Moving To Switzerland

There are a few things that you will need to consider if you're moving to Switzerland.

Posted on

16 March 2017

| Last updated on 19 January 2020

If you're considering moving to Switzerland as part of a business assignment or as a long-term relocation plan, then there are a few things that you will learn need to consider first. Switzerland is known for being one of the best expat destinations in the world, with exceptionally high standards of living and schooling, as well as a huge multilingual expat population making up the numbers - around 1.65 million of the 8 million people population are expats. Switzerland is an extremely attractive option, and while the costs of living in the country are high, so are wages.

However, when it comes to relocating to Switzerland, there are a few things that you will need to consider. Firstly, in order to move to the country, you will need to make sure that you have an employment contract and a lease on an apartment, as the migration rules are slightly more restricting than other countries surrounding Switzerland that are a part of the EU. To help you, we've put together a quick guide to help you when it comes to moving to Switzerland.

Expat life in Switzerland

In 2014, Switzerland was rated 1st in a list of 61 countries in the InterNations’ Expat Insider Survey for a quality of life, in which expats cited excellent public transport, health, safety and personal well-being. There are a number of schooling options for Children in the country and while the cost of living is high (With Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne being voted some of the most expensive cities in the Cost Of Living Index 2016).

You might also be interested in...

Culture Shock

While you may not be expecting a huge culture shock if you have been living in Europe or North America, you may find that there are a few things that you will need to be aware of in order to help you settle in easily. The Swiss tend to start work early and finish early, and punctuality is a key aspect of society. In addition to this, you will also find that all shops are closed on a Sunday as voted for in a referendum in the country. However, the Swiss are very used to expats in the country and for this reason are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. While it probably won’t take you too long to settle into the country, due to the large expat population, you may want to consider taking things slowly in order to ensure.

Language

One of the biggest tips that expats living in the country suggest is learning a little bit of the language in order to make the transition easier. Switzerland has four national languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh with three of four holding equal weight as official languages. Because of this, it is important that you begin to learn one of these languages or at least the basics. While there will be many places around the country that will speak English, knowing the local language depending on the area that you are moving to, will help to ensure that you settle in a little faster, and help with day-to-day aspects of living such as going to the supermarket.

If you're considering moving to Switzerland and you're in need of settling in services, then make sure to contact a member of our local team today.

SHOW NUMBER