is still possible through the Swiss Residence Program ® (SRP).

Requirements:

• The applicant must be older than 18. The applicant (if married) can bring their spouse and any of their children under the age of 18 to Switzerland under one application
• The applicant and any dependents included in the application must be of good character, have a clean record and provide the relevant documentation such as copies of passports, CV, business information, etc.
• The applicant may not be gainfully occupied in Switzerland, but may administer their own worldwide investment portfolio in Switzerland, and may be active outside of Switzerland
• The applicant must undertake to pay a certain amount in net taxes per year. The annual lump-sum tax amount (forfait fiscal) primarily depends on various factors such as on the applicant’s standard of living in Switzerland, and which canton and municipality they reside in. The actual tax liability may range from CHF 200,000 to over CHF 1 million per year
• The applicant agrees to pay the fixed one-time application fee for the obtainment of the residence permit(s) and the negotiation of a favorable lumpsum tax arrangement on their behalf
• The SRP is designed to save the client time, as most of the work is executed under the basis of power of attorney; when the client is required to participate in the process, the interaction is made as simple as possible

Procedures and Time Frame:

Applications from EU/EFTA nationals, to which the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA member states) fully applies, are usually handled within just two to four weeks.

The procedures for non-EU/EFTA citizens to apply for Swiss residence are challenging. In the course of the application process, applicants must provide the usual documents. Once the application is approved in principle, the applicant is issued with a visa to enter Switzerland, and subsequently will be able to register upon their arrival in Switzerland. Due to the case-by-case decision process, applicants have to expect an estimated time frame of between two and six months after lodging their application, depending on the canton and on individual circumstances. Upon approval, the applicant will receive the residence permit from the canton in which they reside.

Dual Citizenship

Foreign nationals can apply for Swiss citizenship after they have resided in Switzerland for a minimum of 10 years. Cantonal and communal requirements apply to each application. Switzerland allows dual citizenship.

Key Advantages

• Residence permit allows visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area
• Political, social, and economic stability
• Multilingual society, English widely spoken
• First-class infrastructure and excellent banking facilities
• Attractive lifestyle and healthy environment
• World-renowned schools and excellent education system.