Published: 01.10.2026
Foreign nationals with a lawful and actual residence in Switzerland may purchase a home at their place of residence without special authorisation, including building land if construction begins within roughly a year. Owning property alone does not create an entitlement to a Swiss residence permit.
According to the source, the ability to buy a main home without authorisation depends on already having a lawful and actual residence in Switzerland; it is not an independent immigration route. For investors and prospective movers, this means that purchasing property does not replace obtaining a residence permit or guarantee the right to live in the country. Restrictions under the Lex Koller framework also apply to persons treated as foreigners, including certain third-country nationals and holders of status S. This is worth checking before a property purchase if the transaction is being considered as part of a relocation plan.
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