🇨🇭 Switzerland · Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Quick answer
Switzerland is highly open to foreign investment, promoted by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), with no exchange controls and a liberal regime. A new investment-screening law is being introduced for certain acquisitions by state-linked investors in critical sectors; incentives are mainly cantonal (tax and location support).
Switzerland welcomes foreign investment with few restrictions; Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and cantonal agencies support market entry.
- Most sectors are open to foreign investment with minimal restrictions.
- S-GE and cantonal promotion agencies assist investors.
- Cantons compete on tax and incentives to attract business.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check the investment regime
Switzerland has a liberal, open regime with no exchange controls; S-GE supports investors and site selection.
- 2
Check the new screening rules
A new investment-screening law targets certain acquisitions by state-linked foreign investors in critical sectors — check if it applies.
- 3
Choose your vehicle and register
Set up a GmbH or AG (or branch), register in the commercial register, and register for VAT and taxes; note residency requirements for directors.
- 4
Access cantonal incentives
Negotiate cantonal tax and location incentives and access R&D and innovation support where eligible.
- 5
Handle capital and repatriation
There are no exchange controls, so capital, dividends and profits can be repatriated freely.
- 6
Meet reporting and protections
Keep corporate/tax filings; Switzerland’s stable legal system and investment treaties provide strong investor protection.
Checklist
- Liberal open regime (no exchange controls) + S-GE
- New screening (state-linked investors, critical sectors)
- GmbH/AG/branch + commercial register + VAT/tax
- Cantonal tax & location incentives
- No exchange controls (free repatriation)
- Corporate/tax filings
- Investment-treaty protection
- CTA to .com/.ai for AI-assisted planning
Official authorities
- Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE)
Investment and export promotion organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Switzerland screen foreign investment?
Historically almost never; a new law introduces limited screening for acquisitions by state-linked foreign investors in critical sectors.
What incentives are available?
Incentives are mainly cantonal — competitive corporate tax, location support and innovation programs vary by canton.
Can I repatriate profits from Switzerland?
Yes — Switzerland has no exchange controls, so dividends and capital move freely (withholding tax may apply to dividends).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ch.ch — Swiss Authorities Online — Official information portal for federal, cantonal and communal authorities
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — Visas, residence permits (B/C), and naturalisation
- Federal Tax Administration (FTA) — Federal tax and VAT (cantonal taxes are levied separately)
- EasyGov.swiss — One-stop company registration and business admin