Tax Free Shopping in Switzerland

Shop in Switzerland in three easy steps. Check the country rules for Tax Free shopping and get your refund.
01

Go Shopping

Go shopping and while paying, remember to ask for a Global Blue Tax Free Form. Here's what you need to know to shop Tax Free.

Country VAT rates

7.7%
Standard VAT rate
2.5%
Food and medicines
2.5%
Books and plants

How much you need to spend minimum

300.00 CHF

Who is eligible?

  • Shoppers who are permanent residents outside Switzerland
  • Shoppers who are older than 18

Non Refundable goods:

Tax Free Goods

Refunds are paid on items that are exported in the traveller’s personal luggage. 


Refundable items must be unused.

Non Refundable goods:

  • Fuel
  • All goods with reduced VAT rate of 2.5%
  • Services

Important Information to shop Tax Free in Switzerland

Please make sure that all mandatory fields are filled in correctly when you request your Tax Free Form in store. In the case of missing or incorrect information, the form will be rejected by Customs.

If you are a Global Blue member:
In most stores, you can scan your digital barcode at check-out. Your personal data will be automatically filled in on the Tax Free Form.

 

Not yet a Global Blue member?

Become a member
02

Get Customs Validation

Find the nearest Customs Office. Get your Tax Free Form validated before leaving Switzerland.

Time limit for validating your form

90 days from the date of purchase

Validity of stamped Form

4 years from the issuing date of the Tax Free Form

Important information to validate your Tax Free Form in Switzerland

Your Tax Free Forms must be completed and signed before presenting it to Swiss Customs Authorities. Remember, in order to claim the VAT refund in any Global Blue Refund Office, the Tax Free Form must have been validated before leaving Switzerland.

There are two alternatives: 

  1. Validate your Tax Free Form at a Swiss consulate or Embassy in the country of residence
    OR
  2. Enclose in addition to the unconfirmed export document the original or a copy of the import assessment issued by a foreign customs authority

03

Receive Your Refund

Visit any Global Blue Refund Office in Switzerland. Present the validated Tax Free Form and get your refund. For an automatic refund, check the payment details selected in store or saved on your Global Blue App and MCC.

Important information to get your refund in Switzerland

To get your refund at any Global Blue Refund Office in Switzerland, please provide the following:

  • Personal details and passport
  • Completed Tax Free Form validated by Customs 
  • Purchase receipt (Original or copy)
  • Purchased goods

More information

Still in doubt about the above steps? Check out our general guide.

Global Blue Addresses

Printed Tax Free Forms validated by Customs must be sent to:

Standard and registered mail
Global Blue P.O. Box 363, 810 00 Bratislava,
Slovakia, Europe


For courier
Global Blue, Prievozska 4D/Block E, 821 09 Bratislava,
Slovakia, Europe

Where to next?
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