Once this is established, you will have no problem feeling welcomed. Our team is ready to make your international relocation a less stressful experience. Since 2020, it is illegal to discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Switzerland. If thats not enough to convince you, Switzerland also nabbed the number four spot on the 2021 US News Best Countries list. It also has a very low unemployment rate which has been below 5% for each of the past five years. Answer questions about your personality, interests, and lifestyle to determine which country would be the best fit for you. In addition, the reserved, formal culture at work and in personal relations can be difficult to get used to. The good news is that the movement has picked up speed in recent years. In the business world, meetings start exactly on time and it is seen as unprofessional to be late. Pockets of employment for the international workforce are generally limited to the likes of Zurich and Geneva, this can restrict where you live. So, what do you know about this small country? You cant just decide one day to move to Switzerland with no residency permit or work visa unless you are very, very wealthy indeed. This is in large part due to the way the country is set up in which the different Cantons end up competing with each other in order to make themselves more attractive to businesses; which leads them to establish very straightforward and business friendly rules and regulations. In fact, according to Salary Expert 75% of people working in Switzerland earn more than 67,600 CHF ($74,000 USD) per year with the top 25% of earners over 323,000 CHF ($352,000 USD) per year. Kirchenfeldstrasse 88 Although the rest of the world has embraced online dating, Switzerland is still behind the curve. The other two main airports travelers can use are: Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is located in France but is still used to service Switzerland. Switzerland has also experienced an immigration boom in recent years. In 2019, about 38% of the 8.6 million permanent residents had a migration background. Basic Swiss health insurance offers a wide range of benefits. When you click "begin", you'll start seeing descriptions of two hypothetical cities. You can shop for diamonds in Switzerland and ski on the best slopes, dine in the best restaurants in the world and live in a crime-free society. Additionally, with 26 cantons that function almost as autonomous administrative areas, you are sure to encounter a lot of variety for such a small country. Adjusting to the rules and regulations 2. This means that once you have had a chance to explore Switzerland you can easily explore neighboring countries without having to travel too far. This means that factors such as education, healthcare costs, and even cultural norms vary canton-by-canton. The number of divorces increased by 0.4% in the same year. Swiss public local and international schools are free of charge, and the students are not required to wear uniforms. The differences between cantons also extends to laws and politics, as Switzerland gives a lot of authority to the cantonal governments. Contact us or comment below with your question and well do our best to help. Expatica helps make your expat journey the experience you've always wanted. Every canton in Switzerland celebrates their own specific holidays in addition to recognizing the national holidays. Your car should come with a vignette pass and it is advisable to get insurance. Yes, you can. Contact InterNations to ensure you have what you need to drive in Switzerland. Easy relocation 2. Answer (1 of 5): I think it would be pointless to answer which country is better to live in for their own citizens, as I think someone who asks such question would be interested to know what it is like to live in those places as an immigrant. But, basic health insurance will generally cover pediatric services, vaccinations, and basic medical treatments. Switzerland has earned its reputation for being one of the most expensive countries in the world. ", Scenic cities like Geneva, Zurich, Basel, and others attract millions of tourists every year. Summers in Switzerland are warm with average temperatures from 65F(18 C) to 82 F(28 C). Safety. Switzerland offers cities with high living standards. Travel around, get to know different areas, and dont just look at the surface charm, scratch a little deeper and see if you still like the look of the country. Discover our welcoming community of expats! Whats it really like to live in Switzerland? Hi there! You can discuss your hardships with other expats in the community and learn about how others have overcome similar hardships. 50 different Switzerland Quizzes on JetPunk.com. 26 B. Youll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new friends. Living in Switzerland is an enticing proposition for expats, but whats living there really like? You can visit beautiful places around the country, join a tour or an event, and ski in the winter. 165185 The canton of Jura, however, is the cheapest for housing. Emergency/ambulance And if you venture out just a little bit further you can be in places like Nice, Venus, Paris and Florence all within a days drive. That sums up my 11 reasons why you should consider moving to Switzerland. There are many different types of fare options for public transportation in Switzerland such as one-day passes, unlimited monthly passes, or half-fare passes. The Best Cities In Switzerland That Suit Your Vibes, 4. But first you have to find your partner. Consular Services Swiss people may not seem friendly or chatty. cons.berne@mea.gov.in, British Embassy in Bern Or just take this in which country should I live quiz! For a full list Hi there! And fancy the U.K increasing tax, to help health, education, welfare, councils and infrastructure? In Switzerland, cantons have a lot of power over their own individual laws, making each canton slightly different from the others and requiring expats to need to check the specific rules and regulations of wherever they are living. However, it will be better to learn French before moving there. For example, moving to Switzerland would be more expensive than moving to Bulgaria. We created this website to provide fellow expats with the type of information they need to successfully navigate their life abroad. Our team is ready to make your international relocation a less stressful experience.

