Foreign Buyer Eligibility: Questions to Ask Before Viewing a Property

Step 1: Confirm your nationality and residence status

Your nationality and residence status determine your purchase rights. Are you an EU/EFTA citizen? Are you resident in Switzerland? What permit do you hold (B or C)? The answers to these questions determine whether you are subject to Lex Koller and, if so, what you can purchase.

If you are a C permit holder or an EU/EFTA citizen resident in Switzerland, you can search the full market. If you are a non-resident or a non-EU/EFTA national on a B permit, your options are more limited.

Step 2: Clarify what you want to buy

Are you looking for a primary residence, a holiday home or an investment property? If you are subject to Lex Koller, you can only purchase a holiday home in a designated tourist municipality. If you want a primary residence, you must be resident in Switzerland.

Clarifying your intended use before beginning your search will save significant time and avoid the disappointment of identifying a property that you cannot legally purchase.

Step 3: Verify Foreign Buyer Eligible status

Before arranging a viewing, confirm that the property carries Foreign Buyer Eligible status. Ask the agent directly and request confirmation from the land register extract. Do not assume that a property is eligible — verify it explicitly.

If the property does not carry this status, it cannot be sold to you as a non-resident foreign buyer, regardless of price or your willingness to proceed.

Step 4: Check quota availability

Confirm with the notary or agent that the annual Lex Koller quota for the Canton of Vaud has not been exhausted. If the quota is exhausted, your authorisation application will be deferred to the following year. This may affect your timeline and your ability to complete the purchase within your intended timeframe.

Step 5: Confirm financing options

Confirm that you can obtain financing for the purchase. Swiss banks apply stricter criteria to foreign buyers, and some banks do not lend to non-residents or to nationals of certain countries. Confirm your financing options — including the required equity contribution — before making an offer.

Step 6: Engage a notary and specialist agent

Engage a local notary and a specialist real estate agent before making an offer. The notary will verify your eligibility, manage the authorisation application and ensure the transaction is legally compliant. An experienced agent will identify eligible properties and guide you through the process efficiently.

Key points

• Confirm nationality and residence status before searching
• Clarify intended use — primary residence, holiday home or investment
• Verify Foreign Buyer Eligible status before arranging viewings
• Check quota availability before making an offer
• Confirm financing options and equity requirements
• Engage a notary and specialist agent early in the process