Just a very general question. Say, I have an idea for a high-tech product that lands itself nicely to a start-up company. Or better yet, there is even a business plan, validated market need and investment commitments.

I am in Canada, but I would rather move to CH and start a company here.

I understand there is a fairly straight-forward option of opening a Swiss company, and then have lawyers to request a permit B based on a business plan and a commitment to grow the business and hire personnel in a near future. They say it might be tricky to get a permit in Vaud due to the high demand from larger, established companies, but it is doable nonetheless.

What I am wondering if there are any special provisions in immigration law that facilitate issuance of Permit B for high-tech start-up founders? In Canada and, as of recently, in the US there are, as they try and actively attract entrepreneurial tech people. Anything like this in Switzerland at all?

Thanks

Do you have some minor cash to support the claim that you will support the business? Will you also be employing Swiss?

Yes you can buy your way into Switzerland.

CK

Well, sure, I know that. More than one way actually. I am asking if there are any special provisions for the high-tech professionals when it comes to obtaining Permit B.

I did pretty much what you intend to do, and got a 5-year permit right away. However, with a few key differences: 1) I moved from Germany (much easier for EU nationals to get a B permit for a startup) 2) I wrote a stellar business plan (was already making in excess of $100k a year from my business at the time) 3) I teamed up with a Treuhand guy in Zug to found the company - you can't do it alone if you're a foreigner not living in CH.

so.. it's possible.. but it's not very easy.

Irisvel, thanks for the reply.

Have you at all looked at getting a Vaud visa or just went straight to Zug/Zurich? I am being told that it is very much possible to go solo and still get the visa in Vaud (and even more so in Neuchatel/Jura).

What's Treuhand?

Nevermind - http://www.treuhandsuisse.ch

no I went straight to Zug. it has lots of advantages:

1) German-speaking (I also speak French but at a much lower level than German)
2) Super low taxes
3) Close to Zürich so can get people from ETH and generally a larger labor market choice than in FR-speaking CH
4) Its migration office people are very keen on attracting top-notch startups and companies, so they're extremely pleasant to deal with. When I first went to the Zuger industry migration Amt it felt like being at a management consulting company not a migration office

planning to do anything in the integrated electronics field ?

Computer networking. Conventional one, not the social fluff. I made a touch-controlled Arduino-based dimmer for my under-bed lighting once, but I doubt it counts