To move to Switzerland from the USA, you must follow a simple process. Citizens of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, or Singapore can enter Switzerland without a visa for 90 visa-free days. However, non-EU/EFTA nationals will need a permit for stays longer than 90 days. For non-EU/EFTA citizens, they must apply at local cantonal migration offices upon arrival.
Switzerland is a relatively small country with a population of around 8.7 million and borders the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Every international staying in Switzerland for more than three months needs a residence permit, even EU/EFTA citizens. Non-EU/EFTA citizens must apply upon arrival at the local cantonal migration offices where they intend to live. Schengen countries can also move to Switzerland without a visa but must apply for a residence permit for stays exceeding three months.
For the first three months, foreigners with a residence permit issued by an EU country, except for Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Croatia, can enter Switzerland without a visa for up to 90 days. Citizens of EU/EFTA member states do not need a permit. Before committing to a major move, make sure to review the official family reunification process.
Moving from the US to Switzerland is a three-step process. First, you must apply for a long-stay visa to enter the country. As a UK citizen, you don’t need an entry visa for Switzerland. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days, after which you must apply to the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence.
📹 How to be able to work in Switzerland if you’re from another country | My experience + resources
How to get a residency permit for Switzerland? Is it difficult to be able to work in Switzerland if you’re from the US, India or Europe?
Can you get a job in Switzerland if you only speak English?
Switzerland offers opportunities for those who don’t speak intermediate German, French, or Italian but work in international or English-centric industries, such as IT, finance, hospitality/tourism, and intergovernmental organizations like the UN, CERN, and WHO. English is often the primary language in these companies, even if offices are located in German or French-speaking areas. However, not every area of Switzerland is set up for English speakers, and rural towns may struggle to find English-speaking people. Large cities like Zurich, Basel, and Thurgau are becoming increasingly international, according to the EF EPI English Index.
How can a foreigner move to Switzerland?
To move to Switzerland, applicants must apply for a Swiss work visa, study visa, or family visa, obtain the appropriate residence permit, and obtain the Swiss C Residence Permit. Switzerland is a popular destination due to its high quality of life, work opportunities, education, better healthcare, and scenic nature. In 2018, over 140, 000 people immigrated to Switzerland, including EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals. EU/EFTA citizens have no quota restrictions, while non-EU/EFTA citizens face annual quota restrictions.
Can you move to Switzerland without a job to get a job?
Obtaining employment in Switzerland can be challenging for those without a visa, as the job market varies significantly depending on the industry and the cost of living is notably high. Notwithstanding the aforementioned difficulties, it is possible to be granted a visa.
What are the rules to migrate to Switzerland?
Upon arrival in Switzerland, it is necessary to register one’s stay at the local Residents Registration Office within 14 days and to obtain a residence permit from the cantonal migration offices for stays exceeding three months. It is imperative that you present your passport and visa at the time of your arrival. Additionally, it is necessary to register for healthcare in Switzerland and to open a Swiss bank account.
Can you live in Switzerland if you are not a citizen?
Non-immigrant Swiss visas are required for non-EU/EFTA nationals staying in Switzerland for more than 90 days. EU/EFTA citizens do not need a visa for long stays, but a residence permit is required. The category D national visa for Schengen countries is subject to authorization from cantonal migration authorities, which can take weeks or months to process. For those staying in Switzerland for more than three months without settling, a temporary residence permit is required.
Two Swiss temporary residence permits are available. To apply for a long-stay visa, applicants should apply via the Swiss embassy or consulate in their home country. The cost for a long-term visa is $88-44.
Which town in Switzerland is paying people just over $90,000 to move there?
The municipality of Albinen in the Swiss canton of Valais is offering a relocation package to individuals who express an interest in relocating to the village.
What is the 183 day rule in Switzerland?
An accord has been concluded between Switzerland and the United States with the objective of preventing the imposition of double taxation on income, particularly in the context of US federal income tax. This implies that individuals with domicile in Switzerland who are employed by Swiss employers in the United States are liable to taxation only if their tenure exceeds 183 days.
