Moving to Switzerland

Moving to Switzerland should not begin with buying tickets and packing your suitcases, but with preparation. You research and analyse information about this new country, its traditions, conditions for immigrants, and job opportunities.You consider housing options, assess the cost of living in Switzerland, and look into the availability of health insurance and good education for your children. Only then do you draw up a plan of action. This approach is the key to making the right decision. It reduces risks, helping to simplify and streamline your move to Switzerland.

Choosing a country to move to is a matter of personal preference and your specific situation. Everyone has their own reasons for relocating to Switzerland: a lucrative job offer, running a business, family reunification, a high standard of living, quality healthcare, or personal circumstances. You can take expert opinions into account, but you shouldn’t rely solely on them. The most important thing is to weigh up the pros and cons of living in Switzerland specifically in your situation. To help you with this, we have prepared a special article — a practical guide for immigrants and expats.

How do you move to Switzerland?

The most important thing is planning. Typical problems usually relate to financial matters, preparing documents and visas, language skills, and calculating taxes. It is therefore important to draw up an action plan for the near future. We recommend dividing it into several sections. The main criterion is the extent to which they affect your move to Switzerland.

Which issues are particularly important:

• finances: a bank account, building up a financial cushion, planning sources of income, settling existing liabilities, calculating an approximate budget for the settling-in period;
• practical aspects of life in Switzerland: work, housing, health insurance, education for children, tax obligations;
• documents: obtaining visas, permits and certificates; resolving legal and property matters in the country you are leaving.

Precise answers often only become clear after you have relocated to Switzerland — this is quite normal. The main thing is to try to avoid unforeseen circumstances that could make the move much less comfortable.

Visas and residence

The type of entry permit, the options available and the right to long-term residence in Switzerland mainly depend on your country of departure. If you have the right to choose a visa category, consider how it will affect your future. It is possible to change your visa later, but this is a lengthy and complicated process, as you will need to meet a number of conditions.

Visas for Switzerland and their applicability:

• Type B permit: long-term workers, students, expats, professionals, the self-employed, freelancers; this visa may be issued for family reunification;
• Type C permit: certain expats and skilled workers, permanent residents;
• Type L permit: for short-term visits to the country (i.e. not for emigration to Switzerland);
• G permit: for cross-border workers.

There is no fixed validity period for the visa. For example, students are granted a Type B permit for the duration of their studies, trainees for 1–2 years, and self-employed individuals for 1–5 years. The type of visa directly determines what you are permitted to do — live, work, run a business, study, visit other EU countries, receive social benefits, and so on.

Work and careers in Switzerland

The country has a developed labour market, with vacancies available in virtually all sectors. Salaries are among the highest in Europe. However, it is important to understand that taxes in Switzerland often significantly reduce actual take-home pay.

Average monthly salaries in the most in-demand sectors:

• IT and engineering – ₣6,500–₣9,000;
• medicine – ₣6,000–₣10,000;
• finance — ₣7,000–₣12,000;
• science and education — ₣5,000–₣8,000.

The salary you can expect immediately after emigrating to Switzerland is lower. For the first 2–3 years, the average is ₣3,500–₣5,000. This is the income level that entry-level professionals, support staff and service personnel should aim for. It should be noted that finding a job without knowledge of one of the official languages is difficult. Therefore, without proficiency in German, French, Italian or Romansh, prospects on the labour market will be poorer. Knowledge of English is an advantage, but it is not enough on its own, especially for work in small companies.

Job search options:

• online platforms: JobScout24, Indeed, Jobs.ch, LinkedIn;
• recruitment agencies: Michael Page, Hays, Adecco, Kelly Services – a good option for experienced professionals;
• applying directly to companies;
• networking — looking for work in Switzerland through personal contacts, industry events, online communities and professional associations.

Housing

Buying property in Switzerland is a sound investment. It not only resolves the issue of accommodation but also offers a profitable way to invest your money. The main challenge is the relatively high entry threshold. Many expats simply cannot afford such costs immediately after moving — the average price per square metre hovers around ₣8,000. Therefore, renting accommodation in Switzerland is the only realistic option.

Finding a suitable option, especially for a foreigner on a limited budget, is not so straightforward, as demand consistently outstrips supply. This trend is most pronounced in major cities — Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne and Basel. A typical rental condition is the advance payment of a deposit covering 1–3 months’ rent, though longer terms are less common.

