Switzerland’s Lex Koller Tightens Foreign Home Buying

What the proposal changes

Switzerland’s Federal Council sent Lex Koller amendments into consultation on April 15 and the message is blunt: foreign buying gets tighter, especially for non-EU/EFTA nationals. Primary homes would need authorization nationwide, commercial rentals would lose key exemptions and holiday-home quotas would shrink, which, honestly, is a big shift for anyone treating Swiss property like a safe parking spot.

The law already limits non-resident foreign ownership, but this draft goes further and weirdly, it targets both speculation and population pressure at the same time. The government says housing prices have risen more than 20% since 2024, so the political mood is clearly harder on outside money.

Who feels the squeeze

Expats on Swiss B or C permits are in the crosshairs if they’re non-EU/EFTA citizens, because the proposal would add permit checks for primary residences and force sales within two years after leaving Switzerland. Digital nomads without stable residence status, frankly, should expect more uncertainty and more renting.

EU/EFTA citizens stay largely exempt, so the biggest pain lands on third-country nationals, holiday-home buyers and investors chasing rental yield. Tourists won’t notice any change, because this is about ownership, not travel, but the supply crunch could still keep pressure on rents and purchase prices, which makes the whole thing sting a bit more.

What happens next

Public consultation runs until July 15, 2026, then lawmakers can take it up in 2027 if the proposal survives. No effective date is locked in yet, so don’t plan around it as if it’s done, because this still has a long legislative path ahead.

If you’re considering a Swiss purchase, check your permit status, your intended use and your exit plan now, honestly, before the rules harden. Keep an eye on visa updates and read our full Switzerland guide for the complete picture.