How much money do I need to immigrate to Switzerland?
The mean expenditure incurred for relocating from the United States to Switzerland is estimated at $3, 450. It is notable that international relocations tend to be more costly, largely due to the inherent challenges associated with long-distance transportation, ensuring the safety of belongings, and the necessity for prompt travel. The cost of a move is influenced by a number of factors, including the quantity and type of items being transported, the presence of special items, the distance being traveled, and the decision to engage professional packing and unpacking services. The cost will vary depending on the particular circumstances of the relocation and the distance traversed.
Is getting job in Switzerland hard?
The Swiss job market is characterized by high levels of competition, particularly for individuals from outside the European Union. This is due to the combination of low unemployment rates and a policy of hiring residents of Switzerland first, before considering candidates from other countries. Remote job opportunities are available in sectors such as information technology and finance. However, employers are first required to consider local candidates before hiring internationally. This can present a significant challenge for foreign nationals lacking the highly sought-after skills that are in high demand in the Swiss job market.
Is Switzerland easy to immigrate to?
Switzerland has a high proportion of foreign residents, primarily from Europe, due to the country’s robust economy and the free movement of people across its borders. Nevertheless, the stringent naturalization criteria also account for this elevated ratio, rendering it arduous for laborers to attain Swiss nationality.
How do you qualify for Albinen, Switzerland?
Albinen is offering $25, 000 per adult and $10, 000 per child to attract new residents under 45, provided they buy a house worth over $223, 200 and live there for at least 10 years. This offers a peaceful escape from city life. Several countries are offering financial incentives to attract new residents, including startup grants in Chile, affordable homes in Italy, and teaching opportunities in Asia.
Chile, known for its stunning landscapes, is transitioning from a mining-centric economy to an innovative tech hub. Start-Up Chile, an accelerator program, offers grants for various stages of startup development.
📹 Angles: living in Switzerland, lump sum taxation and how to move to Switzerland
Imaging if you want to move and live in Switzerland. And where else, after all, Switzerland is ranked top for safety, per capita …
Wanting to move to Switzerland is much easier than actually being able to do it. The country has strict immigration requirements that most people are not able to meet. If you are very rich, that’s a different situation (as usual). Also, English is more commonly spoken by the younger inhabitants. Do not assume it will be easy to get by all over the country with English alone. This is a great country. Organized, clean, functional, beautiful and expensive.
The downside of rich expats coming to Switzerland, especially canton Zug: it’s killing the local population. Basically it’s almost impossible to find a house or flat which is in your budget. Over the last 20 years many people had to go to a cheaper canton. I’m very lucky to still live in a flat which is affordable and yes the taxes are low but there is a high price to the population.
I worked in Switzerland for two years in the mid-90s. As a British engineer, things are markedly different from the UK. Industry is respected, not looked down on as 2nd rate, engineering is a highly respected profession, not some side-line. The salary was way better than I would have got in UK at the time (although in that regard, the UK has improved). The main reason I came back to UK was because I got sick of the regimentation. The cities look pretty, but they’re soulless places. Still, the place had interesting quirks. You could go to a bank branch way up in the Alps and withdraw 20,000CHFr from the cash machine just like that in 1,000 Franc notes. Switzerland washes whiter!
I am an American who did my Master’s degree in Switzerland many decades ago. I went to school at the University of Neufchâtel, a smaller canton about 40 minutes by train to the canton of Vaud (Lausanne), and I truly loved it. Swiss society was far more closed-minded at that time (35-40 years ago) than now, but even today, it is not a terribly multicultural society. It helped that I was an American fluent in French (which was far more rare at that time), and my blue passport was far better regarded than had I been from many other countries (for example, not one African immigrant that I knew came there as a student at that time—-they all came as refugees with perhaps the benefit of studying, unlike my visa, which gave me the right to study—there is a difference). I have been back several times since, and I had great memories generally, but I refused a marriage proposal from a Swiss guy because although he was wealthy (very much a priority in Switzerland—-don’t be fooled) I was not and did not feel comfortable enough not being able to gain citizenship for (at that time ) decades, nor the right to vote (ever, at that time). Things have changed somewhat (seemingly with both citizenship periods and women voting) but I would be remiss if I were to say that as a person of color, Switzerland is as open to people like me as some other countries. They aren’t. Now, America, my home country, is no picnic either so….yeah.
