Switzerland (CH)
Switzerland is a landlocked federal republic of 26 cantons at the heart of Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Social Security in Switzerland
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Switzerland's social-security system is organised around a "three-pillar" architecture (drei Säulen / trois piliers) established in the federal constitution. Pillar 1 (AHV/AVS state pension + IV/AI disability + EO/APG income-compensation for maternity/military + ALV/AC unemployment) is compulsory universal social insurance. Pillar 2 (BVG/LPP occupational pension) is compulsory for employees earning above CHF 22,680/year. Pillar 3 (private/voluntary) is Pillar 3a (tax-privileged bank/insurance plans) and Pillar 3b (free savings). Administration is decentralised: 26 cantonal Ausgleichskassen (compensation offices) + multiple professional Ausgleichskassen collect contributions and pay benefits. Total social-insurance contribution on salary: roughly 12–13% from employee (AHV 4.35%, ALV 1.1%, IV 0.7%, EO 0.25%, BVG 3.5–9% age-dependent, NBU occupational accident 0.5–2%) + matching employer share — plus health insurance (KVG) which is NOT payroll-deducted but paid privately (CHF 300–500/month).
AHV/AVS Number (Swiss social-insurance number)
AHV-Nummer / Numéro AVS / Numero AVS (format: 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX — based on ISO 3166 country code 756)
You are automatically assigned an AHV number when you first register with Swiss social insurance — typically through your first employer or when you register at the commune as an employed/self-employed resident. If you have not received a number within 4 weeks of starting work, your employer or the cantonal Ausgleichskasse should request it. Foreign spouses and non-working residents also receive numbers for healthcare/social benefits. You keep the same AHV number for life — even if you leave Switzerland and return decades later.
- All pension (AHV/BVG/3a) contribution and benefit records
- Health insurance coverage tracking
- Unemployment benefit claims
- Disability insurance (IV/AI) claims
- Maternity/paternity compensation (EO/APG) claims
- Tax filings (printed on your Lohnausweis/wage statement)
- SuisseID / E-ID identity verification
- Accident insurance (UVG) claims
- Social assistance applications
Benefits & Support Payments
Old-Age and Survivors Pension
Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung (AHV) / Assurance vieillesse et survivants (AVS) / Assicurazione vecchiaia e superstiti (AVS)
Pillar 1 public pension paid from age 65 (harmonised across genders since 2024 reform AHV 21). Survivors' benefits for widow(er)s + orphans.
All residents/workers in Switzerland from age 17 (non-employed) or earlier if working. Contributions mandatory from age 21 (employees) or from 17 (self-employed). 44 years of contributions = full pension for men and women.
Apply 4–6 months before retirement age at your cantonal Ausgleichskasse or online via eahv.ch. Pension starts the month after 65th birthday. Early retirement (up to 2 years early) possible with permanent reduction (6.8%/year).
Disability Insurance
Invalidenversicherung (IV) / Assurance invalidité (AI) / Assicurazione invalidità (AI)
Disability pension for those unable to work due to illness, injury, or birth defect. Also funds rehabilitation, workplace adjustments, and re-qualification.
Legally resident in Switzerland or working contribution-paying. Medical assessment of earning-capacity loss must exceed 40%. 3 years minimum contributions required.
Application form at your cantonal IV-Stelle / Office AI with medical certificates, employment history, CV. Very thorough investigation process — expect 12–24 months for a decision on complex cases.
Unemployment Insurance
Arbeitslosenversicherung (ALV) / Assurance-chômage (AC) / Assicurazione contro la disoccupazione
Income replacement during involuntary unemployment. 70–80% of previous salary.
Contributed to ALV for at least 12 months in the 2 years before unemployment. Legally entitled to work (EU/EFTA + permit holders). Actively seeking work. Registered at cantonal RAV/ORP/URC.
1) Register IMMEDIATELY at your cantonal Regional Employment Centre (RAV/ORP/URC) the day after your notice or contract end — any delay loses benefit days. 2) Bring Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference), termination letter, ID, permit. 3) Open "Arbeitslosenkasse" account at an accredited Arbeitslosenkasse (Unia, Syna, cantonal, or similar). 4) Weekly or monthly job-search evidence + RAV meetings.
Accident Insurance (Occupational + Non-occupational)
Unfallversicherung (UVG) / Assurance-accidents (LAA)
Covers medical treatment, rehabilitation, income loss, and disability from accidents + certain occupational illnesses. Two strands: occupational (BU) + non-occupational (NBU).
