How can i live in switzerland

Our guide will advise you on all requirements to move to Switzerland. Whether you are moving for work, family, or to immerse yourself in one its four official languages, we list every step you need follow to move to the alpine country. Need to move abroad?

Organizing an international relocation is not something you should do on your own. Contact us today to jump start your move, and begin the preparations with our free relocation checklist. If you are wondering how to move to Switzerland, you are not alone.

While the benefits of moving to Switzerland—such as high salaries and an excellent education system—outweigh the cons, like the high cost of living , the requirements are not simple. So, how hard is it to move to Switzerland? To begin with, to obtain a work visa you must have a university degree as well as several years of professional work experience. Most long-term visas also require a certain level of proficiency in German, French, or Italian dependent on the region in Switzerland where you want to live.

Otherwise, you will be required to enroll in a language course upon your arrival. The main things you need to know when moving to Switzerland also vary depending on the canton you move to. Switzerland is made of 26 cantons member states of the Swiss Confederation , and much of the laws apply at the cantonal level. This means that factors such as education, healthcare costs, and even cultural norms vary canton-by-canton.

Whether you are moving abroad for the first time or relocated multiple times before, the process raises many questions. Our complete guide to relocation will ease your doubts along the way, from the initial preparations to how to negotiate a relocation package, we help you GO! If you meet the requirements, the process of moving to Switzerland is fairly simple. The greatest hassle you will face is filling out all of the paperwork required to transfer your goods from one home to another.

Be aware that you must have owned everything for at least six months prior to your move, and you cannot bring excessive quantities of agricultural goods.

You may want to look into temporary storage, if you are moving your household goods to Switzerland, The competition for housing in Switzerland is tough and some cities have a housing shortage.

For this reason, expats moving to Switzerland may have no other choice than to stay in temporary accommodation until they find a permanent place. This could take anywhere from one month to half a year, so getting a unit to store your household goods is a practical option.

To avoid waiting so long, contact our Home-finding team. They will help you identify the best neighborhood for you and shortlist the properties that match your needs and wants. Moving with your pets to Switzerland is also relatively worry-free. Just like with your household goods, you will need to provide a good amount of paperwork, including an import permit for cats and dogs.

Rodents, rabbits, and most aquatic animals will only require a health certificate. As long as you have the correct documentation, your pet will not need to be quarantined. Dogs and cats must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. If you are from a country considered by the EU as of high-risk for rabies, then your pet should have been vaccinated for at least 30 days before your arrival to Switzerland.

The vaccinations required for you and your family to move to Switzerland are standard. There is even a chance that you may already have many of the shots needed. If you plan to stay in Switzerland for longer than 90 days, you will need to know how to get a Swiss visa and work permit. For some visa types, there may even be quotas in place for how many can be distributed every year. Unless you are applying for permanent residency, Swiss visa costs are relatively low. Read our guidance on healthcare in Switzerland and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

Unless you have UK-funded healthcare in Switzerland , you must buy insurance with a Swiss health insurance company within 3 months of arriving in Switzerland.

If you are planning to move to Switzerland and work, you have to obtain a work permit and are subject to a quota for UK nationals. If you live in Switzerland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January , read our guidance for frontier workers.

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Switzerland. If the relevant regulator in Switzerland officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January , or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision. Seek advice from the regulator if needed. The UK has a double taxation agreement with Switzerland to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief. You should get professional advice on paying tax in Switzerland. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Switzerland. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Switzerland.

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation. Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Switzerland. If you are moving or retiring abroad , you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax. Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

You may be eligible to claim some Swiss social security benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Swiss benefits and how to claim, read the guidance on social security benefits and social insurances. Read the guidance on buying a property abroad.

If you are resident in Switzerland you have 12 months to swap your UK licence for a Swiss one. You can do this at your local cantonal authority. Your UK licence will be accepted in Switzerland for up to 12 months. You can use your Swiss licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

If you use your vehicle in Switzerland for more than one year, you need to declare it to customs. Although foreign nationals cannot vote in Switzerland at federal level, several cantons and communes give foreign nationals voting rights. Read the Swiss government guidance on voting rights of foreign nationals. If your child is born in Switzerland, you will need to register the birth abroad. Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

If you have a pet passport issued by Switzerland or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU. You can dial the European emergency number in Switzerland for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:. Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services. Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.

Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Switzerland after 1 January and those living there since before 1 January Working in Switzerland section updated: new guidance for frontier workers.

Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on pet travel and moving to Switzerland. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

Working section updated with information on frontier workers. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating. You must transfer your residence to Switzerland and provide proof. Please note: this condition does not apply to students bringing their furniture, personal belongings and school materials into Switzerland. You must have used the belongings for personal use for at least six months before bringing them into Switzerland and continue to use them afterwards. If you have merchandise to declare, make sure you cross the border during the opening hours of the appropriate customs offices for clearance of merchandise.

You need to present various documents at the customs office when crossing the border:. Full list of the imported goods on a separate sheet of paper ,. Form completed in duplicate for the duty-free import of your belongings download the form from the website of the Federal Customs Administration ,. Identity document passport or identity card ,. Document certifying that you have announced your departure to the authorities of the country of origin,.

Swiss residence permit or other document proving the transfer of residence such as an employment contract or a lease. Foreign driving licence for means of transport or vehicle registration certificate even if it has already been cancelled ,.