For many, the name of this country is synonymous with accuracy and reliability. A resort country in the alpine mountains is reluctant to accept new citizens, requiring large investments in the economy or unique experience from applicants for citizenship.
General information on business immigration in Switzerland
Opening your own company is the most tested and working option for obtaining a Swiss residence permit. Compared to contract work or marriage, everything here will depend only on the migrant, and not on the will of chance. It is almost impossible to obtain refugee status in the country - now only qualified residents of African countries and the former Yugoslavia use this method.
What is a business visa and what type of visa you can get in Switzerland
At the start of registration of his own company, a businessman is granted a Schengen business visa category C for negotiations. After successful registration, the owner of the company can apply for a national Category D visa or a work visa as an employee.
To obtain a business visa, the owner needs to get a job in his own company, while proving that his qualifications for the task are at least on par with other applicants from Switzerland and the EU. The business must be constantly developed - nothing decisive office with pumping money from the main business will not become the basis for granting a residence permit.
What type of business is more profitable to open in Switzerland
To obtain a visa, it is most profitable to open a small business in the service sector related to business at home. For example, the owner of a chain of hairdressing salons in Russia can open an establishment in Zurich and hire a few elite professionals, appointing himself as a manager. In this case, no questions about the owner's competence or the functionality of the case will arise.
A company in Switzerland will take a lot of effort and money from the very first days, so for your first business it is better to choose something with a quick payback. Massive services such as a hairdresser or general goods trade are best suited.
Conditions for immigration to Switzerland for entrepreneurs
Citizens of Switzerland and EU countries have priority in employment over residents of third countries. The entrepreneur will have to prove that he has taken all possible measures when hiring in the local labor market. Simply put, it will be possible to put a son as a manager with a salary of ten thousand francs a month only after an open posting of a vacancy at the labor exchange and providing a justification for refusal to all other candidates.
Under special conditions, work is received by:
- Leaders;
- Highly qualified specialists;
- Managers transferred from another branch;
- Art workers.
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Choosing the required visa, conditions for obtaining it
The Swiss work visa is divided into three types:
- Seasonal a visa is issued for a period of about six months, convenient for builders, guides, artists;
- Standard drawn up for a year, extension is possible in case of concluding a long-term contract with the company;
- Constant issued to migrants who have lived in the country for more than 10 years and already have a category B document.
Conditions for obtaining a residence permit, permanent residence, citizenship
For naturalization and obtaining a full-fledged Swiss passport, a migrant must legally reside in the country not less than 12 years, with at least three years in a row out of the last five.
In addition to the statute of limitations, a Swiss citizen is required to deeply integrate into society, accept the country's way of life and its laws, as well as the absence of social danger for its residents.
Buying a ready-made business and starting from scratch
There is practically no difference between the two options. In any case, an entrepreneur must hire himself as a specialist - without this he will not be able to open a work visa. Owning assets or real estate in a country by itself only makes it easier to obtain a temporary visa, but does not bring it closer to citizenship.
What are the most common business options in Switzerland
Switzerland has no minerals or vast territories, so the country has developed in the field of innovation and financial services.
This state is world famous:
- Advances in biotechnology and medical technology;
- Tourist infrastructure;
- Creation of luxury goods;
- Banking.
Among Russian business immigrants, the most popular option is with financial offices - Switzerland is one of the financial centers of Europe, so economists and financiers move here first of all.
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But "Russian" shops and bars are not very popular, largely due to the small number and weak organization of migrants from the CIS. There are such establishments in large cities, but you should not expect much excitement with another national establishment.
Business ideas with minimal investment
For minimal costs, it is worth paying attention to agriculture - the cantons are trying to provide themselves with food, and a small farm on rented land can pay off pretty quickly.
Russian success stories are mainly related to finance and accounting. Moving to Switzerland is quite expensive, and the competition is high, so already established specialists with significant work experience are sent there.
The business associated with the tourism business, for example, setting up a store or selling a service on a tourist route, will quickly pay off. However, it should be borne in mind that tying a business to tourists can lead to collapse after one or two unsuccessful seasons.
Legal nuances
The Swiss take immigration laws very seriously, so you shouldn't try to circumvent them with a fictitious enterprise. In the best case, the migration service will refuse to provide a residence permit, in the worst case, it will cancel the visa.
Important! A risk-free business like an MFI or a rental property is not a basis for a visa.
Business registration
Direct registration costs will be from 20,000 (when opening GMBH, limited liability company) up to 100,000 (opening an AG, corporation or joint stock company) Swiss francs. More about 15,000 francs will take the costs of registration and preparation of documents.
Procedure:
- Choosing a unique name;
- Registration of the charter and public act;
- Registration in the commercial register;
- Registration with the tax office;
- Registration of employees in the social security authorities.
A foreigner cannot register a business in the country without the participation of a Swiss citizen as an executive director. Therefore, for registration, you will often have to hire "zitspresidents" - people who, in fact, will not do anything except obtain the minimum wage and sign documents. This issue can be circumvented, but only for large business - the small one keeps this person with him with a salary of about 5 thousand dollars before obtaining permanent residence.
Taxation
Taxes in Switzerland for individuals and companies are among the lowest in the world. The cantons set the tax rate themselves, and most keep it very low to improve the investment climate.
Individuals in Switzerland pay a general tax from 23% (canton of Zug) to 37,7% (Canton of Neuchâtel). Zurich and banking Geneva will cost residents 29% and 36% from the profit, respectively.
The tax on legal entities is noticeably lower - the average rate in the country is about 16% with the best performance in the canton of Nidwalden - 10,1%... In Bern and Zurich the tax will be about 17%, and the highest rate for business in Geneva is 21,4%.
The country also has three VAT rates on goods: a general 7.7% and two privileged 3.8% for hotels and 2,5% for food and medicine.
Tips for Swiss Business Immigrants
Those planning to immigrate should understand that Switzerland is a very expensive country. An ordinary pack of cigarettes or a hot dog will cost by Russian standards 500 rubles... At the same time, the Swiss have free access to the cheaper EU, therefore, for a one-time expensive service, they would rather go to Hungary or the Czech Republic than pay exorbitant prices in their country.
The small size of cities (the largest Zurich is barely close to a million inhabitants) leads to the fact that all small niches are already occupied. The whole city knows the best hairdressers, cafes and clubs, and therefore you will have to really be a cut above the competition in order to get through the starting stage.
There is no need to save on the service - the average salary in the country is about 400,000 rubles a month, and people are really willing to pay for the convenience.
Switzerland is a stunningly beautiful and quiet country. The migration service allows very few people to pass through, and the mono-ethnic population and special culture only complicate the move - it will be difficult for a stranger to become their own here. Nevertheless, the attempt is worth it: the reward will be the highest standard of living, almost untouched nature, security and confidence in the future.
