Switzerland Investment Immigration

Investment immigration is where an individual invests a specific amount of money into the country they wish to reside in, thus enabling them to qualify for a permanent residency visa. Typically the investment must have a beneficial impact on the country’s economy, for example, it will create new job opportunities.

Why Immigrate to Switzerland

Switzerland is a highly sought after location for foreigners to permanently reside in due to its strong, stable and wealthy economy. Switzerland is a popular location due to its lavishly high standard of living, excellent education and health care, effective business infrastructure and high levels of privacy and discretion. Furthermore, Switzerland boasts a bespoke taxation system and great political stability.

Although there are many immigrants seeking to settle in Switzerland, Swiss law specifically favors individuals who have an educated background to degree level and those who are high net worth individuals. Under immigration investment laws in Switzerland, individuals are encouraged to apply for investor residency allowing them to set up a business in Switzerland and live there.

The Swiss residency visa program is aimed at high net worth individuals who can take advantage of the Swiss fiscal package whereby they will not be taxed on their revenue or assets but only on their living expenses.

There are several conditions, which must be met in order to satisfy the application process for permanent residency in Switzerland. It is imperative that you meet all the conditions prior to applying and investing your money, as Switzerland is known to be highly selective in approving residency visas. The selection and interview process is undertaken with a great deal of discretion and is a far more structured process than other investment immigration visa processes.

There are two main categories for residency visas in Switzerland, these are the

1) Retiree business immigration program (standard residence permit)

2) Business investment immigration program (applicant invests into a local Swiss Company).

Conditions to be met for the Retiree Business Immigration Program

-          The applicant must be officially retired

-          The applicant must be 55 years old or over

-          They must have an annual income of over 100,000 CHF

-          The application must be able to demonstrate that they have ‘ties’ with Switzerland e.g. previous trips to the country, have Swiss relatives or friends

-          Applicant must also live in Switzerland for a minimum of 180 days within a one year period

Conditions to be met for the Business Immigration Investment Program

-          The applicant must be no older than 55 years of age

-          You must not be an EU citizen

-          The applicant must invest funds into a company in the region they wish to reside

-          The purpose of their investment must be to finance the growth of the company

-          You have an option of investing as an equity investment or loan, or both

-          The applicant’s investment must be maintained for the full period of residency in Switzerland

-          The company the applicant invests into cannot be listed on the stock exchange

-          There are restrictions to what the applicant can invest into, examples are, investing into: bank accounts, apartments, bogus companies

-          The type of company the applicant is eligible to invest into is one with credentials and which employs a number of full time employees

The Swiss business investment immigration program requires the applicant to invest in a company which is struggling to expand without the necessary funding, as this will in turn enable the company to create more jobs through expansion and help the Swiss economy. It will not be approved if the applicant wishes to invest in a Swiss bank or simply to buy shares from a Swiss company quoted on the stock exchange. Your investment must add economic value to the region.

Eligible applicants for residency visas include

-          Celebrities, including entertainers and sportsmen

-          Business professionals in the process of selling their company

-          Businessmen who are not active in Switzerland

-          High net worth individuals, who can live from their own legitimately accrued assets without the need to work

-          Individuals seeking early retirement

Advantages of a Swiss permanent residency visa

A Swiss residency visa is known as a ‘B permit’ and is renewable on a yearly basis. On approval of a B permit the investor is eligible for a multitude of benefits, including:

-          The right to live in Switzerland with your spouse, dependants and parents

-          The right to purchase Swiss property for your own personal use

-          The right to opt into the ‘lump sum’ fiscal taxation system, allowing the individual to pay a lump sum of taxes

Alternatively, if you are Self-employed and are an EU citizen you have the opportunity to become a Swiss resident through their self employment program (introduced in 2002). This type of program is available to businessmen, professionals, consultant and freelance workers. The conditions applicable under this visa program are:

-          The applicant cannot work for a regular salary

-          You must also provide evidence that you have sufficient business activity which will provide you with enough income so as not to become reliant on the Swiss social security benefits.

-          If the applicant has a family residing with them, the minimum level of income required under this program is 50,000 CHF per annum

Under this program, the applicant (on approval) after a 6 months trial period, will be sent a B permit valid for 5 years

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