I traveled extensively in Switzerland. It’s a beautiful country, but as far as living there… it’s not for me. It’s hard to explain… but it’s a little too perfect. “I like to play with toy train sets, but I would not like to live in a toy train set”. If that makes any sense. Austria would be more preferable, as it’s not as “straight jacket” as Switzerland. Besides I’m a North American and I like Canada… it’s my home and a good place to live.
After living in Vienna for 11 years, I will be moving to Zug in 1 month. I was not actively looking to move to Switzerland, but it just happened that I was laid off from my last job, and since I was covering an international area from Vienna, the next offers I could find there were smaller companies with a lower pay, so the next position I found which would be compatible to what I had previously happens to be in Zug. I am not moving to Zug because of lower taxes there, but because my employer is there and I definitely would never want to lose my precious life time in commuting.
I am always puzzled by the sequence of the processes of entering Switzerland. The stories of people who are being told that they can not sign a rent contract without a residence permit or employers saying you need a residence permit before you can apply for a job, sound like a built-in deadlock in the process. Then I know ex-colleagues who have moved to Switzerland and have started working in comparable jobs there. So somewhere there is a way. In my case, we would be talking about a 52-year-old senior software development role as a Dutch citizen being single. I would probably apply for a job in Chur.
Its not accurate statement that in switzerland personal taxation does not vary. In zug you would pay 8% zurich also similar around 10%+ if u go south to french cantons u go up to 30%. Depending on your income saving on taxes can massively overlap extra housing expenses. Zug is extremely expensive to pay housing but you save a lot on taxes.
10:45 Brilliant, I love it. Just one small thing about the 12 to 10 years you have to live in Switzerland to become a citizen: What still is important for Switzerland since hundreds of years is a thing called a “Heimatort”, that translates to homeland place, loosely, or the native location of a person. Some families live for example in Zürich since the 18 hundreds but their native family location is Bern for example. If you apply for citizenship, you not only become Swiss, but also a native of Zürich, if you apply there. The origin of this may be, in ancient times, where there was no welfare system in place, no pension funds, healthcare or some sort of unemployment insurance, if a person fell ill, disabled or was too old to work, or fell into poverty and had no family to support him/her, the “Heimatort” had to house, feed and support the person. So if you are the example mentioned above, who lives in Zürich but your “Heimatort” is still a place your ancestor was a citizen from, you must apply for citizenship in the city of Zürich to become a “real” citizen of Zürich. That’s one reason why a municipality still has so many hoops to jump through, before anybody, if foreign or just from another canton, will accept somebody as a citizen. Also, to come back to the 10 years, you have to live in Switzerland before you can apply for citizenship: that’s unfortunately not totally correct, what’s missing here is a rather crucial must: you have to live those years in basically one place. If you move around a lot across the country or just move to a neighboring village or town: the 10 years will start at zero every time you go to the respective administration to register yourself after moving – well, that’s one thing that’s important as heck too, and to never ever forget to do, as I said, even if you move to the next village, you have to register yourself there, with fees of course, and – the 10 years will start again at this point at that place.
I would not ask that guy for advise on tax favorable location. According to him all Cantons are pretty much the same in taxation, so choose Zurich or Vaud he says. That has to be the worst advise I have ever heard. Anyone living in CH for any length of time would know : If you dont like paying high tax dont move to French cantons. But more importantly the municipalities matter the most in taxation. For a person earning 500,000 a year the difference in annual taxes between municipalities could be from -17 to + 25 thousands depending on current municipality of residency. There are handy online calculators that could tell you what your total annual tax would be for each canton and each municipality. Never buy property or move without checking that first.
I’m a Swiss citizen who currently lives in Ireland. After 12 years abroad I am now considering moving back to Switzerland. Easy enough legally speaking as I am Swiss. I own property in Ireland so that will complicate taxation slightly, especially because I am drawing an income from it. But looking forward to moving back. My kids don’t speak German and that’s the main issue right now.
