At what age can you retire in Switzerland?

The reference age: 65

The AVS reference age is set at 65. This is the age at which you receive your full pension, with no reduction or supplement. The AVS 21 reform gradually aligns women's age with men's.

This age is the benchmark for the whole system: early drawing and deferral are both calculated relative to it, for the AVS as well as the 2nd pillar.

Leaving earlier: drawing early

You can draw your AVS pension one or two years early. The pension is then permanently reduced, for the whole duration of retirement. The 2nd pillar often allows an even earlier departure, from age 58 or 60 depending on the fund's rules.

An early departure means funding the years without a full pension from your own resources. It is possible, but it requires sufficient capital and careful planning.

Leaving later: deferral

Conversely, you can defer your AVS pension by one to five years. Each year of deferral permanently increases the pension, which can be attractive if you keep working or have other income.

Deferring the pension fund is also possible under many regulations, and lets you keep contributing and growing your savings beyond 65.

AVS and 2nd pillar: ages that can differ

Nothing requires you to draw the AVS and the 2nd pillar at the same time. You can, for example, draw one early and defer the other, or take the LPP capital at one age and the AVS pension at another.

This flexibility is a powerful planning lever: well combined, it optimises both your annual income and your tax, especially around the work-to-retirement transition.

Which age should you choose?

The right age depends on your health, your capital, your desire to keep working and your tax situation. There is no single answer: it is a trade-off between free time, financial security and pension amount.

RetirePlan compares several departure ages and quantifies, for each, your income and the capital needed, so you can choose the option that matches your priorities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the retirement age in Switzerland?

The AVS reference age is 65. That is the age of the full pension. The AVS 21 reform gradually aligns women's age with men's.

Can you retire before 65?

Yes. The AVS can be drawn one or two years early, with a pension reduced for life. The 2nd pillar often allows departure from age 58 or 60 depending on the fund's rules, provided you fund the intervening years.

What do you gain by postponing retirement?

Deferring the AVS pension by one to five years permanently increases it. You can also keep contributing to the 2nd pillar, which grows your savings and your future pension.

Must you take the AVS and 2nd pillar at the same age?

No. You can separate them, for example drawing one early and deferring the other. Well combined, this flexibility optimises your income and your tax.