Other residence permits and naturalisation

Settling in Switzerland without working: retirement, care, own means

The law admits stays without gainful activity, on requirements that vary with the purpose and the nationality. We establish which one applies to your situation, then prepare the application.

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For whom

Retiree, patient or EU/EFTA national

The retiree from a third country

You have ceased all gainful activity and wish to move the centre of your interests to Switzerland. The law sets a minimum age, and requires particular personal ties with the country and sufficient financial means.

The patient, coming for treatment

You come to Switzerland for medical care. The financing of the treatment and your departure at its end must be guaranteed; the permit is granted for that purpose alone.

The EU/EFTA national without activity

The free movement agreement gives you a right of residence, provided you have sufficient means and health insurance covering all risks. The file turns on proof of means and insurance.

This service is for private individuals. Employers are not concerned: no gainful activity is carried out.

The requirements of the law

Retiree, patient, EU/EFTA national

A retiree from a third country falls under the FNIA and the OASA, a patient under the FNIA, an EU/EFTA national under the free movement agreement.

The retiree from a third country

A foreign national who no longer carries on gainful activity may be admitted if they have reached the minimum age, have particular personal ties with Switzerland and have the necessary financial means (Art. 28 FNIA). The minimum age is 55 (Art. 25 para. 1 OASA).

Ties are accepted in particular where the person has spent fairly long periods in Switzerland in the past, or has close relations with near relatives in Switzerland (Art. 25 para. 2 OASA). No gainful activity is permitted, in Switzerland or abroad, except managing one's own assets (para. 3). Means are sufficient where they exceed the amount that would give entitlement to supplementary benefits (para. 4).

According to the FNIA Directives, the granting of a residence permit to a retiree is subject to the prior approval of the SEM.

Source: FNIA (SR 142.20), Art. 28; OASA (SR 142.201), Art. 25, Fedlex; FNIA Directives, no. 5.3

Our work

What we do for you

Identification of the applicable regime: retiree, patient or EU/EFTA national
Review of ties with Switzerland and of financial means, with a first assessment of their sufficiency
Drafting of the application and its supporting statement, with the family file where needed
Filing with the cantonal authority and replies to its requests for further information
Follow-up until the decision, including the federal approval stage where required
For treatment: coordination with the documents of the care institution

The documents

What generally needs to be gathered

Valid passport and evidence of past stays or of ties with relatives in Switzerland
Certificates of pensions, statements of assets and a declaration of cessation of all gainful activity
Proof of health and accident insurance covering all risks
Lease or housing certificate
For treatment: medical certificate, estimate of costs and proof of financing

Fees

A flat fee per person

Residence without gainful activity

CHF 2,500 to CHF 4,000

flat fee per person

For a retiree settling in Switzerland, or for a person coming for medical treatment.

Review of ties with Switzerland and financial means
Review of the applicable cantonal practice
Drafting of the application and its reasoning
Filing and follow-up with the cantonal authority until the decision

The range depends on nationality, canton and the number of family members concerned.

See the service

Indicative amounts, excluding VAT (Swiss standard rate of 8.1% since 1 January 2024). They are confirmed in writing before any engagement, on the basis of the actual file. For an employer established abroad, the service is deemed to be supplied abroad within the meaning of art. 8 para. 1 LTVA and the invoice is issued without VAT. For a private individual domiciled abroad, the VAT treatment is specified in the proposal.

All the amounts for this section appear on the Fees page.

Limits of the engagement

The decision rests with the authorities

The first step

Tell us about your plan to settle

Tell us your nationality, your age and the purpose of the stay.

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