SERAFE at a glance
- Fee: CHF 335/year per household (CHF 83.75/quarter)
- Who pays: Every registered household in Switzerland
- Who is exempt: Social assistance / supplementary benefit recipients
- Device required? No — the fee is device-independent
- How you're billed: Automatically, based on your Anmeldung registration
- When it stops: From the date of your Abmeldung (deregistration)
1. What is SERAFE and Why Does It Exist?
SERAFE (Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgebühren AG) is the private company mandated by the Swiss federal government to collect the broadcasting fee (Radio- und Fernsehgebühr) under the Radio and Television Act (RTVG). It replaced BILLAG in January 2019.
The fee funds Swiss public broadcasting — SRF (German), RTS (French), RSI (Italian), RTR (Romansh), and SWI swissinfo.ch. Switzerland does not fund public media through general taxation; instead, every household contributes a flat annual fee.
Unlike the old BILLAG system, which was based on device ownership (did you own a TV or radio?), the current SERAFE system is device-independent — everyone pays simply by virtue of being registered as a household in Switzerland. This eliminated the old discussions about smartphones and laptops as "receiving devices."
2. How Much Is the SERAFE Fee in 2026?
| Fee type | Annual amount | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Private household | CHF 335/year | Quarterly: CHF 83.75/quarter |
| Business (1–9 employees) | CHF 400/year | Annual |
| Business (10–49 employees) | CHF 1,900/year | Annual |
| Business (50–249 employees) | CHF 5,000/year | Annual |
| Business (250+ employees) | CHF 35,000/year | Annual |
Household fee current as of 2026. Business fees are based on full-time equivalent (FTE) employee count. Businesses that are part of a group may qualify for group billing. Source: SERAFE.ch / Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM).
3. Who Pays the SERAFE Fee?
The SERAFE fee applies to every private household registered in Switzerland — one fee per dwelling unit (Haushalt), not per person. If five people share a flat, they collectively pay one CHF 335/year fee.
SERAFE does not require you to register separately. When you register your address at your municipality (the Anmeldung), the cantonal population register automatically notifies SERAFE. You will receive your first invoice within a few months.
4. Who Is Exempt from the SERAFE Fee?
Exemptions are narrow and must be actively applied for. You are exempt if:
- You or your household receives social assistance (Sozialhilfe / aide sociale) from your municipality
- You receive supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen AHV/IV / prestations complémentaires AVS/AI)
- You are a resident of a diplomatic mission or consulate (exemption applied by your mission)
- Your household is a recognised international organisation with a privileges agreement
There is no exemption for: not owning a TV, not watching Swiss television, only watching streaming services, living abroad temporarily, or being a student. The fee is universal for all registered households.
How to apply for an exemption
If you receive social assistance or supplementary benefits, you can apply for an exemption directly on serafe.ch. You will need to upload proof of entitlement (a recent decision letter from your commune or cantonal authority). Approved exemptions are renewed annually and apply to the current billing year.
5. How to Pay Your SERAFE Bill
SERAFE bills quarterly. You can pay via:
- QR invoice (the orange slip included with your paper bill) — pay at any Swiss post office or through e-banking
- Direct debit (LSV / Lastschriftverfahren) — authorise SERAFE to debit your bank account automatically
- Online payment at serafe.ch — log in with your SERAFE customer number
- E-Bill — receive and approve bills directly in your e-banking app (PostFinance, most Swiss banks)
Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Late payment results in reminder fees and, ultimately, debt enforcement proceedings (Betreibung). A Betreibung record can seriously affect your ability to rent an apartment or pass a creditworthiness check in Switzerland — pay promptly or contact SERAFE to arrange a payment plan.
6. SERAFE When You Leave Switzerland
When you deregister from your Swiss municipality (Abmeldung), SERAFE is automatically notified by the population register. Your billing stops from your deregistration date. If you have paid in advance (quarterly billing), SERAFE will refund the unused portion.
If you move between Swiss municipalities, SERAFE updates your address automatically — you don't need to notify SERAFE separately. The billing continues uninterrupted.
If you spend time abroad but remain registered in Switzerland, you continue to owe the fee. The registration, not physical presence, determines the obligation.
7. SERAFE for Businesses
Businesses and other legal entities (associations, foundations) pay a separate business fee calculated on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, as shown in the table in section 2 above. The fee is assessed by SERAFE based on data from the Federal Statistics Office enterprise register.
Sole proprietors who work from home pay only the private household fee (CHF 335/year) if they have no employees. As soon as they have one or more employees or operate from a separate business address, the business fee applies.
Moving to Switzerland? Get your expat setup sorted.
From SERAFE to health insurance and tax registration — our guides walk you through every step of the Swiss expat setup, in plain English.
Swiss expat checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
What is SERAFE in Switzerland?
SERAFE (Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgebühren AG) is the company that collects the Swiss broadcasting fee on behalf of the federal government. It replaced BILLAG in January 2019. Every Swiss household pays a flat fee of CHF 335/year (as of 2025–2026), regardless of whether they own a TV or radio — simply residing in Switzerland is enough to trigger the obligation.
How much is the SERAFE fee in 2026?
The SERAFE household fee is CHF 335 per year in 2026, billed quarterly at CHF 83.75 per quarter. The fee applies to every private household registered in Switzerland. Businesses pay a separate fee based on the number of employees, ranging from CHF 400 to CHF 35,000/year.
Who is exempt from the SERAFE fee?
Private households that receive social assistance (Sozialhilfe / aide sociale) or supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen / prestations complémentaires) can apply for a full exemption. Diplomatic missions and certain international organisations are also exempt. There is no exemption for simply not owning a TV — the fee is device-independent.
Do I have to pay SERAFE if I just moved to Switzerland?
Yes. Once you register your address (Anmeldung) in Switzerland, SERAFE receives your details from the cantonal population register and will bill you automatically. You don't need to register separately with SERAFE. Your first bill typically arrives within a few months of your Anmeldung.
What happens if I don't pay SERAFE?
Non-payment results in reminders, a debt collection process (Betreibung), and ultimately a debt enforcement record (Betreibungsregister entry). A Betreibung record can affect your ability to rent an apartment or open certain bank accounts in Switzerland, so it's important to pay or apply for an exemption rather than ignore the bill.
Can I cancel SERAFE if I leave Switzerland?
Yes. When you deregister (Abmeldung) from your Swiss municipality, your SERAFE obligation ends automatically. SERAFE will stop billing from the date of your deregistration. Any overpaid amounts for the remaining quarter are refunded.