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Old Age Insurance Registration
/ What is this form?
The AHV (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung) is Switzerland's first pillar of the three-pillar pension system. It is a mandatory state insurance covering old age (Altersrente), survivor benefits (Hinterlassenenrente), and — together with the IV — disability. Every person who works in Switzerland, as well as Swiss citizens living abroad in certain circumstances, must contribute to the AHV.
Contributions are deducted directly from your salary by your employer, who also pays an equal employer contribution. The amount of your future pension depends on the number of years you have contributed and your average insured income. A full contribution record of 44 years (for men) or 43 years (for women) entitles you to a full AHV pension.
Upon starting work in Switzerland, your employer typically registers you with the cantonal compensation office (Ausgleichskasse). Self-employed persons must register themselves. You will receive an AHV card with your unique 13-digit AHV number, which remains with you for life.
/ Who needs this form?
/ What you need before you start
/ Step-by-step guide
/ Key fields explained
| Field | What to enter | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| AHV-Nummer (AHV number) | Your 13-digit AHV number if you have one. New entrants leave this blank — it will be assigned. | Writing an old-format AHV number (11 digits) — since 2008 the format is 13 digits starting with 756. |
| Arbeitgeber (Employer) | Full legal name and address of your current Swiss employer. | Using the employer's trading name instead of the registered legal company name. |
| Lohn (Salary) | Your annual gross salary in CHF. Contributions are calculated as a percentage of this. | Entering net salary instead of gross salary — contributions are always based on gross income. |
| Zivilstand (Civil status) | Select ledig (single), verheiratet (married), geschieden (divorced), verwitwet (widowed), or eingetragene Partnerschaft (registered partnership). | Not updating civil status after marriage or divorce, which affects pension splitting calculations. |
/ Common mistakes to avoid
/ Frequently asked questions
The AHV number is your unique Swiss social security number, consisting of 13 digits in the format 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX. It is printed on your AHV card and used for all social insurance purposes.
Employees contribute 5.3% of their gross salary, and employers pay an equal 5.3% — a total of 10.6%. Self-employed persons pay 10% (with reduced rates for lower incomes).
The standard retirement age is 65 for men and 65 for women (as of 2024 after AHV21 reform). You can draw the pension up to 2 years early (with reduction) or defer it up to 5 years (with increase).
If you are an EU/EFTA national, your Swiss contributions are coordinated with your home country's pension system. Non-EU nationals can in some cases request a refund of their contributions when they leave Switzerland permanently.
Swiss nationals and some long-term residents who move abroad and are not covered by a bilateral social security agreement can make voluntary contributions to maintain their entitlement.