Property in Switzerland: buying and support
One of Europe's most closed markets: purchases by non-residents are constrained by the Lex Koller act, by quotas and by floor area.
Why Switzerland
Exceptional stability
A stability of market and legal system that is hard to match anywhere else in Europe.
EU/EFTA residents buy on equal terms
Residents with a B, C or L permit from the EU or EFTA buy on the same terms as Swiss citizens.
A home for yourself — no permit needed
A home for your own use can be bought without a Lex Koller permit — provided you actually live in it and do not let it out.
Honestly, about the quota
Holiday homes operate under a quota: about 1,500 cantonal permits a year, only in designated tourist zones, and a 200 sqm net living-area cap per property.
Honestly, about the future: tightening is under discussion
The Federal Council has put a proposal to tighten Lex Koller out for consultation, open until mid-July 2026 — worth factoring into your planning.
Smaller budget — we'll source it
Tell us the amount and the goal, and we'll come back with options from developers and partners that are not in the catalogue.
Send a requestHow the purchase works
- 1
We map your goal
We determine your status — this decides whether Lex Koller applies at all.
- 2
We check whether Lex Koller applies
Self-occupied housing needs no permit; a holiday home requires a designated zone and a cantonal permit.
- 3
We confirm the zone and quota
For holiday homes — the property must sit in a tourist zone, and the canton's quota must not be exhausted.
- 4
We check the property
We prepare the deal with a notary and check the paperwork.
- 5
Notarisation
The deal is notarised.
- 6
Title registration
We enter the title in the land register.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy property in Switzerland?+
It depends on status. EU and EFTA nationals lawfully resident in Switzerland on a B, C or L permit buy on the same terms as Swiss citizens. For persons abroad, the Lex Koller act applies with quotas and restrictions.
What is Lex Koller?+
The federal act on the acquisition of real estate by persons abroad, in force since 1983. It restricts the purchase of residential property by non-residents: permits are issued in limited numbers, only in designated tourist zones and with a cap on floor area.
How many permits are issued and for what?+
Roughly 1,500 cantonal permits are issued nationwide each year for holiday homes, with a maximum of 200 m² of net living space per unit, and only in designated tourist zones. It is a quota, not a procedure: once exhausted, no permit is available.
Can I buy a home for my own residence without a permit?+
Yes, a home you actually live in is bought without Lex Koller approval. But the condition is strict: it must be self-occupied, and letting it is not allowed.
Does buying property grant residency in Switzerland?+
No, and the dependency runs the other way: it is holding resident status that lifts the Lex Koller constraints. Property is not a basis for obtaining a residence permit.
Is a tightening of the rules coming?+
Yes. The Federal Council has put a tightening of Lex Koller out to consultation: a permit requirement for nationals of non-EU/EFTA countries and further restrictions on buying holiday apartments are under discussion. The consultation runs until mid-July 2026.
Why do you not quote Swiss tax rates?+
Because there are no single "Swiss" rates: property taxation is determined at cantonal and communal level and differs substantially. The calculation is made for the specific canton and commune rather than from averages.
Do you have property in Switzerland?+
Yes, there are listings in our catalogue. Given the Lex Koller regime, we check separately for each property whether it is available to a buyer with your status before any money moves.
Overview
Switzerland has restricted the acquisition of residential property by persons abroad since 1983 under Lex Koller. For a non-resident this is not a formality but a quota system: a limited number of permits is issued each year, only in tourist zones, and with a cap on floor area.
Why buy here
Exceptional stability of the market and the legal system. EU and EFTA nationals lawfully resident in Switzerland on a B, C or L permit buy on the same terms as Swiss citizens. A home you actually live in is bought without Lex Koller approval — provided it is self-occupied and not let.
Taxes, costs and yield
Benchmarks for taxes, purchase and holding costs and rental yield. Exact figures depend on the property and your situation.
Property taxes in Switzerland are set at cantonal and communal level and differ substantially; rates are confirmed for the specific location.
Property taxation in Switzerland is determined at cantonal and communal level: transfer taxes, annual taxes and how they are calculated differ substantially between cantons. Also payable: notarial services and land register fees. We do not publish general "Swiss" rates: they do not exist in any single form. The calculation is made for the specific canton and commune.
1. Establish the buyer's status — it determines whether Lex Koller applies. 2. If it does: the property must sit in a designated tourist zone and a cantonal permit is required. 3. Due diligence and preparation of the transaction by a notary. 4. Notarial execution and entry of title in the land register.
Swiss banks lend to non-residents on a limited basis and generally where there are ties to the country.
Buying property in Switzerland does not grant residency. The dependency runs the other way: it is holding resident status that lifts the Lex Koller constraints. EU and EFTA nationals lawfully resident in Switzerland on a B, C or L permit buy on the same terms as Swiss citizens.
The quantitative constraints for non-residents are these: roughly 1,500 cantonal permits are issued nationwide each year for holiday homes, with a maximum of 200 m² of net living space per unit, and only in designated tourist zones. A home for your own residence needs no permit, but it must genuinely be self-occupied — letting it is not allowed.
What to bear in mind: — Lex Koller is a quota system rather than a permit procedure: even if you are willing to pay, a permit may be unavailable once the canton's quota is exhausted; — the 200 m² net living space cap applies to holiday homes and is hard; — the self-occupation requirement for permit-free purchases means letting is prohibited; — the Federal Council has put a tightening of Lex Koller out to consultation: a permit requirement for nationals of non-EU/EFTA countries and further restrictions on buying holiday apartments are under discussion. The consultation runs until mid-July 2026 — plan with possible changes in view. Checked in September 2026. Thresholds, rates and programme terms change — confirm the current requirements with a lawyer in the country before you buy.
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Investment strategies
Figures are indicative, change over time and depend on the specific property and your circumstances. Obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before any purchase.
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