Swiss Residence for Retirees and People Who Do Not Work in 2026: Age 55, Special Ties and Enough Money for Life

Clients over 55 with savings or pensions often ask me whether Switzerland has a retirement visa. It does, in Article 28 of the Foreign Nationals Act. But it is a discretionary permit, and the cantons use it carefully. Below I use the Ordinance, the Zurich directive on residence without gainful activity and the Zurich page for retirees.

The three conditions

Condition	What it means
Minimum age	55 years (Art. 25 para. 1 VZAE)
Special personal ties	longer earlier stays in Switzerland or close relatives there
Means	enough to live without supplementary benefits, for life

In addition you may not work anywhere, in Switzerland or abroad, except to manage your own assets. Even when all conditions are met, there is no right to the permit. The canton decides.

Special ties in practice

Under Article 25 para. 2 VZAE, ties exist in particular when you can prove longer earlier stays in Switzerland, such as holidays, studies or work, or close relationships with parents, children, grandchildren or siblings living there. The canton of Zurich reads this narrowly. Its directive says that relatives living in Switzerland, business ties or owning property are not enough on their own. It expects your own social and cultural ties, such as links with the local community.

How the money is checked

The means must be above the amount that would entitle a Swiss person to supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen). Zurich makes an overall calculation up to your statistical life expectancy. It counts living costs, rent and the average health insurance premium. From age 70 it adds the average cost of care. Support from relatives is accepted only up to a quarter of living costs and for two years. Means can be shown as savings, pensions, investment income, shares, bonds, precious metals or property. If a retiree later claims supplementary benefits, the permit can be revoked.

If you are under 55

The Zurich directive says that people under 55 who do not work and have no close relatives in the canton usually do not get a permit. The exceptions are serious hardship and important public interests, including important cantonal fiscal interests. That is the ground used by wealthy people who pay a large tax, which I describe in the lump-sum taxation guide.

Documents and insurance

Zurich asks for the entry application form, a copy of the passport, the reasons for choosing the canton and the commune, a detailed description of your ties with certificates of earlier residence, a written statement that you do not work in Switzerland or abroad, proof of how you will finance your life and, for applicants under 75, a criminal record extract with a certified German translation. The canton warns that the review can take several months. After arrival you must take out Swiss health insurance within three months, according to the Federal Office of Public Health.

My honest view

The retiree route is realistic for people who already have a history with Switzerland: years of holidays in the same place, studies or children living there, plus solid capital. Without ties it is weak, even with a lot of money. In that case the fiscal route or another country may fit better. I always start by collecting evidence of the ties. The overview is in the complete guide.