Switzerland day-count rules

Spending time in Switzerland? The rules below can affect tax residency, your right to remain and the path to citizenship. This page brings Switzerland’s day-count rules together in one place — each explained in plain English, with links to the official sources.

Switzerland — Tax Residency (30/90-Day Stay Rule)Switzerland has no 183-day rule. Staying 30 days while working — or 90 days without working — makes you Swiss tax resident under Art. 3 DBG, and short trips abroad don't reset the count.30/90 days per stay

Switzerland — C Permit: 10-Year (or 5-Year) Residence RequirementThe Swiss C (settlement) permit normally takes 10 years — with the last 5 uninterrupted on a B permit. Treaty-state nationals, Americans, Canadians, spouses, and well-integrated applicants can qualify after 5. What counts, what interrupts, and the language levels.10 yr (5 yr fast track)

Switzerland — Residence Permit: 6-Month Absence RuleSwiss B and C permits lapse by law after six months abroad (Art. 61 AIG) — and a weekend back in Switzerland does not reset the clock. L permits go at three months; only C can be maintained for up to four years.<6 months absence

Switzerland — Citizenship by Naturalisation (10 Years, 3 of Last 5)Swiss ordinary naturalisation needs 10 years of residence — 3 of them in the 5 years before you apply — plus a C permit and your canton's own 2–5 year minimum. How the years are counted, and why days are only evidence.10 years + 3 of last 5