Swiss Residence Permit for Managers
Switzerland is on of the most favourite dstinations to those, who invest in economic activity and projects. If a foreigner's investment is considered to be a special economic benefit, then you can expect active support from the Swiss authorities both for the project itself and for your residence. Economically significant investment projects start from approximately €9,3 million. Thanks to this, the participant of the state program not only gets a residence permit for themselves and their family, but also financial stability for many years.
Program's details
- €9,3 mln minimum investment amount
- Residence permit for the whole family spouses, children and parents
- Work and study in Switzerland for the whole family
- Moving to Switzerland necessary, but you can leave the country
- Tax residency in Switzerland accord tax and low income taxes
- Travel without a visa across the EU countries
- Permanent place of residence after 10 years of residence
- Opportunity to obtain citizenship after 12 years of residence
The official website of the program
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Aboit the Program
An investor from another country can get a residence permit in Switzerland, if "it is in the interests of the economy as a whole" (AIG Chapter 5, Section 1, Article 19.a literally) and "supports existing or creates new work places" (AIG Chapter 5, Section 1, Article 23.3.a). The investment project must be profitable and also useful for the region.
The law does not set precise figures for the amount of investment or the number of jobs to be created. However, the experience of immigration lawyers shows that significant projects under this program require at least 10 million Swiss francs (about €9,3 million).
In order for an investor to be recognized as self-employed, they do not have to be involved in the daily business routine. It is enough to bear the economic risk, control the strategy and main decisions of the company. At least as a member of the Supervisory Board.
Residence permit Type B (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) is issued first for one year and then prolonged every two years. After ten years of residence in Switzerland, the investor and their family can apply for a residence permit Type C (Niederlassungsbewilligung), which is valid forever and no longer needs to be renewed. In addition, the family will have access to the Swiss social health insurance and pension system. This program is a favorite tool for wealthy non–Europeans planning to move to Switzerland, as the chances of approval are very high. The state supports the investor, if the project is really interesting.
Investment Options
- ₣10 mln +
Private equity
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Purchase of a controlling stake in an existing Swiss company. It is important that the transaction ensures the continuation and/or expansion of the business
- ₣20 mln +
Commercial real estate
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Purchase or construction of real estate that keeps or creates new work places, must be economically significant for the region. As a rule, we are talking about hotels or similar tourist units
- ₣10 mln +
Innovative startup
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Opening or financing a startup in innovative areas: IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, precision engineering, etc. Typical venture capital financing
Buying residential real estate, purchasing Swiss securities, or simply placing capital on a bank deposit will not qualify as a "special economic benefit", regardless of the size of the investment!
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Investor and Business Project Requirements
- Submit an investment project that "meets the interests of the economy as a whole»
- Prove that the necessary "operational requirements are met» (AIG Chapter 5, Section 1, Article 19.b):
– the investor personally has the necessary knowledge and inventions
– has sufficient management experience
– owns the business infrastructure for the establishment of an investment project and will ensure its survival in the market
and/or
– the investor plans to pay for the services of a Swiss consulting company that will implement the project - No criminal record
- Speak at least one of the official languages of Switzerland
Knowledge of the local language is not required, if the business plan states that it will be managed by a Swiss consulting firm. Despite this, it is recommended to acquire at least basic communication skills in one of the four official languages of Switzerland, especially when moving with children.
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Residence permit for family members
The right to reside in Switzerland together with the investor is granted not only to the spouse and children, but also to the parents of the applicant.
A spouse
Must be in an officialy documented marriage or partnership. The spouse also receives a work permit in Switzerland, either to get hired or work as a self–employed person.
Children
Up to 21 years and older, if they are studying and dependent on their parents.
Parents
From both sides, if they are dependent on their children.
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Documents
Switzerland is a multilingual country. Depending on the region where you are going to settle, documents must be translated into German, French or Italian. Official documents from countries outside the EU must be apostille certified.
- A valid passport
- A valid visa for Switzerland, such as the Schengen visa
- 2 passport photos
- Proofs of accommodation in Switzerland, such as a rental contract
- A certificate of non-criminal record from the country of the last residence
- For a spouse: a marriage certificate or a partnership registration
- For children: birth certificates
- For parents: birth certificates of the investor and his/her spouse
- Proofs of permanent sufficient income to support family members economically
For investment projects
- A detailed business plan that demonstrates the economic benefits, the number of jobs created and the expected revenue from the investment project
- The Foundation agreement of the company to be created; confirmation of investment funds with liquid assets either in a Swiss bank or in any major international bank
- Proofs of legal ownership of investment funds (this will be required by law, when checking compliance (KYC-check) in a Swiss bank engaged in financial transactions)
- A CV that shows the investor's ability to perform the necessary management tasks or contract with an investment consulting firm
The law does not set any restrictions on the company structure, any legal entity can be registered to implement the project. The most common option is a stock company (AG, joint stock company). Shareholders can be individuals (for example, the investor themselves) or legal entities (for example, holding structures in Liechtenstein that reduce the tax burden).
Expenses
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State fees
Cantonal fee for issuing a residence permit for each applicant costs from ₣100.
The amount varies depending on the canton.
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Administrative fees
The fee for translation of documents by a state – certified translator costs from ₣1,500 to ₣3,000, depending on the volume (approximately ₣250 per page).
Official documents in English, for example, from internationakl banks or law firms are usually accepted.
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Lawyer's fee
Legal fees and expenses for company registration – from ₣5,000 to ₣15,000, depending on the complexity of the legal structure (holding companies, international beneficiaries, etc.).
Fees for legal services, tax advice and business plan preparations, negotiations with government agencies, document processing, general project management – from ₣25,000 for standard projects to ₣250,000 for complex, large private equity investments.
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Rights and Obligations
- The right for residence permit Type B in Switzerland, which must be renewed every two years. This is usually a formality, if the investment is working as planned.
- The ability to apply for unlimited residence permit Type C after ten years of continuous residency, which will last forever.
- The right for citizenship: after 12 years of residence in Switzerland, the investor and their family can apply for Swiss citizenship. However, this procedure is quite strict and requires a good knowledge of the local language, Swiss culture and traditions, and excellent integration into Swiss life.
- The right to work in Switzerland for an investor and their spouse, who is employed or self-employed.
- The right to study at one of the world–class Swiss state universities free of charge for adult children.
- Free movement within the Schengen area.
- Up to 180 days of stay in any EU country during the year. For example, an investor and their family can spend the summer at their villa on the Cote d'azur in France.
- The right to purchase two properties in Switzerland for personal use. This is usually not allowed for non-resident foreigners (Lex Koller).
- Full benefit from Swiss health insurance with worldwide coverage for all family members.
- Payments from the Swiss State Pension Fund (AHV) after retirement (65 years for a man, 64 years for a woman) for the investor and spouse, corresponding to payments made during active business activities.
- Commitment to implement the investment project as specified in the business plan and keep it in working order.
- The obligation to reside in Switzerland, where the investor and their family must spend at least 183 days a year.
- The obligation to pay contributions to the Swiss social security insurance system: health insurance for every family member, pension insurance for every adult family member under 65 years of age.
The procedure for obtaining
