I’ve found this forum invaluable as I’ve developed my plans over the last year or so, thanks to those of you who spend your time helping others.

I’d now like to run my plans past the experts to see if there’s a flaw in what I’m trying to do.

I’m an EU citizen looking to retire to Switzerland. In advance of retirement I would like to buy somewhere whilst continuing to work in the UK. I am planning on having 250K CHF available to demonstrate independent means to the canton and secure my B permit. I will then use the 250K CHF as a deposit against a property.

I will then continue to work in the UK paying tax in the UK and therefore offsetting any Swiss tax liability against tax paid in the UK. The only money I will bring into CH is for mortgage payments and some living expenses.

My questions are:
1. Do I have to be in Switzerland for a certain number of days per year to maintain residency?
2. If it takes longer than five years for me to pull all this together do I have to have 250k CHF in cash at the time of renewing my B permit?
3. Are my assumptions about tax correct?
4. Is there anything that I’ve missed?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The same number that makes you liable for tax here.

After 5 years, if you were still resident in Switzelrand, you would get a C permit. You may indeed be asked to confirm your independant status.

Ask yourself where will you be resident for tax.


I suspect quite a lot. It looks very much like you are trying to pull the wool over the Swiss authorities eyes. This will not work. You will get caught. You will lose your dream of retiring here. Just one obvious example, when you submit your first tax return your missing cash will be noticed (you pay tax on wealth here and must declare all bank account balances).

The thing is, you don't need to go down this road at all. As an EU citizen you can buy a property here without all this cloak and dagger stuff.

Lots of flaws. As far as the Swiss are concerned, if you have a resident's permit, you will be treated as 100% resident in Switzerland however many days you spend in the country. That means paying tax, AVS social security contributions and health insurance in Switzerland for yourself and any family members who also have resident's permits. If you don't, they will ask questions, especially if you are not contributing taxes here. Like Swissbob said you will have to file tax returns with the Canton after one year and the AVS folks will also be in touch for their money fairly quickly if you are under 65, even if you are retired. But your commune will probably latch on to you quicker than that. Mine would.

Swissbob, thanks I didn't look at it as "trying to pull the wool over" more trying to work within the rules to achieve what I want. However if there is a much more straightforward approach, I'd love to know what it is?

Here's some information.
http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/VA/VacProFAQ1.htm#laws

How about staying a UK resident until you want to move here? Keep your CHF 250 in sterling and put it in a bank account. You'll be way better off than buying a place here. Factor in 1% maintenance per year on average accross years.

I don't understand why anyone would want to go through the hassle of obtaining permit and buying property without actually enjoying the lifestyle benefits of Switzerland.

Marie, we've been holidaying in VS for 10 years now and spend about six weeks there each year. For us having our own place would feel like beginning to put down some roots and starting to become part of the community - with a move to doing it full time in the future. It would also give us the time to do some modifications to the property and slowly furnish it whilst still having the benefit of UK income.

I had accepted that I would have to pay AVS, health insurance and property taxes, however I obviously only want to pay income tax on my UK income once and the UK will deem me resident in UK for tax purposes.

I understand that what we're trying to do is probably exactly what the rules exist to prevent, but wondered if it may be possible.

I don't really see much of problem. You could buy as a holiday flat/chalet - as many from the EU now do. Then when you have reached the stage of leaving the UK, simply move over and make Switzerland your permanent home.

If you are in any doubt about this, a quick visit to the town hall where you wish to buy will quickly clear up the details...

Ab Fab,

Where we're looking there are very few properties available for foreigners, hence all the complex plans.

Apparently, you plan to settle in a tourist resort. That may not be a good choice for retirement. You would lack the infrastructure, e.g. hospitals, medical specialists, etc. You would be confronted with shoveling snow, skidding on ice, etc, activities that become formidable with age. And if frailty forces you to surrender your driving license, then you are stuck.

As an occasional tourist, it worries me to hear that there are some resorts in Switzerland with no hospitals and medical specialists.

