Foreign collective investment schemes

Authorisation from SFMA is required before a foreign collective investment scheme can be offered in Switzerland to non-qualified investors.

This SFMA page gives applicants and supervised institutions a practical view of the foreign collective investment schemes topic. It explains when a licence, approval, notification or registration may be needed, what information should be prepared, and which changes may require contact with the authority.

Approval requirements

The review focuses on whether the applicant is organised in a way that is suitable for foreign collective investment schemes within the Asset management area. SFMA will normally look at governance, financial resources, responsible persons, risk controls, compliance arrangements, auditability, outsourcing and whether the planned activity can be carried out without creating avoidable risks for clients, investors, policyholders or market integrity.

Information and templates

Applications should be submitted with the current forms, declarations and supporting documents required for the activity. A complete file usually shortens the review because the authority can assess the business model, responsible persons, financial position, internal rules and legal basis without repeated follow-up questions.

Preparing a complete file

Applicants should keep the submission concise but complete: describe the activity, legal structure, people responsible, control framework, financial resources, relevant documents and any cross-border elements. Where uncertainty remains, the issue should be highlighted early rather than left to emerge during review.