OASI for persons who are self-employed or not in employment

For AHV purposes, a self-employed person is usually anyone who:

• works in their own name and on their own account, and
• is in an independent position and assumes their own business risk.

Self-employed persons are not covered by compulsory occupational pensions and must make contributions themselves.

Persons not in employment are those who earn little or no income, such as:

• early retirees
• part-time employees
• anyone receiving an invalidity pension
• persons receiving daily insurance payments (accident and illness)
• unemployed persons no longer receiving benefits
• divorced and widowed persons

Persons who are not employed must start paying OASI contributions from 1 January after reaching the age of 20. The duty to contribute ends when a person reaches the statutory retirement age (64 for women and 65 for men). A tool to calculate contributions is available on the website of the Federal Social Insurance Office.

Swiss and foreign students living in Switzerland only need to pay a flat-fee OASI, IV and LEC contribution of CHF 478 a year (minimum contribution) from 1 January after reaching the age of 20 up until 31 December of the year in which they turn 25.

Everyone is required to pay contributions until they reach the OASI retirement age (64 for women and 65 for men). Even though early retirees no longer receive an earned income, they are still required to pay OASI contributions unless their spouse or their registered partner is still employed and pays at least CHF 956 a year in OASI contributions (including the employer’s contributions). Anyone who intends to take early retirement must register as ‘not employed’ at the OASI office of their commune of residence.