Buying Swiss Property as a Foreigner: Lex Koller Rules
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Start with the buyer and intended use
Property eligibility depends on nationality, actual domicile, permit and intended use. A B permit is not blanket permission to acquire Swiss residential investments. A qualifying main-home purchase and a holiday or rental property are different cases. A Swiss company does not bypass Lex Koller if it is foreign-controlled. Ask the competent cantonal authority and notary to confirm the position before signing.
Residence permission is a separate decision
Owning Swiss property does not give a foreign national a right to a residence permit. Establish the proposed residence basis before treating a home purchase as part of a confirmed move. For a family using several international homes, explain which property will actually be the main home and how it will be used. Ask the competent authority and notary to assess the specific transaction, including any ownership through a company or other structure.
Build a full acquisition brief
Record the proposed buyers, financing, intended occupancy and whether any part will be rented out. Ask the notary which confirmations are needed before signing and which contractual conditions are appropriate. Request current property particulars and a full cost estimate. Compare financing, transaction costs, maintenance and any renovation needs. A canton-wide price per square metre is a poor substitute for a specific property assessment.
For entrepreneurs: protect the wider timetable
If the purchase depends on business-sale proceeds or a new banking relationship, align the payment schedule with confirmed funds and professional advice. Do not assume a bank will open an account or provide financing by a seller’s deadline. Check whether renting first would allow the family to test a school route and neighbourhood while the longer-term residence and purchase questions are resolved.
Confirm the rules at the point of commitment
The cantonal authority responsible for the property decides questions about authorisation. The Federal Office of Justice publishes the framework and contacts; proposed legal revisions should not be confused with rules already in force. Ask your notary or legal adviser to check the current position for your facts before committing. Our role is to coordinate the home search with the family’s permit, school and arrival plan.
Before choosing a property in Zurich, Zug or Schwyz
Separate three decisions: whether you may acquire the property, whether it fits your residence plan, and whether the address works for daily life. A purchase decision should follow a review of the property and your circumstances by the appropriate advisers.
For the address comparison, keep one worksheet per home: municipality, total housing cost, office commute, school and childcare route, and any unresolved registration questions. Use identical household assumptions in the Federal Tax Administration's comparison tools so that different estimates are actually comparable.
Before paying for temporary accommodation, ask its provider for the written housing evidence it can supply and confirm acceptance with the registration office. Zurich lists a lease, accommodation certificate or sublease among its arrival documents; Küssnacht lists a rental or purchase agreement, housing evidence or an owner's confirmation. Read the complete local list for your circumstances. Zurich; Küssnacht.
Build your budget · Prepare your rental application · Compare local planning considerations · Use the relocation checklist
Local guidance checked 10 September 2026. Official procedures can change; confirm the instructions for your nationality, address and move type before applying. Planning questions are our suggested preparation framework.
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