- July 30, 2020
- Posted by: Editor
- Category: Law
Foreign citizens interested in immigration to Switzerland have a variety of residence permits that allow them to move to this country. Among these, there are special categories of immigrants, for example, businesspersons looking to relocate and obtain Switzerland citizenship by investment.
At the moment, Switzerland does not have a specific program that grants direct citizenship by making an investment here as other European countries do, however, a Swiss passport can be obtained through naturalization by foreign investors. Even so, there is a residence visa for foreign investors called Swiss Investor Visa.
Below, our immigration lawyer explains the main conditions for obtaining Switzerland citizenship by investment in this country. You can rely on us for assistance with the residence permit application procedure.
Switzerland – a preferred destination by foreign investors
Switzerland is one of the richest countries in Europe and many high net worth individuals have a growing interest in moving and obtaining residency and then citizenship, including by investment here. These have two options to move and obtain Switzerland citizenship by investment through the investor visa under which they can:
- start a business in this country;
- retire to this country.
Each option of the Investor Visa has its own benefits which can be explained in detail by our immigration lawyer in Switzerland.
You can rely on us for complete information on how to move and obtain Switzerland citizenship by investment.
There are also other ways of obtaining Switzerland citizenship. They can be explained by our lawyers.
Switzerland citizenship by investment for foreign businesspersons
Foreign citizens from non-EU countries have the possibility of acquiring residence then Swiss citizenship by investment by registering a company here. The following requirements must be complied with in this process:
- the investor must register a company in any Swiss canton – the limited liability company (GmbH is usually preferred because of the share capital of 20,000 CHF);
- the investor must be at least 18 years old at the time of the application;
- an annual lump tax of at least 150,000 CHF (around 170, 000 USD) must also be considered;
- in the canton of Zurich, the lump tax is higher and can reach 1 million CHF;
- the applicant must have not lived in Switzerland for the past 10 years in order to be allowed to apply for the investor visa.
The issuance of the investor visa which can lead to Switzerland citizenship by investment takes between 3 and 4 months depending on how soon the applicant files the documents. For this purpose, you can rely on our immigration lawyer.
Other conditions that need to be respected in terms of residence by investment is for the company to be created to create jobs and contribute to the Swiss economy.
It is worth noting that Zug canton is one of the most sought regions in the country thanks to the low taxation system applicable at a local level. If you want to immigrate to this country and obtain a residence permit in Switzerland and have questions related to how to choose a canton, our lawyers can advise you.
Relocating and Switzerland obtaining citizenship by investment is not difficult if you request our services.
Retiring to Switzerland by means of investment
While most EU countries allow non-EU citizens to obtain citizenship by investment by purchasing real estate, Switzerland offers this possibility to citizens outside the EU who want to retire here. This is one of the popular options for those who want to move to Switzerland permanently and obtaining citizenship by investment.
There are various conditions to respect in order to obtain Swiss residency by investment and among these, we mention the following:
- the applicant must be above the age of 55 and submit proof of permanent financial resources;
- he or she must have a clean criminal record and good character;
- an annual lump tax is also required for the person retiring to Switzerland (the lump tax is usually 30% of the yearly living expenses).
Another aspect related to moving and obtaining Switzerland citizenship by investment through the acquisition of a property is the fact that approval must be obtained from the Swiss Land Registry.
The advantage of moving and obtaining Switzerland citizenship by purchasing a property is not required to declare their annual worldwide income to the local authorities thanks to the annual lump tax fee.
If you have any questions on the best way of moving and applying for a residence permit in Switzerland, our lawyers will advise you based on your needs and investment possibilities. We can assist foreigners who want to immigrate to Switzerland in order to apply for citizenship by investment.
How long does it take to obtain Switzerland citizenship by investment?
At first, permanent residency can be obtained after 10 years of uninterrupted living here. Then, Swiss citizenship is available for foreign citizens after living between 12 to 15 years in this country. The period depends entirely on the Swiss government which decides the timeframe based on specific factors.
For assistance in moving to Switzerland and obtaining citizenship by investment, please contact our local lawyers.
