The acquisition of holiday homes in Switzerland by foreigners from outside the EU and EFTA, without a permanent residence permit (C permit)

The "Law on regional development (LAT) of 01.05.2014", ... the "Law on second homes (LRS) of 01.01.2016"... The legislator’s ingenuity knows no bounds and the situation has moved on a lot since our first newsletter on the subject (No. 5), which focused on the conditions under which a person regarded as foreign (generally and put in simple terms, usually a national from a country outside the European Union) may acquire a second home in Switzerland, in accordance with the Federal Law on the acquisition of real estate by persons domiciled abroad (LFAIE). Although the two laws mentioned above pursue different goals from those of the LFAIE of 1983, they are superimposed on it.

It is true that, during this period, Switzerland experienced substantial growth in the economy and in real estate within a limited territory, so much so that popular opinion called for restrictions in order to avoid "sprawling" development. (...)