Iam confused where my family will move.. our first was CAnada but after findout that it wasnt safe i backward..now i heard that Sweetzerland have good living community safe and beautiful country.. me and my husband run a business we are handling 2 company but UAE cant give us what we want for Future. So as an investor i think Sweetzerland is a good place to live and do business as well.
Very insightful, useful information is provided in this article. I recognize a strong Russian accent of the Swiss tax advisor 🙂 It is a good idea to elaborate on such a formal business matter as taxation in a very relaxed atmosphere of a vibrant city full of people, and nice background. I’m the kind of person who is naturally not interested in finance-related blogs, but enjoyed perusal the whole article. 💮
You have to be a super qualified worker to have a chance, or very rich. I moved with a PhD and have an average paying job and great quality of life. But taxation IS enforced and you have got to do your job as a citizen, of which paying taxes is a part. And you’ve got to learn the language where you live if you want to maintain your residency long term.
Switzerland as a concept does welcome immigrants but the swiss people are getting actually fed up increasingly by the increase of population. Zurich during rush hour is insufferable and citizens are extremely stressed out by the density stress in the city (we went as a very small country from 6 Million to nearly 10 Million within a few decades) and it’s noticeable in bad ways. Many prestigious positions are occupied by germans and non-locals for reasons unknown, as if the swiss population was selling out their country and was lacking the confidence in their own competence to occupy those positions themselves. There so many little, daily things that start feeling off and alienating to me. So yeah, please go somewhere else, but thanks for the consideration.
The taxes are not the issue……health insurance is. LaMa is mandatory and depending on the compagne that provides it, it is very expensive and covers almost nothing…..just the very basic…..like ….not dying. If you add up a booster one, then not only does it become super expensive but beware of your age when entering the country. Forget dental and eyes…..it is not covered and if so, it will not cover a tooth that has already been treated. You’ll have to finance this yourself
being a Chinese and studied in Montreux for many years, i truly miss the time there, and unfortunately I dont think i could possibly move there since its quite difficult to obtain a job and get a b permit again, and I did consult some immigrant experts and they said an 8M CHF asset is required to even intial the immigrant application, i guess the easiest way is to marry a local😅
Hello, dear Sander, could you please tell me what are the 5 or 10 characteristics that one should consider when choosing a canton? Aiming to get residency and in the future a Swiss passport for a doctor And among these German-speaking cantons, which one is suitable for an Iranian to at least enter there? For example, the components that I know myself; Lower taxes, easier to give B residence, and easier to convert to C residence and cheaper food and health care available… Consider that I have a Blue Card and permanent residence in Germany and registered as a MD., my first goal is to get C residence in Switzerland. And my final goal is, the Swiss red passport, and living in Swiss. Thanks Here’s a subjective ranking from perceived easy to hard about cantons, which l knew them: Appenzell Innerrhoden: This canton is often considered to have a straightforward naturalization process, especially if you have lived there for a long time and integrated into the local community. Appenzell Ausserrhoden: Similar to its sister canton, Appenzell Ausserrhoden is also known for having a relatively straightforward naturalization process compared to larger cantons. Schwyz: Schwyz is known to have a relatively straightforward naturalization process for those who have been living there for a substantial period and meet the integration requirements. Glarus: Glarus is another canton with a naturalization process that is perceived to be less complex than some larger cantons. Uri: Uri is a smaller canton, and naturalization procedures may be more straightforward compared to larger urban cantons.
