Buying property in Switzerland

Gaetan Bally/Keystone

Foreigners are allowed to buy real estate in Switzerland, but the conditions vary depending on the type of property and the buyer’s country of origin.

Switzerland has a law called “Lex Koller” that controls how foreigners can buy property. This law tries to stop non-residents from buying too much property in Switzerland. So, if you want to buy a house in Switzerland, you have to follow these rules.

Foreigners don’t need permission to buy property for business purposes, except for construction, trade, or rental accommodation. Swiss companies owned by authorized people can buy property freely. But buying a house to live in might have more rules.

Owning a house, apartment, or land in Switzerland doesn’t give you a residence permit. It’s important to know these rules if you’re thinking about buying a house in Switzerland.

Can foreigners living in Switzerland buy a house?

Yes, they can. If you are from the EU or EFTA and live in Switzerland, you have the same rights as Swiss citizens. You don’t need permission to buy property.

If you are from another country (including the UK) and live in Switzerland, you have the same rights as Swiss citizens if you have a settlement permit (C permit). Without this permit, you need permission to buy a holiday home, a residential unit in a serviced apartment building, or a second home.

However, if you have a residence permit (B permit) and will live in the home permanently, you can buy your main residence without needing permission. This rule also applies to buying land, but you must start building within one year of buying the land.

Yes, they can. If you are a cross-border commuter from the EU or EFTA with a G permit, you can buy a second home in the area where you work without needing permission. However, you cannot rent out this property while you are working in the region. This is important to know when buying a house in Switzerland.

Can foreigners living abroad buy a house?

Foreign nationals living abroad must request authorization to purchase property from the respective authority in the canton where it is located. The conditions may vary according to the canton and the type of property.

Foreigners living abroad can only buy a second home in a place with which they have “exceptionally close ties worthy of protection.” The property must be located in a tourist area, the living area must not exceed 200m², the site area must not exceed 1,000m², and the property cannot be rented out.

Like Swiss citizens, foreign nationals cannot build a second home in municipalities where more than 20% of properties are already secondary residences. These restrictions are worth noting when considering the complex process of buying a house in Switzerland.

The number of holiday homes or residential units in a serviced apartment building that can be sold to foreign nationals is subject to a national quota allocated among the cantons. Holiday homes cannot be rented out year-round but only on a temporary basis.

Foreign nationals living outside Switzerland may not own more than one holiday home or second home.

More information on buying property in Switzerland:

Purchasing property in Switzerland as a foreign nationalExternal link (ch.ch)

Acquisition of real estate by persons abroadExternal link (Federal Office of Justice)

Federal law on acquiring propertyExternal link (French, German and Italian only)

Regulation on buying propertyExternal link (French, German and Italian only)

Property pricesExternal link (Federal Statistical Office)