How to Move to Switzerland Without a Job in 2026?

Under what conditions can you obtain a residence permit without employment?

As a Hungarian citizen, under the EU/EFTA rules, you may apply for a B residence permit to stay in Switzerland without employment if you can demonstrate sufficient financial means and comprehensive health and accident insurance. The legal basis is the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, specifically Article 24 FZA/AFMP.

From Switzerland’s perspective, Hungarian citizens are EU/EFTA nationals. This status differs significantly from that of third-country applicants, such as those who are not EU/EFTA nationals. This article deals exclusively with moving to Switzerland without employment for Hungarian and other EU/EFTA nationals.

In such cases, the residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) is not linked to an employment relationship. The applicant may, for example, be:

• a retiree who finances their life in Switzerland from their pension or assets;

• a student or person undertaking further education whose living expenses are secured;

• a person living from savings;

• a family member whose own financial situation and insurance meet the requirements;

• a job seeker, who wishes to remain in Switzerland beyond the short stay period and is able to meet the conditions for economically inactive residence.

The B permit available to EU/EFTA nationals not engaged in gainful employment is valid for 5 years. However, the two fundamental elements of the requirements must be met together:

A B permit is not automatic merely because the applicant is a Hungarian citizen. The canton assesses whether the financial resources and insurance are sufficient for the specific place of residence and the composition of the household concerned.

What does it mean that the applicant must not depend on social assistance?

Financial means are considered sufficient if they exceed the level at which a Swiss citizen would be entitled to social assistance. This benchmark links immigration rules to the local social assistance system.

The threshold is not a single Switzerland-wide amount applicable to every life situation. In residence permit proceedings, the canton and the particular residential situation are relevant: housing costs, the premium for mandatory health insurance , the number of people in the household and local social assistance rules all affect the assessment.

For this reason, “I have some savings” is not in itself a reliable answer. The relevant question is whether the available regular income or assets realistically and verifiably cover the costs of living in Switzerland in the chosen canton.

How long can a job seeker stay in Switzerland without a permit?

As an EU/EFTA citizen not engaged in gainful employment, a person may stay in Switzerland without a residence permit for up to 90 days, i.e. 3 months. For stays in Switzerland exceeding 90 days, registration is required with the migration office of the canton of residence.

Job seeking and longer-term settlement without employment are not the same situation. The 90-day period provides an opportunity for the applicant to assess housing options, obtain information and look for work. However, if the stay is to continue beyond 90 days, cantonal administration is required in order to establish lawful residence in Switzerland.

According to information valid in 2026, registration must be completed within 14 days of arrival. Taken together, the 14-day registration rule and the option of staying without a permit for 90 days mean that those moving for a longer period should not wait until the end of the three months: they must deal with the matter with the canton of residence shortly after arrival.

What should you do if you find work within 90 days?

Staying without employment and taking up employment may constitute different grounds for residence. If the applicant enters into an employment contract, the employment-related residence procedure may be relevant; therefore, clarification with the migration authority of the canton of residence is required.

This article does not replace verification of the residence permit requirements associated with a specific employment contract. The employer, the duration of the employment contract and the chosen canton may all affect the administrative process.

What is the risk if the job search is prolonged?

The main practical risk is interpreting the 90-day right of residence as a long-term right of settlement. For stays exceeding 90 days, lawful status must be regularised, and eligibility for a B permit without employment also requires proof of sufficient financial resources and insurance coverage.

When planning the move, it is therefore not enough to consider only the accommodation and job-search costs for the first few weeks. The longer-term plan must also include rent, insurance and living expenses for the entire household.

How much money must be demonstrated as sufficient financial resources?

There is no single fixed amount valid throughout Switzerland. For a single-person household, the monthly coverage actually expected in 2026 may be approximately CHF 2,000–2,500 as a guideline, but this is not an official nationwide minimum; rather, it is an estimate based on the combined subsistence amount, rent and compulsory insurance premium.

In relation to “sufficient financial resources” (Genügende finanzielle Mittel) two levels must be distinguished:

1. Basic subsistence requirement: according to the guidelines of the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance (Schweizerische Konferenz für Sozialhilfe, SKOS), the basic subsistence requirement for a single-person household is CHF 1,061 per month under the SKOS-Richtlinien. This amount has been in force since 1 January 2025; according to the dossier, it must be applied mandatorily in most cantons by no later than 1 January 2026.

1. Full local cost-of-living requirement: the basic requirement is supplemented by locally customary rent and the premium for compulsory Swiss basic health insurance. For residence permit purposes, this more comprehensive picture is decisive.

The subsistence minimum (Existenzminimum) is therefore not the same as a single bank account balance. Housing and health insurance can substantially increase the expenses of a person living in Switzerland, so planning on the basis of CHF 1,061 per month alone does not reflect the full anticipated burden.

The estimate of approx. CHF 2,000–2,500/month is intended solely as a reference point for one person. It does not guarantee that any canton will consider this amount sufficient, nor can it be used as an automatic multiplier for families.

Do income or assets need to be demonstrated?

The question assessed is whether the applicant has the financial resources required to cover their living expenses. These may come from regular income or available assets, but the required form of evidence and the specific requirements are determined by the migration office in the canton of residence.

This article does not provide an itemised list of documents to be submitted, as evidence requirements are linked to cantonal procedures. Before moving, it is necessary to check with the migration office of the chosen canton how proof of financial means and insurance must be provided.

Why can the required amount vary by canton?