What about the additional “WEALTH TAX,” on top of lump sum tax? I now really confused by what he says compared to the “summary” of taxation rules for non-citizens whi are not taking up any remunerated work while in the country. No disrespect… I’m sure it’s me or the new changes made by CH, eg for those over 55. When I studied and worked in Switzerland decades ago, one had to bring todays equivalent of $6.3 million (USD… I was at a US university so recall it in dollars). I had a student visa and wasn’t taking someone’s job. The bank I entered told me the minimum deposit, and that then was for individuals seeking longer term visas… but I thought the requirement for dollars has lowered actually, to help the economy by having residents who can easily be kicked out (esp if having to apply for a visa year by year as for post-2021 any UK, USA or Canadian citizens, just yo continue to stay without being a citizen, which I DO SEE takes 10 years and abiut $6-7 million in deposit in a Swiss bank). Also: as a young person seeking an exciting life (social life, cultural) I’d live even now in London, NYC, Paris…. If you love nature and you seek quiet, organized and mutually respectful conduct then yes to Zurich near the lake, Geneva, etc. and most of all, the highest mountains. The latter are among the most beautiful places on all the earth. I am impressed at the Swiss efficiency, including accuracy of information… I do feel concern when the advisor here says ANY blemish in any database even a tabloid newspaper can result in a bar to entry longer than merely 3 months….
Also interesting saying about integration of foreigners. This did not work as it was planned some years ago. If it was succesful you wouldn’t find so many nationalities separated from one another. Good example is albanians or turks. They have their own “country” there and seem often not “integrated” as you would have thought (nothing bad meant about turks or albanians)
Hello dear Sander. I am Noé Ricardo Arellano Velázquez, member of the Swiss Mathematical Society . I am Bachelor in physics and mathematics, I live in Mexico, work as a vigilant earn around $354 usa monthly. Mexican Universities don’t want to hire me by envy. I have published formulas at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology I discovered when I was a student. They have been downloaded around 317 times from : Yale university, university of Toronto, university of Adelaide, University of Massachusetts, University of Cincinnati, university of Bogazici, Norwegian university of Science and Technology and more; France, England, Italy, Germany, China, Singapore and more. I wanted to move to Switzerland to work, but it’s very very hard to get a job. I am 62 years old.
This idea of moving to a place because of high salaries and low taxes is just naive. People are not stupid. If they know the population is making more money and paying less taxes, of course they will try to take advantage of that. I see Zurich about to explode because of so many people wanting to live there, and willing to accept what the market does to them, by increasing the prices of everything and manipulating people with the high demand in the city. I wonder until when this will continue to work, because the situation is getting out of control. Cost of living doesn’t stop growing, salaries are actually getting reduced and the competition is going insane, because people are willing to accept any kind of salary just to live and work in the city. A huge problem that doesn’t seem to be solved so easily.
I thought the tax code imposed a lump sum yearly based on either one’s income or one’s expenditures,,,, so you can now APPLY to live in CH year by year, with an income of about the amount this gentleman states (as little as $100,000 to $250,000) then it’s NOT 300,000 CHF per year if you are not taking anyone else jib slot, you are just contributing by spending money. Right? I’d looked and never seen a minimum of 300,000 CHF listed for everybody. For the “wealth tax,” YES. Am I quite misinformed?
I always wanted to move to Switzerland, but im from third world country, and not rich yet I wonder if its worthy to move there, or its just better to choose some other more affordable country But whats the point of life if your dream is not bug enough? As im just 24 i still cant figure out where to aim
Basically: From the EU -> get a job offer -> get a permit to work in Switzerland From outside of the EU -> -> Be highly educated ( Masters Degree and up ) and fill a lack of skills in Switzerland & get job offer -> Be rich –> Gain entry to Switzerland If you are poor and from a out of EU country and not highly educated… Sorry you can’t come.
Excuse me, guest workers from EU say they have to leave the country every 3 months, then can return after a while with permission. UA and CANADIAN and UK citizens do have some simpler avenues for entry. I’m reading summaries as well from the Federal Tex code in Switzerland. Perhaps the summary is simplified a bit too much? I’m now thoroughly confused.
Hi, I am EU citizen, my husband is Australian. We are thinking about buying a small flat in CH now and rent it for 2.5 years when we in Australia. Would we be allow to do it? If so what steps (apart from buying the place) we would have to fulfill, please? Also, what would be the taxt implication for that scenario? We want to get a place in CH now as we are selling our place in the UK now, but due to schooling situation we are not able to move to CH till 2025.
