Residency & Golden Visas / Switzerland / Route
Switzerland · Residency route
Establish and run a business in Switzerland — no statutory minimum investment, with the business case assessed under cantonal rules.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on residency abroad from our Dubai office.
Switzerland sets no minimum investment for residence
Switzerland has no residency-by-investment programme, and no statute sets an investment figure for residence. An entrepreneur who intends to establish and run a business in Switzerland applies under cantonal rules, and the authorities assess the business, its financing and the applicant's background case by case.
For people who will not work in Switzerland, the established route is lump-sum taxation — an agreement with a canton to be taxed on deemed expenditure rather than actual income — and the residence permit that can follow from it. The relevant figure there is the lump-sum tax base, not an investment.
Lump-sum taxation is cantonal, and abolished in five cantons
| Abolished | Still available |
|---|---|
| Zurich (from 1 Jan 2010), Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt | Thurgau, St Gallen, Lucerne, Bern and others |
The tax base moves, and it is not one number
The base is the highest of three things: the federal minimum, the canton's own minimum, or seven times your annual rent or imputed rental value.
The federal minimum was set at CHF 400,000 when the current framework took effect in 2016 and is indexed annually: for tax year 2025 it was CHF 434,700. Cantonal minima differ — Canton Bern sets CHF 400,000 for 2025, and Schwyz sets CHF 600,000. XIPHIAS confirms the figures for the current tax year with the cantonal tax administration before any agreement is negotiated.
What the lump-sum permit requires
- generally age 55 or over
- important ties to Switzerland
- a formal undertaking not to engage in any gainful activity in Switzerland or abroad, other than managing personal wealth
- a copy of the lump-sum tax agreement with the cantonal tax administration
Federal SEM approval is mandatory — the permit is a derogation from the ordinary admission rules, and it is discretionary.
Citizenship
Ten years, with a C permit and two to five years in the commune and canton. Switzerland has permitted dual nationality without restriction since 1992 — so the only obstacle for an Indian client is the Indian rule, not the Swiss one.
Your Indian passport is safe on a residency
Section 9(1) of India's Citizenship Act 1955 ends Indian citizenship only on the voluntary acquisition of another country's citizenship. Holding a residence permit, permanent residence or a long-term visa does none of that.
So every route on this page is safe to hold. What differs between countries is the endpoint — and we will tell you plainly where a route can never become a citizenship, where it can, and what taking that step would cost you.
Talk to an immigration consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has guided families abroad since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the legal requirements, costs and timeline.
Sources
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
- Canton of Bern — TaxInfo, lump-sum taxation
- ch.ch — Swiss naturalisation
Verified against government sources on 30 September 2026.
What you getالمزايا
Establish and run a business in Switzerland as a resident.
Include spouse and children under 18.
Schengen travel for 90/180 days.
Strategic European base with strong business ecosystem.
High quality of life in a stable, investor-friendly environment.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Non-EU/EFTA nationality.
Clean criminal record.
Legitimate source of income and sufficient funds.
Own or rent accommodation in Switzerland.
Ability to invest in and/or actively manage a Swiss business per cantonal rules.
Who cannot apply
Criminal record or ongoing prosecution.
Insufficient funds or unverifiable source of funds.
Inability to invest in or manage the proposed business.
The processكيف نعمل
Preliminary due diligence
We review your profile, documents, and proposed business to identify risks and canton fit.
Business setup & investment
Incorporate or invest per cantonal rules; prepare business plan and supporting documentation.
National Visa (D)
Apply for the D-visa permitting entry to finalize residence formalities; Schengen 90/180 access.
Residence permit filing
Submit the residence application in person with legal guidance.
Government review & issuance
Authorities assess financials, business activity, and background; initial permit issued, renewable annually.
Maintain investment & obligations
Live in Switzerland and operate the business in line with the approvals.
Permanent residence pathway
Eligibility for permanent residence typically after 10 years of continuous residence.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity
- ✦Valid passport
- ✦Birth certificate
- ✦Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Financial
- ✦Recent bank statements
- ✦Proof of income/assets
- ✦Business plan or investment documentation
Compliance
- ✦Police clearance certificate
- ✦Health certificate
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Risk notes
Switzerland sets no minimum investment for residence, and no statute states an investment figure for a business route; the business case is assessed under cantonal rules.
Business investment carries operational and market risk. Initial residence permits are temporary and typically renewed annually; compliance with cantonal and federal requirements is essential.
For people who will not work in Switzerland, the established route is lump-sum taxation: a cantonal tax agreement, generally for applicants aged 55 or over, with an undertaking not to engage in gainful activity and mandatory federal SEM approval. The federal minimum tax base was CHF 434,700 for tax year 2025, indexed annually; cantonal minima differ.
Lump-sum taxation has been abolished in Zurich (from 1 January 2010), Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt.
Compliance
The lump-sum route's legal basis is Article 30(1)(b) of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act together with Article 32 of the Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment Ordinance — cantonal fiscal interests.
The lump-sum tax base is the highest of: the federal minimum, the cantonal minimum, or seven times annual rent or imputed rental value (three times the pension price for those in a hotel or similar).
Lump-sum framework in force since 1 January 2016, under Article 14 of the Federal Direct Tax Act and Article 6 of the Tax Harmonisation Act.
Naturalisation requires ten years of residence, of which years between ages 8 and 18 count double with a minimum of six actual years, plus a C permit and two to five years in the commune and canton.
Switzerland has recognised dual nationality without restriction since 1 January 1992 and does not require naturalised citizens to give up their existing citizenship. India, however, ends Indian citizenship on the voluntary acquisition of another citizenship (Section 9(1), Citizenship Act 1955).
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
Yes, spouse and dependent children under 18 can be included.
Start the Switzerland route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.