The easiest way to find a suitable option is via specialised online platforms: Homegate, Immoscout24, Comparis; alternatives include estate agents, private online listings and personal contacts. It is best to prepare your documents in advance so as not to waste time. You will need a CV, proof of a stable income and references.

Average rental prices in Switzerland vary by canton and specific city; it is best to use the following figures as a guide:

• Studio or one-bedroom flat — ₣1,200–₣1,800;
• 2-room flat — ₣1800–₣2500;
• 3-room flat — ₣2500–₣3500;
• 4-room flats, luxury apartments — from ₣3,500.

Cost of living

When people say that the standard of living in Switzerland is very high, it is important to understand that this statement applies equally to prices. Therefore, when calculating how much money you will need to move there, you must bear in mind the adjustment period. You will need to find a job, suitable accommodation, and cover your living expenses and taxes.

Average monthly expenses:

• food, per person — ₣500–₣800;
• transport — monthly travel pass ₣80–₣150, Swiss Half Fare Card — ₣185 per year, petrol — ₣1.9–₣2.1 per litre;
• compulsory health insurance — ₣300–₣600 per month, cheaper for children;
• internet and mobile phone — ₣50–₣100 per month.

The approximate minimum per person per month, including rent in Switzerland, is ₣3,500–₣5,000; for a family, around ₣10,000. To save money whilst settling in, you can shop at budget supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl and Denner, use a Half Fare Card, cook at home more often, and avoid choosing large cities or central apartments when relocating.

A fair comparison of the cost of living in Switzerland and other European countries requires taking into account your income, financial and social status, tax burden and individual circumstances. On paper, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Spain and Portugal are cheaper. But when you factor in the standard of living in Switzerland, personal safety and stability, moving to Zurich, Geneva, Zug or Lausanne no longer feels like an impulsive decision.

Education in Switzerland

The country offers a full educational cycle — from pre-school facilities for the youngest children to universities. A distinctive feature of the system is the combination of an academic approach and practical training, with an emphasis on developing professional skills. The first two stages — nurseries and schools — are compulsory. If you choose state institutions, you will not have to pay anything. Private education is available, but it is fee-paying. However, you will have a choice, which is the most important thing.

University education is fee-paying in any case, but at state universities, tuition fees are relatively affordable. On average, they range from ₣400 to ₣1,200,which is much lower than in the UK or the US. Importantly, Swiss university degrees are valued not only by local businesses but also by major international companies.

The only potential issue that might affect expats,which does not directly concern education in Switzerland, is the relatively high income requirements. However, you can work whilst studying, albeit with some restrictions. And instead of renting a flat, you can choose to live on campus or in halls of residence. It should be noted that you can only study to the full and gradually integrate into society if you have a reasonably good command of one of the official languages.

The healthcare system in Switzerland

It is based on compulsory insurance and is characterised by very high standards of medical care. Even in small towns, clinics are fully equipped and staffed, and the staff treat patients with openness and kindness.

Medical care is partly fee-based. Some services are covered by insurance, but patients must pay for certain types of treatment themselves. Access to healthcare is good, but in small towns the choice of specialists is limited. Therefore, for those aged 50+, moving to Geneva or another major city is preferable to a cosy, traditional village.

What basic insurance covers:

• visits to a general practitioner and a specialist;
• hospitalisation;
• emergency medical care.

When taking out an insurance policy, you must choose the excess amount — an annual limit on the sum you will pay yourself, ranging from ₣300 to ₣2,500. The higher the excess, the lower the monthly insurance premiums. Once the excess has been met, the insurance company will cover 90% of the costs.

For example, the first visit to the doctor costs ₣150. When taking out the insurance, you chose the minimum excess of ₣300. You cover the full cost yourself. The second visit costs ₣200; you must pay ₣150 yourself, after which the insurance kicks in. As the excess increases from ₣300 to ₣2,500, the compulsory payments decrease — from ₣450–₣600 to ₣250–₣350.

A practical relocation plan

Professional support for relocation to Switzerland will save you from the typical mistakes that many expats make. You may encounter difficulties at every stage of the process. Problems most often arise when preparing documents, obtaining a visa, looking for work, taking out insurance, getting to grips with the Swiss banking system when opening an account, and understanding tax obligations.

In any endeavour that will change your life, the most important thing is to take the first step. Calculating the consequences of each action, assessing risks, selecting housing options, arranging insurance, and registering your residence in Switzerland – all of this will come later. The first step is the most crucial and difficult. And we will definitely help you.