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Can Foreigners Buy Property in Saas-Fee? A 2026 Buyer’s Guide | Peak Hospitality

Can foreigners buy property in Saas-Fee?

Yes, in most cases. Saas-Fee is in the canton of Valais, which has the largest allowance in Switzerland for selling holiday homes to foreigners. What you can buy depends on where you live and your nationality.

Who can buy without restrictions?
  • Swiss citizens.
  • EU and EFTA citizens who live in Switzerland with a B or C permit.
  • Non-EU citizens with a C permit.
  • Non-EU citizens with a B permit can buy the home they live in as their main residence.

Since Brexit, UK citizens are treated as non-EU citizens.

Buying a holiday home if you live abroad

If you live outside Switzerland, buying a holiday home falls under a federal law called the Lex Koller. You need approval, and each canton has a yearly quota of holiday homes it can sell to foreigners. Switzerland allows about 1,500 per year in total, and Valais has the largest share: 330 units per year.

The municipality of Saas-Fee also has its own rules on selling holiday homes to people living abroad (adopted in 2016). Your notary will check how these apply to the property you want.

Owning a property in Switzerland does not give you a right to a residence permit.

The second-home law (Lex Weber)

In municipalities where more than 20% of homes are second homes, such as Saas-Fee, no new holiday homes may be built since 2016. Homes that already existed on 11 March 2012 (“altrechtliche” homes) can still be bought, sold and used as holiday homes. Since 1 October 2024 these older homes can also be renovated and extended more easily.

In practice: always check whether a property can legally be used as a holiday home before you buy. We state this on every listing.

Rules may tighten: what to know in 2026

The Swiss government has proposed stricter rules for foreign buyers. The public consultation closed on 15 July 2026. The draft would halve the national holiday-home quota from 1,500 to 750 per year, and sales between foreign owners would also count against the quota. These are proposals, not law yet.

Steps to buy

  1. Find a property and agree on a price.
  2. Sign a reservation agreement and pay a deposit [typical amount].
  3. The notary prepares the purchase deed and, if needed, the Lex Koller application.
  4. Approval from the canton (for buyers living abroad).
  5. Signing at the notary and entry in the land register.
Costs to budget for

How Peak Hospitality helps

We guide foreign buyers from the first viewing to the keys, work with local notaries, and can rent out and manage the property afterwards. Contact kelly@peakhospitality.ch.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last updated: 31.10.2026.