Renting space in a private building or renting houses in Schaffhausen is extremely inexpensive in comparison to other cantons in Switzerland and particularly to cities such as Zurich, Lausanne or Geneva. 

Foreign nationals from EU/EFTA countries and in possession of an L- or B-Residence Permit and who are living in Switzerland do not require separate authorisation when they wish to purchase real estate. If the foreign national subsequently relocates away from Switzerland, there is no requirement for them to dispose of the real estate.

Foreign nationals from non-EU/EFTA countries and in possession of an L- or B-Residence Permit do not require separate authorisation when they wish to purchase real estate for their own use and in the place of their registered domicile. This principle also applies to the purchase of land for residential accommodation, as long as building work commences within one year of purchase. A foreign national who is resident in Switzer-land is also allowed to purchase land for commercial purposes, without separate authorisation. Real estate may not be purchased for the construction or rental or sale of private residential accommodation.

Foreign nationals from EU/EFTA countries and in possession of a G- Permit do not require separate au-thorisation when they wish to purchase real estate for commercial premises or a second home, whether ap-partment or house for their own use, in the region in which they work. The purchaser must occupy the property themselves for as long as they are cross-border commuters working in Switzerland. The property, or parts of it, must not be rented to third parties. The purchase of other real estate is subject to separate authorisation (see section on foreign nationals resident abroad).

Foreign nationals resident abroad do not require separate authorisation to buy real estate for commercial purposes.  The property may be rented to a third party. Real estate may not be purchased for the construction or rental or sale of private residential accommodation.

Legal entities registered abroad do not require separate authorisation to buy real estate for commercial pur-poses. Rental to third parties is permitted. Similarly, the purchase of appropriate private residential accommo-dation e.g. for staff does not require separate authorisation. Direct investment exclusively in residential ac-commodation is not allowed, however. The ceiling for participation in real estate acquisitions for private resi-dential accommodation and transacted by Swiss-domiciled companies is set at one third of the total invest-ment required.

Should you require further clarification, please contact the Economic Promotion Team (Wirtschaftsförderung) of Schaffhausen.

Further information regarding the purchase of real estate by foreign nationals resident abroad can be found at www.bj.admin.ch

Authorisation is issued by the following department of the cantonal administration for Schaffhausen: Volkswirtschaftsdepartement