Establish a Branch in Switzerland: Registration Guide

Our team of consultants in company formation in Switzerland can assist businessmen who want to open a Swiss branch.

Quick Facts
Applicable legislation	Foreign country
Best Used For	Highly regulated activities, such as banking, insurance, financial operations
Minimum share capital	No
Time frame for the incorporation	Appox. 11 weeks
Management	Local
Legal representative required	Yes
Local bank account	Yes
Independence from the parent company	Fully dependent on the parent company
Liability of the parent company	Fully liable for the branch office' obligations
Corporate tax rate	8.5% federal (about 7.8% effective) on profits obtained in Switzerland; including cantonal and municipal taxes, about 11.9% to 20.5% in total
Possibility of hiring local staff	Yes
Documents to be filed by the parent company	– parent company's Articles of Association and Registration Certificate (copies); – details of the management board members; – declaration for setting up the branch
Annual accounts filing requirements	The branch must file a copy of the financial statements and annual accounts of the parent company.
Travel requirements for incorporating a branch (YES/NO)	No, as at least one of the directors must be a Swiss resident and representative of the parent company.
Double tax treaty access (YES/NO)	Yes, Switzerland has about 80 double tax agreements.
Special licenses required (YES/NO)	Yes, for banking and insurance activities
Swiss legal address required (YES/NO)	Yes
Special trading name requirements (YES/NO)	Yes, the branch must operate under the name of the parent company.
Activities permitted	Regulated activities like: – banking, – insurance, – reinsurance, etc.
Employee transfer possibility (YES/NO)	Yes, the foreign business can transfer employees to Switzerland.
Advantages of the branch office	– easy to set up; – full control of the parent company over its activities; – access to double taxation treaties, etc.
Incorporation services availability (YES/NO)	Yes, our Swiss company formation agents can assist with the establishment of a branch.
Documents to be filed by the parent company	– parent company’s Articles of Association and Registration Certificate (copies); – details of the management board members; – declaration for setting up the branch
Annual accounts filing requirements	The branch must file a copy of the financial statements and annual accounts of the parent company.
Travel requirements for incorporating a branch (YES/NO)	No, as at least one of the directors must be a Swiss resident and representative of the parent company.
Double tax treaty access (YES/NO)	Yes, Switzerland has about 80 double tax agreements.
Special licenses required (YES/NO)	Yes, for banking and insurance activities
Swiss legal address required (YES/NO)	Yes
Special trading name requirements (YES/NO)	Yes, the branch must operate under the name of the parent company.
Activities permitted	Regulated activities like: – banking, – insurance, – reinsurance, etc.
Employee transfer possibility (YES/NO)	Yes, the foreign business can transfer employees to Switzerland.
Advantages of the branch office	– easy to set up; – full control of the parent company over its activities; – access to double taxation treaties, etc.
Incorporation services availability (YES/NO)	Yes, our Swiss company formation agents can assist with the establishment of a branch.

What are the steps to open a branch office in Switzerland?

Here are the main steps to consider when establishing a branch in Switzerland in 2026:

reserving the company name (even if the name is the same as the parent company’s the reservation must be made);
filing the documents to be prepared in accordance with this type of entity;
obtaining the Certificate of Registration;
applying for tax identification and VAT numbers;
obtaining the necessary business licenses/permits.

What are the documents required to start a branch office in Switzerland?

These are:

a certified copy of the parent company’s articles of association (the main statutory documents of a legal entity);
a certified document attesting the parent’s company registration with the Commercial Register (if applicable);
a certified document which mentions the members of the board of directors, including their names, nationality and place or residence;
a document attesting that at least one person authorised to represent the branch resides in Switzerland;
the company’s documents that will be submitted with the Swiss authorities have to be translated and notarized in the official language of the canton in which the branch office is located;
the decision itself to register a branch office in a foreign country (in this case, Switzerland);
the name under which the branch office will operate in Switzerland;
the persons appointed to represent the branch office that will be registered in this country;
the signatory rights assigned to the branch office’s representatives in Switzerland;
the address of the Swiss branch and the purpose for which it is incorporated in this country;
Information about the share capital and structure of the parent company;
the decision through which the opening of branch office was made;
a list of the persons appointed as managers of the branch.

In the case of foreign citizens, the required immigration formalities must be respected.

Please note that the documents of the parent company issued abroad must first be translated into one of Switzerland’s official languages before submission. They must also be notarized. It is recommended that the papers are not older than 6 months at the time of filing.

We also have an infographic on this topic below:

What to consider when opening a branch in Switzerland?

The branch, which must use the same name as the parent company, is primarily an extension of a foreign corporation in Switzerland. Even if it does not have a legal personality itself, it must still comply with the Swiss Corporations Act. Branch offices must have a registered office in Switzerland.

The branch office has the same rights to capital and earnings repatriation as the parent business and is permitted to carry out any activity as long as it is within the same sector as the parent company’s industry.

Is it necessary for a Swiss branch to have a local director or representative?

Yes, at least one person authorised to represent the branch must reside in Switzerland. However, in the lack of one, it is also possible to appoint a local agent who will act as a contact point with the authorities.

Must the branch bear the name of the parent company?

The name of the branch must include the name of the parent company. Also, the designation “branch” must be appended to the trading name of the Swiss branch.

Are there any share capital requirements applicable to branches in Switzerland?

No. This is one of the main advantages of this business form, as the parent company will vouch for the solvency of the Swiss branch.

Is a branch office required to apply for business licenses in Switzerland?

Yes, in sectors where such requirements apply, the branch office must apply for the relevant business permits.

How long does it take to incorporate a branch office in Switzerland?

The registration procedure for a branch office can take about 2 months to complete; however, general times depend on the canton where it is based.

What are some operations a branch office is recommended for?

Branches usually operate in sectors that are well-regulated, such as banking and telecommunications. However, there are also other industries in which such entities can undertake their activities, as long as they are the same as the parent company’s.

We also invite you to watch our video below:

Is it necessary for a Swiss branch office to have a local bank account?

Yes, the parent company must open a bank account on behalf of the branch with a Swiss institution.

Must I travel to Switzerland if I want to register a Swiss branch for my company?

No, you can do that through a local service provider, such as our company registration agents who can represent you in the procedure in any canton. They can also help you open a new company in Switzerland.

Must a branch be registered with the federal or cantonal office of the Companies Register?

Branches are incorporated with the cantonal offices of the Trade Register.

If you need assistance for setting up a business in BVI, for example an IBC in BVI, we can put you in contact with our partners from BridgeWest BVI who are experts in offshore company formation matters. In case you need assistance for extending your business to the Philippines, we can put you in contact with our partners.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team of consultants in company registration in Switzerland for any other matter regarding the incorporation of a Swiss branch.