Residency & Golden Visas / Switzerland / Route
Switzerland · Residency route
Obtain Swiss residency through the lump-sum tax route with family inclusion and secure European living.
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. The established route for people who will not work in Switzerland 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 is the lump-sum tax base, not an investment.
It is cantonal, and it has been 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 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
Secure residency in Switzerland for high-net-worth individuals.
Include spouse and children under 18 in the application.
Access Schengen countries visa-free for 90 days every six months.
Safe banking, asset protection, and privacy.
Centrally located in Europe with strategic connectivity.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Federal minimum lump-sum tax base (tax year 2025)
Assessed annually under the cantonal tax agreement · The minimum base on which tax is assessed, not the tax payable. Indexed annually; the canton's own minimum (for example CHF 600,000 in Schwyz) or seven times annual rent applies where higher.
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Non-EU/EFTA nationality; not a Swiss citizen.
Generally aged 55 or over, with important ties to Switzerland.
Taxable in Switzerland for the first time, or after an absence of at least ten years.
A lump-sum tax agreement with the cantonal tax administration.
A formal undertaking not to engage in gainful activity in Switzerland or abroad, other than managing personal wealth.
No criminal record, a legal source of income and sufficient financial means.
Own or rent residential accommodation in Switzerland.
Who cannot apply
Individuals with criminal records.
Applicants unable to demonstrate sufficient financial means.
Persons planning to work in Switzerland (not permitted under this route).
The processكيف نعمل
Preliminary Due Diligence
Xiphias examines applicant documentation to identify potential risks.
Tax Agreement with Canton
Negotiate the lump-sum tax agreement with cantonal authorities.
Swiss National Visa (D)
Obtain the visa to allow residency in Switzerland and 90-day Schengen travel every six months.
Submit Residence Permit Application
Application submitted in person with legal guidance to the cantonal authorities.
Government Due Diligence & Issuance
The canton reviews financial and background information and refers the file to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) for federal approval; biometric data is collected and a temporary residence permit issued, renewed annually until permanent residency is obtained.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity
- ✦Valid passport
- ✦Birth certificate
- ✦Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Financial
- ✦Bank statements
- ✦Proof of income
- ✦Tax statements
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. The lump-sum route is a tax arrangement, not an investment programme; the relevant figure is the lump-sum tax base.
Lump-sum taxation is cantonal, not federal. It has been abolished in Zurich (from 1 January 2010), Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt. It remains available in Thurgau, St Gallen, Lucerne, Bern and others.
The federal minimum tax base is indexed annually — CHF 434,700 for tax year 2025 — and cantonal minima differ: Canton Bern sets CHF 400,000 for 2025 and Schwyz CHF 600,000.
The permit requires a formal undertaking not to engage in any gainful activity in Switzerland or abroad, other than managing personal wealth. Applicants are generally 55 or over.
Federal SEM approval is mandatory, because the permit is a derogation from the ordinary admission conditions. It is discretionary and can be refused.
Compliance
Legal basis for the permit: 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).
Framework in force since 1 January 2016, under Article 14 of the Federal Direct Tax Act and Article 6 of the Tax Harmonisation Act.
A parallel retiree route exists under Article 28 of the Act and Article 25 of the Ordinance, also for applicants 55 and over, also requiring SEM approval.
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.
No. The permit requires a formal undertaking not to engage in gainful activity in Switzerland or abroad, other than managing personal wealth.
Start the Switzerland route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.