The required amount may vary by canton because social assistance falls under cantonal jurisdiction, and the financial coverage required for a residence permit is assessed against this threshold. In addition, rent and compulsory health insurance premiums can also differ significantly at the local level.

In Switzerland, the social assistance threshold is not solely a federal matter. SKOS issues nationwide guidelines, but the specific assessment may vary due to implementation and local living costs.

The example of the Canton of Solothurn illustrates this well: the local basic subsistence requirement, GBL, is CHF 1,031 per month in 2026, while the SKOS benchmark for a one-person household is CHF 1,061 per month. The difference between the two amounts may not appear large in itself, but the assessment of a residence permit does not depend on the basic amount alone.

The following two items can cause particularly significant differences:

• Housing: the locally customary rent forms part of the full cost of living, so the chosen municipality and canton directly affect the financial means required.

• Compulsory basic health insurance: the premium for Swiss health insurance is likewise part of the cost that must be covered from one’s own resources during a stay without employment.

It is therefore not advisable to plan on the basis of the same financial threshold for Kanton Zürich, Kanton Thurgau and Kanton Solothurn. The difference may arise not only from the official social assistance guideline amount, but also from housing and insurance costs specific to the actual place of residence.

Why is planning for the minimum not a good strategy?

Financial means exceeding the social assistance threshold are the starting point of the legal minimum assessment, not necessarily a comfortable relocation budget. A rental deposit, one-off moving costs, furnishing expenses or the period spent looking for work may create costs beyond the monthly guideline amount stated in the application file, so a separate financial plan is needed for these.

As the current research dossier does not contain verified nationwide figures for these costs, it would not be appropriate to provide a specific Swiss amount. The prudent approach is to plan separately for the monthly financial means expected for the B permit and for one-off relocation expenses.

How should compulsory Swiss health and accident insurance be arranged?

When establishing residence in Switzerland, compulsory Swiss basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months of registration. For a person without employment who is not engaged in gainful activity, the insurance must also cover accident risks.

The Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act, the KVG (Krankenversicherungsgesetz) forms part of the regulatory framework for compulsory Swiss basic health insurance. For a stay without employment, insurance is not merely a matter of healthcare administration: it is one of the conditions for a B permit.

When planning, it is advisable to consider two deadlines together:

When choosing insurance, it is necessary to check whether the selected cover meets the health and accident insurance requirements applicable to persons not engaged in gainful employment in Switzerland. It is not advisable to specify exact insurance premiums in this article, as they may vary over time and by place of residence.

Why should insurance be planned before moving?

The insurance premium forms part of the financial requirements for staying in Switzerland without employment. If someone calculates only with the SKOS basic amount but does not include the cost of insurance, they may underestimate both their own financial cover and the cost-of-living threshold assessed by the canton.

Proof of insurance may also be required during the residence permit procedure. However, the exact form of proof can be confirmed by the migration office or the competent authority at the intended place of residence in the selected canton.

Which matters need to be coordinated with the canton of residence?

For stays in Switzerland exceeding 90 days, the migration office of the canton of residence is the central point of contact. This is where the legal basis for staying without employment, the application for a B permit, proof of financial means and acceptable insurance documentation must be coordinated.

The importance of the cantonal procedure follows from the fact that the adequacy of financial resources is assessed against the social assistance threshold, while social assistance falls under cantonal jurisdiction. Therefore, when planning a move to Kanton Zürich, Thurgau or Solothurn, it should not be assumed automatically that the same documents or financial requirements will apply.

Before moving, it is advisable to clarify the following questions in writing or directly with the competent canton:

1. Which authority receives the application? The migration office of the canton of residence (Migrationsamt) is responsible for matters relating to stays exceeding 90 days.

1. Which documents can be used to prove financial means? The dossier does not contain a standardised nationwide list of documents, so this must be checked with the selected canton.

1. Which proof of insurance is accepted? The existence of health and accident cover must be demonstrated, but the specific form of proof must be confirmed at cantonal level.

1. How is the local social assistance threshold interpreted? The assessment of the required financial cover is also influenced by local rules, housing costs and the insurance premium.

1. What registration rules apply in the specific municipality? In addition to the 14-day registration requirement, the practical steps involved in handling residence formalities should also be clarified in advance.

In what order should the move be planned?

When moving without employment, financial and insurance requirements are not formalities to be dealt with afterwards. The planning sequence therefore determines whether the move is legally and financially viable.

1. Choose your intended canton and place of residence. This forms the basis of the financial plan, given the rent, insurance premium and local social assistance framework.

1. Calculate your total monthly financial coverage. The estimated CHF 2,000–2,500 per month per person is only a starting point; it must be adjusted to reflect your own housing and insurance costs.

1. Check the insurance requirement. For residence without employment, insurance must also include accident coverage.

1. Request information from the cantonal migration office. The document list and method of providing proof are not set out uniformly in this dossier, so they must be confirmed with the specific canton.

1. Keep the deadlines in mind. It is possible to stay in Switzerland without a permit for up to 90 days without gainful employment; arrangements for a longer stay and residence registration should not be left until the last minute.

Sources

• ch.ch / Swiss information on the residence of EU/EFTA nationals in Switzerland

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) / registration rules

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) / B permit for EU/EFTA nationals without employment

• Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, Article 24 FZA/AFMP

• Swiss rules on sufficient financial resources and the social assistance threshold

• Swiss Conference for Social Welfare (SKOS) / SKOS Guidelines

• Canton of Solothurn / basic living requirements (GBL)

• Swiss guidance on the estimated total monthly coverage per person

• Additional institutional reference

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