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CH flagSwitzerlandActive but restrictedBusiness Migration

Residence Permit for Self-Employment

No fixed investment minimum, but subject to federal quotas and a requirement to demonstrate lasting benefit to the Swiss labor market.

Switzerland has no single national start-up visa. This is a general self-employment permit, and the rules vary a lot between cantons.

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Official program name
Residence Permit for Self-Employment / Establishing a Business (Art. 19 FNIA)
Program category
Purchasing or actively operating a business / Starting an innovative company
Current status
Active but restricted — federal quotas apply, cantonal discretion is significant
Best suited for
Non-EU/EFTA founders whose self-employment demonstrably benefits Switzerland's overall economic interest
Overview
Switzerland has no dedicated startup visa and no golden visa. Non-EU/EFTA nationals seeking to become self-employed must show that their business plan, financing, and expected impact serve Switzerland's "overall economic interest" — a standard applied with meaningful cantonal discretion, and subject to annual federal quotas (ASEO). There is no fixed capital minimum, but the labor-market benefit test is a real and substantive hurdle.
Minimum investment
No fixed statutory minimum; must demonstrate business plan, financing, and lasting positive labor-market impact
Active involvement required
Yes
Residence status granted
B permit, renewable annually for non-EU nationals, leading toward C permit
Family inclusion
Conditional — possible via family reunification, but terms vary by canton
Spouse work rights
Varies by canton
Permanent residence pathway
Conditional — C permit after 10 years (5 years for some nationalities); citizenship after 10 years
Quota system
Subject to annual federal quotas for non-EU/EFTA self-employment admissions (ASEO)
Official source
sem.admin.ch

Want more background?

Our guide explains how this route works in practice and what to prepare first.

Read the Switzerland guide →

Directional guidance only, not immigration advice. Confirm current quota availability and canton-specific rules with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Last verified September 15, 2026.