A Swiss B permit (Permis B / Aufenthaltsbewilligung) is a temporary residence permit granted to foreign nationals living and working in Switzerland. The property purchase rights attached to a B permit depend significantly on whether the holder is an EU/EFTA citizen or a national from outside the EU and EFTA.
B permit holders from EU/EFTA countries
EU and EFTA nationals holding a B permit are exempt from Lex Koller restrictions. They can purchase any type of residential property in Switzerland — primary residence, secondary residence, investment property or holiday home — without requiring cantonal authorisation. This right derives from the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU.
In practice, this means a French, German, Italian or other EU national working in Switzerland on a B permit can buy a property in Montreux on the same terms as a Swiss national.
B permit holders from non-EU/EFTA countries
Non-EU/EFTA nationals holding a B permit can purchase a primary residence in Switzerland without Lex Koller authorisation. The property must be their main place of residence — they must actually live there. They cannot purchase a secondary residence, holiday home or investment property without authorisation.
This is an important distinction. A US, UK, Russian or Middle Eastern national on a B permit can buy the apartment or house they live in, but cannot freely purchase additional properties or holiday homes.
Changing permit status
B permits are typically renewed annually or every two years. When a B permit holder upgrades to a C permit (permanent residence), they gain full property purchase rights equivalent to a Swiss national. The upgrade to a C permit is generally possible after five years of continuous residence (ten years for some nationalities).
Buyers who are currently on a B permit and plan to upgrade to a C permit in the near future should factor this into their property strategy — a C permit opens significantly more options.
Practical considerations
B permit holders purchasing a primary residence in Montreux should be aware that if they later leave Switzerland and lose their residence status, they may be required to sell the property. The conditions of the purchase are tied to their residence status, and a change in status can affect their right to retain the property.
Buyers should discuss this scenario with their notary and legal adviser before completing a purchase.
Key points
- EU/EFTA B permit holders can buy any property type — same rights as Swiss nationals
- Non-EU/EFTA B permit holders can buy a primary residence only
- Secondary residences and holiday homes require Lex Koller authorisation for non-EU/EFTA B permit holders
- Upgrading to a C permit removes all Lex Koller restrictions
- Loss of residence status may require resale of the property
Speak with Montreux Real Estate to understand how your B permit status affects your property purchase options in Montreux.
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