oasi, di, ci contributions
What when I leave Switzerland for a research stay abroad and having a domicile abroad?
As soon as you stop working in Switzerland, your contributions to the OASI/DI/IC (1st pillar) end. This means that you won’t get the full pension when you retire or when you become invalid. To avoid a reduced pension, you have the following possibilities:
Swiss, EU or EFTA citizen going to work outside EU-25/EFTA
You can take out voluntary insurance if you have paid contributions to the AHV/IV during the last 5 years. You can find more information on the website of the Central Compensation Office ZAS.
Swiss, EU or EFTA citizen going to work within EU-25/EFTA
There is no possibility to remain insured at the Swiss OASI/DI/IC. You must pay contributions to the national old age insurance of the host country and you will get a partial pension from this country when you retire.
Swiss, EU or EFTA citizen going to study within EU-25/EFTA
You can remain insured under the Swiss AHV/IV scheme if you go abroad for training (master’s degree, continuing education, etc.). You can find more information and conditions on the website of the Central Compensation Office ZAS.
What when I leave Switzerland for a research stay abroad and keeping my domicile in Switzerland?
If you get a fellowship to go abroad, you count legally as unemployed. The SNSF provides useful information about OASI/DI/IC-contributions for those who got a SNSF-fellowship for prospective researchers (Post-Doc-Stipendium für angehende Forschende/ bourses pour chercheurs/euses débutant/es) to make a post-doc abroad.
What when I leave Switzerland definitively?
If you are a national of a country with which Switzerland has a social security agreement, you cannot take your AHV/IV contributions with you when you leave Switzerland permanently. The contributions remain with the Central Compensation Office in Switzerland. However, you are entitled to an AHV/IV pension after retirement or the death of the breadwinner or in the event of disability if you have worked in Switzerland for more than one year. To receive the pension, you must submit a claim form to the social security institution in your country. List of countries with which Switzerland has a social security agreement.
If you are a national of a country with which Switzerland does not have a social security agreement, you can claim reimbursement of your OASI contributions after you have definitively left Switzerland. You can find the conditions for reimbursement on the website of the Central Compensation Office (ZAS).
Further information
- Information about the OASI/DI/IC concerning insured persons leaving Switzerland: ahv-iv.ch
- If you need forms or information concerning your OASI/DI/IC if you leave Switzerland, ask at Caisse suisse de compensation, Av. Edmond-Vaucher 18, Code postal 3000, CH-1211 Genève 2. Phone: +41 (0)22 795 91 11.
- The Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) provides general information about OASI/DI/IC.
- The LOB guarantee fund provides all important information about the agreements with EU and EFTA member countries concerning the occupational benefits.
- ch.ch: Very useful information concerning your duties and rights and everyday’s life for Swiss living abroad.
- The Swiss federal Department of foreign affairs publishes a useful guide for Swiss living abroad.
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