Thank you Mr Goldtop, I will take that information into account when planning for future travels.

Pretty depressing scenario. Might as well just put the gun to your head now. Seriously though, there are plenty of retired people who remain quite able for many (25+ years) after reaching retirement age. Plus, there are many old people living and visiting these "tourist resorts" and make good use of the local doctors and REGA if absolutely needed.

I have heard that it is difficult to purchase a vacation home in Valais so maybe you could consider a different canton. I also agree with keeping the money invested elsewhere until you are ready to retire. You could set up a deal to rent a chalet every year to help in building your roots and still probably end up financially ahead of the game. Sounds like you should talk to a professional though rather than taking advice from a bunch of internet amateurs like myself.

Best of luck.

Maintaining a home from abroad can be a real headache, which I why I suggested waiting until you intend to move to Switzerland.

A garden/terrace will require regular maintenance throughout the summer months - and your neighbours can complain and you will have to pay for gardeners if you can't pop on over to mow the grass/trim the wisteria/cut the hedges/weed your terrace/or mow your roof. Most of my neighbours do their own gardening because of the cost.

Climbers grow into drains and automatic shutters can be damaged from plants. This happened to us when we were away for just one month.

Retirees should assess their health condition to anticipate future needs and life style in possibly challenging topography and climatic conditions. Before investing, look around for facilities from an aged person's perspective.

Since the restrictions in canton VS on foreigners buying holiday homes have got much tighter have you thought about the Villars/Barbelouse/Gryon area in Vaud? It's very close to the Valais.

I can understand your idea of wanting to buy a place to put down some roots and "pad the nest" prior to arriving....but Switzerland is by no means a "normal" country in terms of buying property. 70% of people here rent all their lives... I've lived here 7+ years and have put off buying a place because of the high costs involved (as well as the strange tax laws, which I still haven't figured if, as a homeowner, they would work for or against me )

As much as I love Switzerland, I don't think I'd want to retire here, given all the high costs and strange housing system. But that's just me

Thanks for all your advice.

We're not quite in our dotage and hope to be able to shovel snow for a year or two and we may well keep somewhere back in the UK for when we get so wrinkly that mother tongue care is required.

Your comments have of course challenged our thinking - that's the point of asking for advice. We are set upon VS because we already have many friends there and that's one of the motivations for spending more time there.

However maybe we will look at renting somewhere in the first instance to see how easy it is for us to put down roots and maybe to start to build a relationship with the commmune. We're in this for the long run, and there is the possibility of change both in the local regulations around holiday homes and potentially also in the EU/CH relationship which may make things easier, and being known as "locals" may help some of that.

Must be a very special place you're looking at! Are you sure it's in Switzerland? I've lived here for years. I'm a permanent year-round resident, contribute my fair share of taxes to the local Commune, speak the language reasonably well, frequent the local shops/restaurants, have excellent relations with my neighbours and know enough people in the village that I often get greeted in the street. Despite all that I'm nowhere near being thought of as "local". Having said all that, I do feel more a part of a community than I've ever done in the UK so I'm not complaining. Good luck!

Switzerland is a good place to retire, when:

• You have reasonable fluency in the local language.
• A supportive network of friends and contacts (doctors, lawyers, and other professional service providers).
• Not averse to the climate. (Some Swiss themselves prefer Spain, Thailand, etc.)
• Locate in a larger city. The excellent public transport ensures mobility, even after surrendering the driving license.
• Reasonable affluence or pension (e.g. eligibility to Swiss state pension) and insurance to cover high medical and care costs.
• Have already lived here some years and are familiar with Swiss laws, attitudes, quirks, etc.

Of course, the facilities and infrastructure here is as good as or better than anywhere else in the world.

I am retiring here because I meet the above criteria. And I will locate in the Zurich periphery to benefit from the city and from the beautiful countryside.

From what I've seen there's no good place to grow old once you've lost your independence. Growing old sucks!