Information Service

OSEC Business Network Switzerland assists you in searching for business partners/suppliers. We can offer you the online publication of your request, free of charge. Swiss exporting enterprises receive regular updates from this site to inform them about business opportunities.

You can either register online or order the application form "Application for Business Relations with Swiss Firms" and send it back to the Swiss Business Hub UK.

Any Swiss firm interested will then communicate with you direct. Should you subsequently enter into a business agreement, would you please let us know so that the Swiss Business Hub UK can maintain an up-to-date record.

You are interested in acquisition of real estate in Switzerland?
The Federal Law restricts the acquisition of real estate in Switzerland by non-residents (art. 1 LF). To acquire real estate for which prior authorization is required, permission has to be obtained from the appropriate cantonal authority (art. 2, para 1, LF). Consequently, the Canton in which the real estate is located is primarily responsible for implementation of this Law. The authority specified by the Canton (art. 15, para 1, subpara a, LF) decides on whether a transaction should be subject to authorization and whether it should be authorized. This permission may be granted solely on grounds provided for in the Law and, as appropriate, in cantonal legislation (arts. 3, 8 and 9, LF).
In terms of the authorization requirement and granting of permission, the fact that the real estate is already in foreign hands and the legal motive for acquiring it (purchase, exchange, gift, designation as an heir, legacy, takeover of assets or a business, merger, conversion or break-up of companies) are in principle immaterial. Moreover, ownership of real estate in Switzerland in no way confers residence entitlement on the owner.

Check the guidelines for more information (English):

 

The guidelines are also available in German, French and Italian from the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. The guidelines provide an overview of the Federal Law and Ordinance, as well as of the complementary cantonal and communal provisions that restrict the acquisition of real estate in Switzerland by persons abroad.