Rentier Permit (Financially Independent)
🇨🇭 Switzerland visas · Retirement
Back
Rentier Permit (Financially Independent)
Rentier Permit (Financially Independent)
Switzerland · Retirement
What it is
Switzerland offers a residence permit for financially independent persons, those who can demonstrate significant financial resources and strong ties to Switzerland. Used by high-net-worth retirees and the lump-sum tax regime (forfait fiscal) applies.
Key facts
- Category
- Retirement
- Duration
- 1-year B permit, renewable. C permit after 5 to 10 years.
- Processing time
- 4 months
- Maximum validity
- 1 year
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Conditional
- Work allowance
- 0 hours per week
- Age
- 55 or over
- How to apply
- Embassy
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (federal maximum; canton sets the actual fee)
- CHF 95
- Application fee (federal maximum (GebV-AIG Art. 8(2)(a)))
- CHF 22
- Application fee (federal maximum (GebV-AIG Art. 8(3)(a)))
- CHF 20
Key requirements
- Proven financial independence: sufficient assets and income to live without working
- Proof of ties to Switzerland (property ownership, cultural ties, or prior residence)
- No gainful employment in Switzerland
- Health insurance covering Switzerland
- Cantonal approval (some cantons are more welcoming than others)
Working on this visa
Admission as a retired person requires that the person is no longer gainfully employed (AIG Art. 28); minimum age 55 (VZAE Art. 25).
Bringing family
Spouse and children of a residence-permit holder may be admitted under AIG Art. 44 (cohabitation, housing, no social assistance).
Money you must show
Sufficient financial means required (AIG Art. 28).
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 18 July 2026.