Experts credit the precisely planned Swiss train schedules with the fact that travelers make 98% of their train connections. When looking at Europe, Switzerland ranks at the 8th position out of 36 countries, with the UK placing at the 24th spot. As such, expats can expect a plethora of high-quality schools and easy access to medical care. This Is How You Get Around In Switzerland, 8. According to the Global Peace Index 2022, Switzerland takes the 11th place in a global setting. This is one rank higher than in 2021. Swiss women won 40% of parliamentary seats in the 2019 election. 15. The best parts of living in Switzerland, Read our Guide on Swiss visas and permits, one of the most expensive countries in the world, Read our Guide to womens rights in Switzerland. The system spreads throughout the entire country, making it easy to get around the major cities and reach remote, rural towns. Moving to Switzerland is not only about opportunities to have better careers. Swiss house prices continue to rise, reporting a 4.4% increase in December 2020. Switzerland has an excellent healthcare service because of the extensive network of doctors and well-equipped hospitals. The study pulled questions . Tell us a bit more about your items so we could provide you with an accurate estimate. For one, being located in the center of Europe means that you can easily travel to neighboring countries like Germany, France, Italy and Austria by car or train. ", This makes working and living here more enjoyable. As a reference for your search, we have some of the best places to live in Switzerland. Many expats are attracted to Switzerland due to the high salaries, low taxes (compared to other countries in Western Europe), beautiful nature and overall high living standards. The Swiss government recognized same-sex unions in 2007. For more specific information, you should contact your immigration office. Despite some challenges, most expats agree that Switzerland offers a far higher quality of life than their home countries. },{ January 1 For more tips about overseas relocation, please check out the following articles: { And theres some cool stuff to help you with your move. Geneva is the most expensive, though prices in Zurich and Basel are also very high. Theaverage cost to buyan apartment in Switzerland is around CHF 665,000. The Swiss educational system includesprivate, public and, international schools, as well asboarding schools. It is not difficult to find a perfect city with a high safety rate, excellent public services, and access to nature. There are plenty ofoutdoor spaces to exploreand a wealth of child-friendly facilities all over the country. The minimum age for driving in Switzerland is 18. The Swiss are very risk-averse and, as such, require a lot of insurances. Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama and it is known for its preserved medieval architecture. Its landlocked location in the center of Europe means residents can quickly travel through the region, including the bordering countries of Germany, Italy, and France. National Day The highest tax rates in Switzerland are far lower than the highest tax rates in ma,y other countries, despite the fact that you have to pay tax to the Canton in which you live as well as the City and the Federal Government. Main Embassies in Switzerland Canada Embassy of Canada to Switzerland in Bern Kirchenfeldstrasse 88 CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 357 3200 bern@international.gc.ca India Embassy of India in Bern Kirchenfeldstrasse 28 3005 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 350 1130 cons.berne@mea.gov.in United Kingdom Your children can receive the best education and you can receive the best healthcare, (all for a price), and you can purchase or have constructed absolutely fantastic real estate. Fortunately, Switzerland is one of the few countries that doesnt follow this high tax approach. In a recent survey of expats living in Switzerland, 62% found it hard to make Swiss friends (compared to 36% globally). If you drive on the motorways, you must have a Swiss motorway vignette (toll pass). Many also take out private health insurance. 10 Questions - Developed by: An1omouse - Developed on: 2008-03-01 - 128,664 taken - User Rating: 3.7 of 5 - 67 votes - 9 people like it Based on your personality, this short quiz will match you with the best country to your personality; Are you more like Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, or Iceland? Therefore, we share some of the pros and cons of living in Switzerland to help you adapt to this country. In fact in many Scandinavian countries or other high tax countries like Belgium or France individuals will often have effective tax rates which are over 70% of their gross income when you factor in things like income tax, social contributions and VAT. Robot will see you now. One of the reasons why Switzerland has many job opportunities for expats is that Switzerland is home to many large multinational corporations; with 15 fortune 500 companies being headquartered in Switzerland including: Glencore, Nestle, Adecco, and Credit Suisse. For more specific information, you should contact your immigration office." In fact, in 2019, there was