Moving to Switzerland: What to know before you immigrate to Switzerland
THE BASICS
What to know when moving to Switzerland
Bern
UTC +1
Swiss franc (CHF)
8.5 million
French, German, Italian and Romansh
+41
112
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BEFORE MOVING
The cost of moving to Switzerland. International removals to Switzerland with Eurosender
Eurosender offers a wide range of affordable and fast shipping solutions for international removals to Switzerland.
Visa regulations for Switzerland
Through the Swiss embassy, you can apply for all visas and residence permits when moving to Switzerland.
Citizens of EU and EFTA countries can visit Switzerland visa-free for up to 3 months. When you want to stay longer, you will have to apply for a residence permit and a work permit, which are usually given out for a period of 1 year.
Citizens that are not from EU and EFTA countries will need a visa for Switzerland for a stay up to 3 months. They will also have to apply for a residence permit and work permit if they wish to remain longer than 3 months.
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Property information. Cost of moving to Switzerland
Most Swiss prefer renting to buying property. If you are immigrating to Switzerland for work or study, the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment starts at €1,110 per month. When moving to Switzerland with family, a three-bedroom apartment’s rent will start at around €2,088 per month and higher.
When you are an EU citizen, you can buy or rent an apartment just as the Swiss do. However, citizens from non-EU countries can buy property in Switzerland if they have a Swiss residence permit, they reside in Switzerland or have a Swiss C Permit.
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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND
The cost of living in Switzerland
It won’t come as a surprise that the cost of living in Switzerland is high as this is one of the things the country is famous for. Zurich is even known as the most expensive city in the world, with Geneva in the third place. When you move to Switzerland, make sure that your salary is also on a Swiss level. In general, the average salaries in Switzerland match the high price level in the country. When you move to this beautiful nation in the Alps on a pension, make sure that it will be enough to pay for your lifestyle.
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The job market in Switzerland
There are loads of opportunities to find a job in Switzerland as an expat. At the same time, the labour market is very competitive, with many people having their eyes set on high salaries and pleasant working conditions. When you are immigrating to Switzerland from outside the EU, things are even harder with quotas of the maximum number of foreign workers.
Among others, insurance, IT, engineering, medicine, and finance are the areas where you will have the biggest chance to score a job in Switzerland.
School and education in Switzerland
Switzerland’s education system is one of the most advanced ones in the world. If you’re moving to Switzerland with family, you’ll find an array of schools that cater to international families, including local Swiss schools, private schools, bilingual schools, and international schools.
The school system in Switzerland depends on the canton the school belongs to. Most students in Switzerland attend local schools, which are of a high standard and free. Compulsory education lasts for 9–11 years with some children starting mandatory education when they are four years old and others at six years until about 15 years old. In some cantons one or two years of kindergarten are mandatory.
Age: 4-6
Compulsory: Depends
Age: 6-10
Compulsory: Yes
Age: 10-14
Compulsory: Yes
Healthcare in Switzerland
When you decide to move to Switzerland, you should be aware that having Swiss health insurance is mandatory. Swiss health care is provided by private companies, and you have to get insured within 3 months after you arrive there. The compulsory healthcare insurance concerns basic healthcare. You can also take out extra health insurance in Switzerland. With this, you can get free treatment for things that are not in the basic package or for example get a private room in a hospital, should you require that.
Driving in Switzerland. Should I get a Swiss driving licence?
When your driving licence is in English, Italian, German and French (or has a translation to them on the licence) you can drive in Switzerland. When your licence is in another language, the Swiss will require an International Driving Permit (IDP) which you can get at your local driving authority.
Before you start driving in Switzerland, there are several things you should be cautious of.
- Not long ago, Switzerland was awarded for having the safest roads in Europe. However, there are many mountainous roads which could be dangerous for an inexperienced driver.
- It is mandatory to have your headlights on at all times.
- Seatbelts are obligatory for every passenger of the car. Children under 12 have to be seated in dedicated child seats.
- Pay attention to the parking rules. When you park on a spot where it is not allowed, you may be towed away and will have to pay a hefty fine.
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What else to expect when living in Switzerland as a foreigner
- The Swiss like to enjoy their free time in the open air. Therefore, the cities may practically empty during the weekend as everyone is out in the mountains.
- Before you relocate to Switzerland, it is best to brush up on your language skills as 3 languages are spoken.
- When you just immigrate to Switzerland, remember that it is expected that you greet everyone in person when you enter a room.
- After a proper introduction, you will see that the Swiss are friendly people.
MOVING DESTINATIONS
See the most popular countries from where people immigrate to Switzerland
Moving to Switzerland from Australia
There couldn’t be a big contrast than when you travel from Sydney to Switzerland. Many Australians who are tired of the endless distances, the scorching temperatures and the lack of snow around Christmas time, consider moving from Australia to Switzerland. With the help of Eurosender, you can stop worrying about how you are going to get your stuff from one corner of the planet to the other. Just place the order and we will take care of the rest.
Moving to Switzerland from Germany
Germany is not only close to Switzerland, but they also share the German language. With the short distance between the countries, it might not feel like moving to another country, maybe more like another province. When you are moving from Germany to Switzerland with Eurosender, you can rest assured that you won’t be overpaying for the transport of your possessions to your new location.
Moving to Switzerland from the United Kingdom
Many UK citizens are tired of the almost daily showers, the grey clouds and the lack of facilities for skiing. So when you are looking for a change of scenery, why not book international removals to Switzerland from the UK? When you want to save money and time, you let Eurosender take care of the shipping while you will be enjoying living in Switzerland.