Thank you for your answears. After we agree on the lump sum am i limited in any way can i buy as mutch as i want can i have 2 big houses / manison in 2 different region of the country ? Aaa yes offcourse best to stay in speed limits but still i hear most people violaye it if ever so sligtly by a few km//hour how will it affect me what will my fine be based of ? Thank you
Hi 3 questions is there a limit to how mutch i can earn by trading forex and earning millions a year and still pau the smallest part of lump sum ? what part of the country is the warmest with longest summer and shortest winters ? And number 3 i heard that the speed cameras are everywhere and that you will pay a part of your annual income in fines hwo does that work if you have lump sum tax ? and all my earning are from online trading forex ? Thank You
Hi . How are you ? Thanks for your good article and information . I am 34 years old and single. I live in Iran. I was a primary school teacher who resigned because I didn’t want to work for the government . Now I am a first class driver. I also have a forklift, bus and tractor driver’s licences . I did labor and construction work, animal husbandry, butchery, home appliance sales, polyethylene pipe welding, accounting, processing, and even I worked in a recyclingcentre . My bachelor’s degree is agricultural economics. Currently, I am a truck driver CDL A . It’s my dream to live in your country . For work or study . Please guide me . Help me please . Thank you for your help and kindness. My mother tongue is Turkish and Persian ( Farsi ) . And I’m relatively fluent in English . please guide me . thank you .
I live in Switzerland and this article is a load of Sh**t all the hidden taxes are not mentioned and the costs to live in any of the cities that were mentioned is completely insane. Just listen to the start of the article quote if you had 3 million chf you would only pay 300,000 CHF per year and then all to other costs. And you never own a house in Switzerland, as soon as you pay the bank back you then pay taxes like if you were renting it. If this is what a tax account is telling you I would say pack your 3 million and go somewhere the sun shines.
Stealing jobs from the locals? 😅 The guy had definitely integrated very well as he has acquired a mindset of a Swiss. I was headhunted from another EU country to come here and work in IT. Switzerland does not always have the required skill sets. Also, I earn ok money and all my taxes are paid. Swiss people need to change their mindset asap! And the nature is stunning but do difficult to access if you don’t travel by train, which is very expensive. My company pays for my car and petrol, therefore travel by train does not make sense, even with a half tax card which also is paid by my employer. I’m not bitter or anything, I’m grateful for the opportunity but people here lack empathy and that is the main reason why the cities are soulless and impossible to integrate. I’d suggest every Swiss person to watch the oldest movie in the world called ‘Metropolis’.
Mr. Sanders, Switzerland has lost its superbe since the banking secrecy and the country’s legendary neutrality were abandoned. Europe is collapsing economically and socially. As a Russian citizen, why don’t you promote immigration to Russia? The country needs a lot of human ressources and is currently experiencing an investment and economic boom. It would make much more sense.
Fairy tales over fairy tales from this guy… CH doesnt care, if its people with a black vest. At some point oligarch money gets confiscated and absorbed by the state. So basically its beneficial for CH to even accept bad guys. CH only cares about money. “Becoming a better person” through citizenship xD. The number of people born in Switzerland and yet dont have cititzenship is outrageous due to the overly strict immigration rules. 40 % of the permanent resident population dont have a Swiss ID. In some cantons rules are so strict, even people who were born there, never get the chance to become a Swiss citizen. Also tax evasion is seen as a petty offense here and not as described in the article. Furthermore, taxes for people with a normal or slightly above average income (80k – 120k) are pretty high. I was earning 84k/ year gross, and had to pay around 30 % taxes. People tend to forget that you have to pay health insurance by yourself and it is quite the sum / month. If you take this into account, taxes are only slightly better than elsewhere. On the expenses side you’ll have to pay around 3k CHF/month/child if you want them to be looked after during work days by child care. Cost of living, especially housing, is outrageously high here. I pay triple the amount of what I would have to pay in Germany for a comparable appartment (2.8k/ month). So if you’re rich and use the encouragement of the Swiss government to evade taxes, you can have a good life in Switzerland.