All Swiss employees automatically enrolled through their employer. Occupational portion (workplace accidents) paid 100% by employer. Non-occupational (leisure/home) paid by employee via payroll deduction — ONLY for those working 8+ hours/week with same employer. Self-employed: optional UVG enrollment; otherwise accidents covered under KVG.
Report accident to employer within hours. Employer submits claim to SUVA or other accident insurer. Automatic if employer compliant. For non-employees or those working under 8h/week: include accident coverage in KVG basic (default on) — untick only if separately insured.
Maternity / Paternity / Adoption / Care Compensation
Erwerbsersatzordnung (EO) / Allocations pour perte de gain (APG) / Indennità di perdita di guadagno (IPG)
Income replacement for maternity leave (14 weeks), paternity leave (2 weeks), adoption leave (2 weeks), care leave for critically ill children (14 weeks over 18 months), and military/civil/civil-protection service.
9 months AHV contributions pre-birth + 5 months employment during those 9 months.
Employer submits form to Ausgleichskasse. Self-employed: apply directly with birth certificate + work records.
Occupational Pension (Pillar 2)
Berufliche Vorsorge (BVG) / Prévoyance professionnelle (LPP) / Previdenza professionale (LPP)
Mandatory employer/employee-paid occupational pension supplementing AHV. Aim: together with AHV, replace ~60% of pre-retirement salary.
Automatically enrolled if you earn CHF 22,680+/year from a single employer. Part-time workers with multiple employers can pool income voluntarily.
Automatic through employer. Each employer registers you with its Pensionskasse (pension fund) — some are industry funds, some company-specific. You receive an annual Leistungsausweis showing accumulated capital.
Survivors' Benefits (Widow/Widower + Orphan pensions)
Witwenrente / Witwerrente / Waisenrente
Pensions to surviving spouse, registered partner, and children upon death of insured person.
Widow: entitled if she has children OR was married 5+ years OR is aged 45+. Widower (since 2024 reform now equal to widow rights under AHV 21): entitled if has minor children. Children: entitled up to age 18 (25 if in education).
Apply at cantonal Ausgleichskasse with death certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificates of children. Retroactive up to 5 years.
Supplementary Benefits (Means-tested safety net)
Ergänzungsleistungen (EL) / Prestations complémentaires (PC) / Prestazioni complementari (PC)
Tops up AHV/IV pension to cover vital needs if pension + income + assets insufficient for cost of living.
Pension recipient living in Switzerland. Assets cap: CHF 100,000 (single) / CHF 200,000 (couple). Excludes own-occupied modest home up to CHF 112,500 value.
Apply at commune's AHV-Zweigstelle / Caisse AVS communale with full financial disclosure.
Family Allowance
Familienzulagen / Allocations familiales / Assegni familiari
Monthly per-child benefit. Paid through employer or cantonal FAK.
Any employed/self-employed/non-working parent legally resident in Switzerland with children.
Through employer (submit birth certificate + application form) or cantonal FAK/CAF directly for self-employed.
Contribution Overview
Total employee-side social insurance on salary: AHV 4.35% + IV 0.7% + EO 0.25% + ALV 1.1% (up to CHF 148,200) + 0.5% solidarity above = ~6.4% + BVG age-dependent 3.5–9% of coordinated salary + NBU accident 0.5–2% + KTG sickness 0.5–1.5% (if subscribed) = total 12–15% of salary. Employer pays a matching share of AHV/IV/EO/ALV + minimum 50% of BVG + 100% of UVG occupational portion. Self-employed: AHV 10% scaled down for low earners; NO ALV (no unemployment coverage for self-employed); NO UVG (buy private or covered under KVG).
International Social Security Agreements
Switzerland has bilateral totalization agreements with all EU/EFTA countries (via bilateral I 2002), UK (post-Brexit 2021), USA (1980 updated 2014), Canada (1995), Australia (2008), Japan (2012), Korea (2015), India (2011), Philippines, Israel, and 50+ others. These agreements: (a) prevent double contributions when temporarily working abroad, (b) aggregate contribution periods for qualifying purposes, (c) allow Swiss pensions to be paid to you abroad. Check the bilateral agreement status for your home country at bsv.admin.ch before assuming full portability.
Swiss social-security law is federal but implementation highly decentralised — 26 cantonal Ausgleichskassen plus professional-sector funds. Your "home" Ausgleichskasse depends on your employer and canton of residence. For employed expats, HR typically handles all registrations. Self-employed and freelancers must proactively register within 30 days at the canton's Ausgleichskasse to avoid contribution gaps + late-payment interest. Key online portal: eahv.ch (AHV/BVG self-service), ahv-iv.ch (information).
Social Security
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