Industry-Specific Licences in Switzerland: Trade, Healthcare & Export

Most businesses in Switzerland can operate with just a Commercial Register entry — no general trading licence is required. However, specific industries need activity-specific permits: hospitality requires a cantonal Wirtepatent, gold trading requires SRO membership for AML compliance, pharmaceutical activities need Swissmedic authorisation, and exports of controlled goods need SECO approval. This guide covers the main non-financial licence categories, explains which authority issues each permit, and sets out the costs and timelines involved.

For a direct assessment of your licensing requirements, contact Morgan Hartley Consulting.

Swiss Business Licensing Structure

Switzerland’s federal system splits licensing authority between three levels:

• Federal: FINMA (financial services), Swissmedic (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), SECO (export controls), BAZL (aviation), BAV (rail transport)
• Cantonal: hospitality, healthcare practitioners, private security, construction, environmental permits
• Municipal: building permits, noise permits, signage, outdoor seating for restaurants

Swiss business licences follow a principle of economic freedom enshrined in the Federal Constitution (Art. 27 BV). Licensing requirements are the exception, not the rule — they exist only where public health, safety, or market integrity demands them.

For most standard commercial activities (consulting, IT, trading, professional services), no licence is needed beyond Commercial Register registration. The requirement for specific licences arises from the nature of the activity, not from the act of doing business.

General Business Licences

The majority of Swiss businesses need only:

1. Commercial Register entry: mandatory for AGs and GmbHs, and for sole proprietorships with annual revenue above CHF 100,000
2. VAT registration: mandatory for businesses with annual turnover above CHF 100,000
3. Employer registration: with the cantonal social insurance office (AHV/AVS) and accident insurance provider (SUVA or private insurer)
4. Cantonal trade registration: some cantons require additional notification for specific trades (construction, real estate brokerage)

Beyond these standard requirements, the need for additional licences depends entirely on the industry sector.

Gold and Precious Metals Trading

Gold trading in Switzerland is subject to both AML regulation and the Precious Metals Control Act (Edelmetallkontrollgesetz, EMKG).

AML requirements: dealers in precious metals are classified as financial intermediaries under AMLA when transactions exceed CHF 100,000 in cash or when they maintain ongoing customer relationships. SRO membership is required for AML compliance — the same SROs that serve financial intermediaries (VQF, SO-FIT, OSFIN).

Precious Metals Control Act: applies to the refining, assaying, hallmarking, and trading of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. The Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (BAZG) oversees compliance.

Requirements for gold traders:

• Commercial Register registration
• SRO membership for AML compliance
• Compliance with EMKG for hallmarking and assaying (if applicable)
• Customs documentation for import/export
• Record keeping: all transactions above CHF 15,000 must be documented with customer identification

Switzerland processes approximately 70% of the world’s gold, making regulatory compliance in this sector particularly well-developed and scrutinised.

Hotel and Restaurant Licences

Hotel and restaurant licences (Gastgewerbebewilligung or Wirtepatent) are cantonal permits required to operate any establishment serving food or beverages to the public.

Requirements (vary by canton):

• Professional qualification: completion of a cantonal hospitality course (Wirtekurs) and examination. Duration: 2 to 4 weeks. Some cantons accept equivalent qualifications from other cantons or countries.
• Premises approval: fire safety, hygiene, accessibility, and building standards compliance. Inspection by cantonal authorities before opening.
• Operating permit: issued by the cantonal commerce department (Handelspolizei or equivalent). Specifies permitted activities (food service, alcohol service, accommodation, entertainment).
• Alcohol licence: separate approval for serving spirits (Brennereien and high-proof beverages) in most cantons.
• Insurance: public liability insurance is mandatory.

Timeline: 4 to 12 weeks from course completion to operating permit. Premises renovation or construction can extend this significantly.

Costs: course fees CHF 1,500 to 3,000; examination fees CHF 200 to 500; operating permit CHF 200 to 1,000; premises inspection CHF 300 to 800. Total: CHF 2,000 to 5,000 excluding any renovation costs.

Key cantonal differences: Zurich requires the Faehigkeitszeugnis, Geneva the Certificat de capacite, Vaud the Patente. Some cantons (e.g., Zug) have simplified requirements for small establishments.

Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Licences

Swissmedic is the federal authority for therapeutic products — pharmaceuticals, vaccines, blood products, and medical devices.

