Swiss government to tighten foreign property ownership

Foreign money coming in helps the markets, banks and the financial system in general but buying properties drives up the costs in an already expensive economy. Unfair but they control the cards

Jein (German Yes/No) – non-residents can technically open a Swiss bank account, but practical access depends heavily on your location. While residents of neighboring countries (Germany, Austria, France, Italy) often qualify easily, those living further abroad face significant hurdles like mandatory branch visits and high minimum deposits (typically CHF 250,000–500,000). Furthermore, banking secrecy for foreign clients is abolished. Under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), Swiss banks automatically report account data of non-residents to their home country’s tax authorities, ensuring full transparency for tax purposes while maintaining protection against public access.