Skip to content
Get in touch
Sunlight through an autumn Swiss forest

Guide

Vorsorge & Pensionierung

Retirement provision in Switzerland rests on three pillars: the state OASI (1st pillar), occupational pension through a pension fund (2nd pillar), and private provision (3rd pillar). The first pillar covers basic needs, the second maintains the accustomed standard of living, and the third closes individual gaps.

The essentials

01

Maximum OASI pension in 2026 for an individual: CHF 2'520 per month (CHF 30'240 per year); minimum pension CHF 1'260.

02

Minimum conversion rate under the OPA mandatory scheme: 6.8% at reference age 65; the reform to reduce this to 6.0% was rejected on 22.09.2024.

03

The ordinary reference age for women is being raised to 65 in stages under the AHV 21 reform.

04

Pension fund benefits may be drawn as a pension, a lump sum, or a combination of both; withdrawal typically requires advance notification of several months.

Sources: FSIO

Frequently asked questions about Vorsorge & Pensionierung

The first pillar (OASI/DI) is compulsory and covers basic needs in old age. The second pillar (pension fund, OPA) is compulsory for employees above a minimum salary and supplements the OASI. The third pillar is voluntary and private. Together they are intended to maintain the accustomed standard of living.
When you change employer, your previous pension fund transfers the accumulated retirement savings to the pension provision institution of your new employer. If no new fund takes over, the savings are transferred to a vested benefits account or custody account, where they remain tied until you re-enter an occupational pension scheme or make a withdrawal.
Both options have advantages and disadvantages. A pension provides a lifelong, predictable income; a lump sum offers greater flexibility and can be passed on to heirs, but is taxed as a one-off payment. A combination is often possible. The right choice depends on your health, assets, and family circumstances. Tax treatment may change.
The earlier you start, the more room for manoeuvre you have: voluntary buy-ins to a pension fund, Pillar 3a contributions, and staggered capital withdrawals all take effect over years. A full review of your pension situation around ten to fifteen years before retirement gives you time to identify and close any gaps.

Articles on this topic

More questions?

Talk to us.

30 minutes, informal, no commitment. Happy to answer questions not listed here.

Get in touch