Swissmedic licences include:

• Manufacturing licence (Herstellungsbewilligung): required for manufacturing pharmaceuticals or medical devices in Switzerland. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliance is mandatory.
• Wholesale distribution licence (Grosshandelsbewilligung): for wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals.
• Marketing authorisation (Zulassung): required before any medicinal product can be sold in Switzerland. The application includes clinical data, quality documentation, and labelling.
• Import licence: for importing pharmaceuticals not manufactured in Switzerland.

Cantonal healthcare licences:

• Medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals need cantonal practising licences (Berufsausuebungsbewilligung).
• Clinics, laboratories, and pharmacies need cantonal operating permits.
• Telemedicine services targeting Swiss patients need cantonal authorisation in the patient’s canton.

Swissmedic fees: CHF 2,000 to 50,000 for manufacturing licences; CHF 10,000 to 200,000 for marketing authorisations (depending on product complexity). Cantonal practitioner licences: CHF 200 to 1,000.

Export Controls and SECO

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) administers export controls under the Goods Control Act (Gueterkontrollgesetz, GKG) and the War Material Act (Kriegsmaterialgesetz, KMG).

Controlled goods categories:

• Dual-use goods: items with both civilian and military applications (certain software, electronics, chemicals, machine tools). Listed in the Goods Control Ordinance (GKV), aligned with the Wassenaar Arrangement.
• War material: weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and components. Subject to the War Material Act with stricter controls.
• Sanctioned goods: goods subject to Swiss sanctions ordinances implementing UN or EU sanctions.
• Nuclear goods: controlled under the Nuclear Energy Act.

Export licence types:

• Individual licence: for a specific shipment to a specific end-user
• General licence: for repeat exports of specified goods to specified destinations
• Global licence: broader authorisation for experienced exporters with strong compliance records

SECO application process: submit via the ELIC electronic licensing system. Processing time: 2 to 6 weeks for individual licences. Fees: CHF 50 to 200 per application.

Non-compliance penalties: fines, confiscation of goods, and imprisonment of up to 10 years for wilful violations of the War Material Act.

Cantonal vs Federal Licensing

Understanding which authority issues your licence is critical for efficient applications:

Federal licences are valid nationwide. Cantonal licences are typically limited to the issuing canton, though some cantons recognise licences from other cantons under reciprocal agreements.

Application Process and Timeline

The general process for industry-specific licences:

1. Determine the requirement: identify which licence(s) your activity requires and from which authority
2. Prepare documentation: qualifications, business plan, premises specifications, insurance, compliance frameworks
3. File the application: with the relevant federal, cantonal, or municipal authority
4. Inspection or examination: premises inspection (hospitality, healthcare), GMP audit (pharmaceutical), or qualification examination (hospitality)
5. Decision: the authority issues the licence, requests additional information, or rejects the application
6. Ongoing compliance: licence holders must maintain the conditions under which the licence was granted

Typical timelines:

• Restaurant licence: 4-12 weeks (after course completion)
• Swissmedic manufacturing licence: 6-12 months
• SECO export licence: 2-6 weeks per application
• Cantonal healthcare practitioner licence: 4-8 weeks
• Gold trading SRO membership: 2-4 months

Penalties for Unlicensed Operation

Swiss authorities take unlicensed operation seriously:

• Hospitality: closure of the establishment, fines up to CHF 20,000, and potential criminal prosecution
• Pharmaceuticals: Swissmedic can order product recalls, close facilities, and refer for criminal prosecution (imprisonment up to 3 years)
• Export controls: SECO can confiscate goods, impose fines, and refer for criminal prosecution (imprisonment up to 10 years for War Material Act violations)
• Healthcare: cantonal authorities can prohibit practice, and patients can seek civil damages
• Gold trading: AMLA violations carry criminal penalties including imprisonment of up to 3 years

The principle is consistent: the more sensitive the regulated activity (health, security, financial integrity), the more severe the penalties for operating without authorisation.

How Morgan Hartley Consulting Can Help

Industry licensing in Switzerland requires navigating federal and cantonal authorities, meeting sector-specific requirements, and maintaining ongoing compliance. Morgan Hartley Consulting assists with:

• Identifying which licences your business needs
• Application preparation and filing for gold trading, hospitality, healthcare, and export licences
• Cantonal coordination for multi-location businesses
• Ongoing compliance monitoring and reporting

Request a free initial assessment to determine your licensing requirements.

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