Switzerland does not grant a classic golden visa. What actually exists: lump-sum taxation, B permit through significant Swiss interest, entrepreneur permit. A practice overview.
The term Golden Visa is often used misleadingly in Switzerland. Switzerland does not have an investor visa in the sense of a flat capital-for-residence programme like Portugal before 2023 or Malta. What exists are three realistic paths for wealthy third-country nationals — and one of them has become significantly narrower since 2024.
Third-country nationals aged 18 or older who establish residence in Switzerland for the first time or after at least ten years of interruption can be taxed under expense-based taxation. Requirement: no gainful activity in Switzerland. The permit is a B permit obtained through cantonal negotiation.
The cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Ticino, Zug, Schwyz, Lucerne, Bern and Schaffhausen currently offer lump-sum taxation. Zurich, Basel-City, Basel-Land, Schaffhausen and Appenzell-Outer Rhodes have abolished the model at cantonal level (federal tax remains). The minimum tax varies cantonally between approximately CHF 150,000 and CHF 400,000 per year.