a6% decrease in marriagesfrom the previous year. While the organization and pragmatism of Swiss culture are easy for most people to appreciate, it can be harder for expats to get used to the rigidness of life in Switzerland. That brings me to my next reason why you should move to Switzerland which is the high salaries that are offered within the country. This would make a lot of otherwise simple tasks unnecessarily difficult. bern@international.gc.ca, Embassy of India in Bern ESCXTRA.com are live for day 1 of rehearsals ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, taking place in Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena! Switzerland certainly offers a veryhigh quality of life. The local government pay great attention to education and makes it accessible for everyone. } In fact, the most popular Swiss cities for expats, Zurich and Geneva, are among the most expensive cities in the world. The OECD Better Life index also found a considerable gap between the richest and poorest Swiss residents. Most people living in Switzerland are employed (80%) and earn a good salary. Here are some reasons why engaging Sanelo is a must: Switzerland is a country that offers many benefits to its residents and expats. Britons especially love the country for being so close to their homeland. One tip for expat life is to be open to making friends from all different backgrounds. When it comes to women in the workplace, the country also offers numerous employment protections for women, includingmaternity leave. Discover the best countries to live in and how to make your move abroad successfully. These transport alternatives make exploring regions in Switzerland more enjoyable. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development. In 2021, voters will decide on the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage. If you look at the pre-tax salaries of countries in Western Europe like France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium or the Netherlands you will find that they generally have pretty high pre tax salaries compared to most other countries around the world. They tend to be friendly but reserved and value polite plain speaking and punctuality. The fifth reason why you should move to Switzerland is because the country is very safe. Each region in Switzerland has its own specialities. If you move with your children, you can transfer them to Swiss schools. This is partly because the country spends big on healthcare more thanCHF 8,785 per resident. If you have the right permit, and the right cash, its all systems go. Usually, expat families will send their children to international schools. If you were to earn the same 100,000 euros per year salary in Belgium your take home salary would be 48,500 euros per year which is just over 30,000 euros less per year than what you would keep if you were working in Switzerland and that doesnt even include the high taxes that your employer pays which adds an additional 25,000 euros per year to your tax bill which means that you would have an effective tax rate of 61.2% which is more than double that of what you would have living in Switzerland. I agree with the poor (w) bankers being taxed on their bonuses. In addition, its best to wait for sale season to buy big-ticket items like furniture and electronics. 3,9406,440. Although vaccinations are not compulsory in Switzerland, most kids living there receive vaccinations for whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and measles. These neighboring countries lend to Switzerland having four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh) and cantons which vary culturally depending on the dominant language of the region. Propertiesare, of course, one of the biggest expenses for expats in Switzerland. The womens rights movement is quickly gaining ground, though. If your license does not contain Roman letter and numerals, you will need to obtain an International Driving License. For example if you live in Zurich you can get to places like Milan, Lake Como, Lichtenstein, Freiburg, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich and Innsbruck in under four hours by car or train. Being an expat in Switzerland: 10 things you need to know. By submitting the form on the next page, you are happy for our trusted partners to contact you. The Essential Insurance Coverage in Switzerland Health Insurance in Switzerland Switzerland does not have a free healthcare system. Swiss people are very polite and also reserved. 1 Which setting sounds the best? For example, a three-course meal with a glass of wine for two people at a mid-range restaurant could cost around CHF 100. Connect with fellow expats in Switzerland, Get Information in our Switzerland Guides, Exchange tips about expat life in Switzerland. In fact, Switzerland only decriminalized domestic violence in the 1990s. No doubt, Switzerland is one of the top countries to live for expats. The country offers a great quality of life with many opportunities to explore the incrediblemountains, lakes, towns, and villages. In contrast with the lack of personal space, the Swiss tend to keep people at an emotional distance until an adequate length of time has passed. 