Residency and visas in Switzerland

Who can run a Swiss company from Switzerland depends on nationality. The SME portal states that all nationals of EU/EFTA Member States may also be self-employed, while third-country nationals must meet the Swiss labour market requirements, and admissions of non-EU and non-EFTA nationals are limited. Permits are decided by cantonal and federal authorities, so timing and outcome are not in a firm’s hands.

Ask a firm whether it files permit applications or refers them to a partner, what it needs from you, how it links the permit with the company set-up and whether the fee depends on the result. Treat any promise of success with caution.

87 firms list residency or visa support: 61 accounting firms, 23 corporate services providers and 3 law firms. In terms of language, 72 of them use English, 53 French, 39 German and 31 Italian. Of these, 70 work with foreign clients. Among sectors and client groups, 21 firms name real estate and 10 name family offices. Read the Switzerland guide first for the company types.

Firms offering residency and visa support in Switzerland

KENDRIS

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Zug

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · German

View profile of KENDRIS

Altiqa

Corporate services provider · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: English · Italian · French

View profile of Altiqa

WMM Group

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: Italian · English

View profile of WMM Group

Arent SA

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: Italian · French · German · English …

View profile of Arent SA

63 more firms offering residency and visa support in Switzerland

Frequently asked questions

Can I move to Switzerland by forming a company?

Not automatically. Residency and work rights follow immigration law, which treats EU/EFTA and other nationals differently. Ask an adviser about your situation before incorporating.

Does a firm need to be in my canton for a permit?

Often it helps, since cantonal offices process many applications. Ask which cantons the firm deals with regularly, and whether it has handled cases like yours.

Other services in Switzerland

Accountants by city in Switzerland

Setting up a company in Switzerland: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.