Can I move to Switzerland from Singapore or Hong Kong without a job?

Yes, if the canton and the federal migration office (SEM) approve. Non-EU nationals without Swiss employment usually apply either as retirees (age 55+, special ties to Switzerland) or under the permit for important cantonal fiscal interests. Both are discretionary.

Is there a Swiss investor visa for Indian or Chinese nationals?

Switzerland does not grant residence in exchange for an investment or a property purchase. Owning Swiss property gives no right to a permit. The fiscal-interest route is the closest equivalent and depends on the tax you will pay in your canton.

Do Asian nationals face the modified lump sum?

The modified lump sum is required under the treaties with Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Canada, Austria and the USA. Singapore, Hong Kong, China and India are not on that list, but income from any of those seven countries can still be affected.

How long before I can get a Swiss C permit?

For non-EU nationals, the C permit is normally available after 10 years of residence, including the last 5 years continuously on a B permit, and with integration. It can come after 5 years of continuous B if you are well integrated and speak the local language well.

Do I need to register when I arrive?

Yes. Non-employed people staying more than three months must register with their commune within 14 days of entry, and take out Swiss basic health insurance within 3 months of registering.

Moving to Switzerland from Asia (2026)

Families from Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and India can settle in Switzerland without working here, using the same non-EU routes as every other third-country national: a retiree permit from age 55 or a permit for important cantonal fiscal interests. Both need the canton's agreement and federal approval, so the permit and the tax arrangement are best prepared together.

Key facts (as of September 2026)

Non-EU routes without work: retiree (art. 28 AIG, 55+, special ties) or important fiscal interests (art. 30 para. 1 lit. b AIG, art. 32 VZAE).

SEM approval is mandatory; the canton has wide discretion.

Published benchmarks are rare: Geneva states CHF 750,000 (expenditure base for third-country nationals); Zurich, which has no lump sum, looks for an annual tax of about CHF 1 million.

Swiss lump-sum taxation: federal minimum base CHF 435,000 for 2026.

Owning Swiss property gives no right to a residence permit.

C permit after 10 years, or 5 years if well integrated.

Why Asian families choose Switzerland

Families moving from Asia often want a second base close to European business, universities and relatives, with political stability and legal certainty. Switzerland's cantons offer a choice of languages, city and mountain living, and published tax rules. Keeping business interests in Asia is compatible with the fiscal-interest route, as long as any work is carried out abroad.

The permit route for non-EU nationals

Nationals of Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, China and India apply under the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (AIG), like any third-country national.

	Retiree route	Fiscal-interest route
Legal basis	art. 28 AIG, art. 25 VZAE	art. 30 para. 1 lit. b AIG, art. 32 VZAE
Age	55 or over	No age condition
Ties	Special personal ties to Switzerland (property or business ties are not enough)	Centre of life moves to Switzerland; most of your time is spent here
Work	None, in Switzerland or abroad (own asset management allowed)	Allowed only abroad, plus own asset management
Decision	Canton, then SEM	Canton, then SEM

For the fiscal-interest route, the canton weighs the expected tax against Switzerland's wider interests and reputation, and the Federal Administrative Court has confirmed that these are "may" provisions with wide discretion. A large donation on its own does not count as a cultural interest. Vaud asks for a signed lump-sum agreement with its tax administration as part of the permit file; most cantons publish no figure. Our guides on residence for financially independent non-EU nationals and whether Switzerland has a golden visa go into more detail. If you are unsure how B, C and L permits differ, see Swiss permits explained.

Tax interplay

Leaving Singapore, Hong Kong, China or India

Each country has its own rules on when tax residence ends and what happens to assets and companies on departure. We do not cover those rules here; take local advice early, especially if you hold operating companies, trusts or family holding structures.

Swiss options

Lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal): tax based on your worldwide living costs instead of income and wealth. The federal minimum base is CHF 435,000 for 2026, each canton sets its own minimum, and the base is at least seven times your annual rent or rental value.
Conditions: not Swiss, first Swiss residence or return after 10 years, no gainful activity in Switzerland, and both spouses must qualify.
Treaties: Singapore, Hong Kong, China and India are not on the list of treaties that require the modified lump sum. If you have income from the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria or Norway and want treaty relief, the modified rules apply to that income.
Where it is available: not in Zurich, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Basel-Stadt, and in Basel-Landschaft only for the arrival tax year. In Zurich, the fiscal-interest permit relies on ordinary taxation instead.

Our guide on moving to Switzerland from Asia sets out the sequence from first review to arrival.

Practical settling-in notes

Registration: register with your commune within 14 days of entry.
Health insurance: Swiss basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months of registering.
Family: spouses and unmarried children under 18 may join a B-permit holder if the family lives together in suitable housing and is self-sufficient. The spouse must show local-language skills or be enrolled in a course.
Property: as a non-EU B-permit holder you may buy a main residence at your actual Swiss domicile without a Lex Koller permit; holiday homes remain subject to Lex Koller authorisation and quota rules. A 2026 reform proposal would require a permit even for a main residence; it is a proposal, not law.

Common pitfalls

Treating Switzerland like an investor-visa country. There is no fixed investment amount that buys a permit.
Keeping an executive role that is performed in Switzerland. Work here, even if paid abroad, rules out the lump sum.
Choosing a canton before checking its lump-sum status. Some cantons have abolished it.
Leaving home-country exit questions until after arrival. They are usually easier to handle before.

How we help

We help you choose a canton, prepare the ruling and the permit file together, and coordinate with your advisers in Asia. Start with our short eligibility check.

This page is general information as of 30 September 2026. It is not tax or legal advice; your own situation needs a ruling and specific advice.