Übersicht über die Schweizer Sozialversicherungen

Swiss pension system:

Old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI/AHV)

This is the most basic insurance available as part of the Swiss pension system, and is also called the first pillar. It is compulsory for all individuals and includes contributions to disability insurance (IV) and income compensation (EO).

You will pay 5.3% of your gross salary. Your employer also pays the same amount, but this does not appear on your payslip. You currently receive your AHV pension benefits at the age of 65. An early withdrawal with reductions is possible from 63.

If you stop working for a Swiss company before reaching this age, you do not need to do anything. Your money will remain in Switzerland and the compensation office in Geneva will manage your entitlements. On retirement, the pension payments will be transferred from Switzerland to your home country every month. From 2025, thanks to the campaign by trade unions including Nautilus International, you will receive an extra payment for a total of 13 payments a year. You should keep your AHV number for security.

In the event of your death, your family members will receive survivors' pensions Payment of your saved OASI contributions is generally excluded. This applies to all EU and EFTA countries (Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland) and also those countries with which Switzerland has concluded a social security agreement (currently Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Philippines, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, Turkey, Uruguay and the USA). Please note, however, that some agreements (z.b. Indien and Philippines) provide for exceptions.

If you live in another country (e.g. Ukraine), you will not receive any OASI pension payments. However, the contributions paid can be refunded on application, provided that at least one year of OASI contributions have been paid from the gross salary. These applications must be submitted to the compensation office in the employer's canton or via the Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva. à www.zas.admin.ch

With your OASI contributions, a small portion (0.7% from you and 0.7% from your employer) also goes to disability insurance. If you become partially or fully disabled during or as a result of your work, you will receive a lifelong disability pension from Switzerland. More information à www.ahv-iv.ch/en/Social-insurances/Disability-insurance

Occupational pension (BVG)

This is the second pillar of the Swiss Pension System. (The third pillar is defined as all voluntary pension payments into funds, insurance policies, etc.)

All individualss who are insured under OASI and earn at least CHF 22,050 (approx. EUR 22,100) per year from a single employer are insured. The contributions are split between you and your employer, who pays at least half of the amount. Your share is directly deducted from your salary and sent, together with your employer‘s share, to the pension fund. If you change employers, you will most likely change to the new employer’s pension fund. The total amount of your accumulated capital (termination benefit) is transferred. The previous pension fund transfers the termination benefit to the new pension fund. This capital must therefore always remain in the pension fund of your current employer. You cannot dispose of the money freely. Withdrawal of the money is possible only under certain specific conditions like buying a residential property. You can apply to draw a BVG pension from the age of 58.

If your work in Switzerland or with a Swiss employer ends before this age, the money will remain in Switzerland in a vested benefits account at a bank, a vested benefits policy with an insurance company, or the state pension fund (Auffangeinrichtung). Anyone living outside an EU/EFTA country (e.g. Turkey) can apply for a payout of the saved capital. If this is not done, BVG pensions will be paid as normal from age of 58.

However, it is also possible to have all or part of the money paid out. Whether this is possible depends on various factors. It depends, for example, on which country you live in and whether you are still subject to pension insurance in that country. The arrangement must be checked by the Swiss LOB Guarantee Fund and the relevant pension authority in your home country. As the decision always depends on the individual case, please contact the Guarantee Fund or your pension fund. à LOB Guarantee Fund Foundation

Unemployment Insurance (UI/ALV)

All employees are compulsorily insured under UI (ALV). You will have 1.1% deducted from your gross salary. The employer also pays 1.1% on your behalf. If you become unemployed, you will receive unemployment benefit in your home country for a certain period (usually up to 2 years), depending on the local regulations. This period usually depends on your age and, above all, your contribution periods. The contributions and contribution periods you have paid in Switzerland will be taken into account in your home country. To do this, you must apply for a so-called PD U1 certificate from the cantonal unemployment insurance fund in Switzerland and an International Employer Certificate from your employer. Once the period of entitlement to unemployment benefits has expired, you will usually receive social assistance.

For employees residing outside the EU and EFTA states, this information on unemployment insurance does not apply, even if there is a social security agreement for the country of residence.

Health Insurance (KVG)

In contrast to many European countries, employees in Switzerland are not covered by health insurance through their place of work. However, Swiss shipping companies take out health insurance for every employee on the basis of international agreements, for example for Rhine shipping. There is a special Swiss inland navigation health insurance scheme with comparatively low costs, up to a maximum of 150 euros. Many employers cover these costs.

Daily sickness allowance/benefit (KVG)

As a rule, employers insure their employees at their own expense with a daily sickness allowance insurance scheme. This usually pays 80% of the gross salary for up to 730 days as long as the employment contract remains valid. However, it is not compulsory to take out this type of daily sickness benefits insurance. The employer then only has to continue to pay wages for a short period. Employers based in Basel pay between 3 weeks and 4 months, depending on length of service.

Family allowances

The employer is obliged to pay contributions to the cantonal compensation fund for employees with children. In addition to their salary, employees receive family allowances for each child. The amount varies depending on the canton. In Basel, for example, you receive CHF 275 for one child. However, if you are entitled to an allowance in your country of residence, for example because your partner works there and already receives child benefit there, then you will receive nothing or only a part – the so-called differential allowance – from Switzerland.

Accident insurance (UVG)

Employers are obliged to insure employees against occupational accidents and non-occupational accidents. The employer assumes the costs for occupational accidents and, as a rule, also for non-occupational accidents. In the event of incapacity to work due to an accident, 80% of the employee’s salary is paid from the insurance until the employee is able to work again.