6. Furthermore, 15% of the low-income population spends more than 40% of their income on housing. Adjusting to the rules and regulations, The Best Places To Live In Switzerland As An Expat, Moving To Switzerland As An Expat: A Step-By-Step Guide. If exploring nature and historical sites is your favourite thing to do, Switzerland is the right choice for you. But, the high expenses are somewhat offset byhigh wagesand great living standards. If you prefer to enjoy your off days indoors, then the following places are for you: As much as you love relaxing, you should also try some outdoor activities. "name": "Can I Move To Switzerland Without A Job? Please see the chart below for a sampling of public transportation costs in Switzerland. So if you are into skiing, snowboarding or ice climbing you will find that having easy access to world class winter sport facilities will make pursuing your hobby extremely easy. Additionally, formality is deeply ingrained in theSwiss business culture, as is hierarchy. } 1. Roughly one-third of the country is forest and just under a quarter of the lands are protected areas. Is it easy to find love in Switzerland? In this video, we talk about living in Germany versus living in Switzerland. Aside from the tax aspect which many high net worth individuals assure us isnt a problem in principle, i.e., the majority of people dont actually object to tax, they object to the percentages charged and the way its wasted what else has Switzerland got in its favour? The survey ranked countries according to 76 attributes that are relevant to the success of a modern country. Of course, Switzerland has strong healthcare and education systems. An agent is your best bet at finding your home. It would be best if you also took the time to try Swiss chocolate in its many flavours. In fact 25.1% of Switzerlands entire population is made up of foreign nationals and if you look at the populations of larger cities like Basel, Geneva and Zurich you will find that foreign nationals make up between 30-40% of the local population. The good news is that if your company is relocating to Switzerland, and youre offered your old job back, you can probably move to live and work in Switzerland relatively easily. Because of Switzerlands high cost of living, many expats in Switzerland have figured out how tosave money. As I mentioned in that video the average expat salary in Switzerland is around $110,000 USD per year. I have made an entire video on which cities in Switzerland might be the best for you depending on what type of industry you work in which you can check out on our youtube channel. August 1 Calgary has excellent economic stability, education, and infrastructure. If this is the case, you may need a special note from your embassy or consulate saying that you have been driving for more than a year. The Titlis is 3238m high. Cantons are similar to states or provinces in other countries. Living in Switzerland as a foreign national. To get an idea of how safe Switzerland is compared to its neighbors check out the table below which compares Swiss crime rates with those found in neighboring France and Germany. It is easier for expats in Switzerland to meet people and date in bigger cities like Zurich and Geneva. Attend online and in-person events that bring global minds together. So you can make a home from home in Switzerland if you have the money and the determination to do so. Likewise, do not open up about your personal life at work, nor ask too many personal questions of your colleagues. A. "@type": "Question", In general you wont need to worry much about crime when living in Switzerland with Switzerland normally being listed as one of the top 10 safest countries in the world according to various safety ranking lists. The Swiss enjoy a great work-life balance. Of how many cantons is Switzerland consisted? Switzerland is a crown jewel of Europe when it comes to natural beauty. The speed for motorways is typically 120 km/h and for highways it is 100 km/h. If you are like me and work for international organizations Switzerland is arguably one of the best countries in the world to work as it hosts more than 50 international organizations including: The World Trade Organization, CERN, International Labor Organization and World Health Organization. Whats the healthcare situation in Switzerland? While Switzerland has made major strides in securing LGBTQ+ rights, Swiss voters will decide in 2021 whether to legalize same-sex marriage. And, Switzerland now works to prohibit female genital mutilation and forced marriage. This makes the patient waiting list short so that people can get treated as soon as possible. However, under the 2020 Swiss Federal Gender Equality Act, companies will have to repay the wage difference if theyre found to be guilty of gender-based pay discrimination. This generally equates to around CHF 2,5006,000/month in a city like Zrich. In the 2019 election, women won over 40% of seats in the Swiss Parliament. Telephone: +41 31 359 77 00 We have teams that will help you to ensure your relocation is seamless by delivering your belongings to Swiss. You can also expect your public transportation to be on schedule in Switzerland. Our house is where we start and end our day. Punctuality pervades every aspect of life in Switzerland. In towns it is 80 km/h. If you like going out to eat, then you should also budget for this. In addition, Swiss cuisine is highly enticing, and the country boasts well-developed public transport. "acceptedAnswer": { The top 20% of the population earns nearly five times as much as the bottom 20%. CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland Vignettes can be purchased, an exchange of drivers license form from your cantons government website, certified Swiss optician eye test (note that a Swiss optician will need to fill out a section of your exchange of drivers license form). Despite the relatively high cost of living, Switzerland is still one of the best places to live in the world. Churer meat tart, Birnbrot (thin layer of bread mixed with fruits and nuts), and many more. It is known to be small but also very rich and often seen as a fiscal paradise for some. Zurich International Airport is the largest airport in Switzerland. Though Swiss men are generally expected to make the first approach, they are reported to move at a glacial pace. Some of the best things to do while living here are skiing, sightseeing, and visiting the hilltop castles.