Switzerland Investment Program offers a stable political, economic and financial situation combined with the highest living standards. Investing in the Swiss economy means providing yourself and your family with the residency of this stable and highly developed European country.
Features of the state program of permanent residence in Switzerland
An unlimited residence permit in Switzerland – Permit C – can be requested after 10 years of legal residence on its territory (for some states, this period has been reduced to 5 years). A prerequisite for obtaining permanent residence is assimilation with Swiss society. It is confirmed by the knowledge and acceptance of the way of life, values , and the ability to communicate in the language of the canton in which the place of residence is registered.
Even though Switzerland is interested in the inflow of foreign capital, no programs are guaranteeing the issuance of permanent residence. Even a large investment does not oblige the immigration office to grant a temporary or permanent residence permit. By Switzerland Investment Program, you can expect a slight reduction in tax rates. Unlike a temporary residence permit, the permanent residence does not need to be renewed annually. It is enough to update the status every 5 years, and the number of updates is not limited.
Permit C is obtained to acquire citizenship in the future. Since Switzerland allows second citizenship, you do not need to give up your previous passport. In 2016, the reform of immigration legislation, which began in 2013, continues. Amendments are being prepared to the Act on the Acquisition and Loss of Swiss Citizenship, adopted in 2014. They will tentatively come into force at the beginning of 2017. They are expected to touch upon the length of stay required to obtain a Swiss passport.
Permanent residence status can be lost by leaving the country for 2 years. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to warn the immigration office about the long departure. It is important to realize that state bodies periodically check persons with permanent resident status regarding compliance with legislation, including fiscal one. The check is unspoken, that is, you will not be informed about it. In case of identified violations, the permanent residence may be deprived.
Watch also: Swiss Residency Program for Individuals
Choosing a canton to live in
Language
In Switzerland, the state status is assigned to 4 languages. Of course, this does not mean that the Swiss own all 4. Inhabitants of a separate canton speak 1 or 2 languages. In the central and northern cantons, German is spoken, in the southern – Italian, in the western – in French, in some eastern – in Romansh. The country has a large English-speaking population, mainly among immigrants and young people.
Taxes
The cantons, like the state as a whole, are interested in the development of the regional economy. They attract capital from outside, officially providing businesses with tax incentives. When planning to invest in a Swiss company or open your own, inquire about income tax rates in several cantons.
Lodging
National legislation and cantonal regulations set restrictions on the purchase of real estate by foreigners. With permit C, you can buy housing almost throughout the country, except a few cantons, where only Swiss citizens are allowed to purchase real estate. When choosing a canton to live in, first ask about the opportunity to buy real estate on its territory, and only then – its cost.
Benefits of permanent residence in Switzerland
Flexible taxation system
The main benefit of a Switzerland Investment Program – flexible tax system. More than 70% of the Swiss economy is formed by services. The country does not have rich natural resources, except recreational ones. These factors determine the interest of the state in foreign capital and investors who are ready to develop their own or strengthen the domestic business. The cantonal authorities are vested with powers sufficient to establish preferential tax rates. Your company can receive a 4-5% income tax rebate. For this reason, Switzerland is called the European “tax haven”. It is the most attractive for business development in Europe.
Civilized banking system
She is rightfully considered one of the most reliable. The stability of Swiss banks is due to the stable political situation in the country and close relationship with the world economy. Zurich is the third-largest global foreign exchange market after New York and London. According to various estimates, Swiss financial structures manage 35-40% of private and corporate world capital. The first private banks appeared in Switzerland. Representative offices of many foreign banks have been opened here. High competition is an additional argument in favor of the quality of services and the strictest observance of banking secrecy.
High quality of life
First of all, it lies in political and economic stability. The Swiss real estate market is one of the most resilient. Salaries in Switzerland are high even across European measurements. Even though pensioners do not have benefits, the pension is enough for food, accommodation, medicine, entertainment, and travel. Many Swiss do not discover countries outside the Schengen area until after retirement. Government support for medicine, pharmacology, compulsory health insurance made Switzerland a leader in life expectancy. Here it exceeds 80 years – this is higher than that of Germany, USA, Spain. Prestigious resorts Switzerland is famous for its thermal springs, ski and beach resorts, picturesque lakes and natural landscapes, and ancient monuments. The prices for holidays in Switzerland cannot be called low, but they are fully justified by the highest level of service.
