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Usually, you'll need the rental agreement to obtain the B permit and landlords should be aware of such a situation. As long as you can show that you'll eligible for the permit, it won't be a serious issue. With the rental contract, your passport and ... Read More

I have never regretted moving to Switzerland because of my partner. Nevertheless, it uses preparation. First of all on the "bureaucratic" front. You need to have a permission to stay in Switzerland and/or a visa. This may require that you ... Read More

I have no personal experience with homeschooling in Switzerland. In general: it is possible, but - the canton (as being the responsible authority for education) has to allow it (you have to ask explicitly for permission); - the canton can set ... Read More

Sending and receiving packages is easy in Switzerland. The postal system is highly efficient and the prices are moderate - for Swiss standards, of course. If you register with Swiss Post, at their website, you'll be able to steer the ways in ... Read More

Switzerland has a great mountain scenery and there is an immense walking and hiking network that is perfectly signposted. Walking and hiking is - of course - free. Read More

Better overdressed than underdressed - so: suit and tie. For salaries: look at www.lohnrechner.ch to find salaries for similar positions. It is usual that the future employer asks at the first job interview, what salary you expect, so prepare for ... Read More

Switzerland has great outdoor possibilities: woods, mountains, lakes. Outdoor camping and making open fire is generally allowed and an outdoor holiday is something most kids will definitively love. Scouting and other clubs, as well as schools, will ... Read More

Switzerland has a good road and railway infrastructure and even though there are traffic jams and trains and buses can be crowded at rush hours, delays and overcrowding is limited when compared to many other countries. Apart from the classical ... Read More

If you rent a house, you often pay a fixed amount included in your rent for electricity, water, and so on. This amount must be specifically mentionned in your rent. In most cases, the actual costs for these things are calculated at June 30 each ... Read More

I probably will not have the "golden tip" for you. Finding a good place to live at an affordable price may take quite some time - and you may have to accept a suboptimal place at first, just "to have some place to live" - and ... Read More

Zürich, Geneva and Basel are the most expensive cities. Particularly housing is very expensive in this cities - it can be very tedious to find affordable accomodation here. Housing can be expensive in any other part of Switzerland with low ... Read More

Swiss citizenship while living abroad can be obtained only after having been married to a Swiss for at least 6 years. Additionally, you have to have a "close connection" to Switzerland. This will also hold after the Swiss citizenship law ... Read More

Some advice on finding a job in Switzerland: - If you do not hold an EU-passport, then be aware that a future employer must arrange quite some things to get a work permit for you. In other words: it is easier for a future employer to hire someone ... Read More

Please note, that the laws on naturalisation will change in 2018. I have no detailled law text available (but you may find one if you look in the internet), but it is important that you check the details, and in particular: which law text applies if ... Read More

The simplified procedure requires, that you are "integrated in Switzerland". This includes that you can speak and understand the local language - I don't know exactly what conditions apply (how good you need to speak it). Adoption: ... Read More

Obtaining Swiss citizenship can be a lengthy and expensive procedure. There are two procedures, depending on your personal situation: - the simplified procedure. General requirements: being integrated in Switzerland, respecting Swiss law, no risk ... Read More

German (about 60%), French (about 25%), Italian (about 8%) and Romansh (about 0.6%) are the official languages of Switzerland. Romansh is only spoken in 5 valleys in Graubünden, and all Romansh speaking people will speak German and/or Italian ... Read More

Hi Allesandro, First of all: Zug and Zürich are not that far apart. It's half an hour by train, trains run every 30 minutes at least. Both Zürich and Zug boast in accomodation prices. For accomodation, you can check www.immoscout24.ch. ... Read More

You're welcome - wish you all the best for the Luzern job interview! Read More

Hello Lyshawalks, The main thing about getting a permit to stay in Switzerland is: proving that you can provide in your own income. In your situation, I would see two possible ways to do so. 1. Find a job. This can be pretty hard if you are ... Read More

Housing and (mandatory) health insurance will probably form the top-two expenses when you come to live in Switzerland. Where Finding a place to live in the larger cities (Geneva, Basel, Zurich) can be extremely difficult - paying for your home ... Read More

Switzerland is expensive (be it Zürich, Geneva, Berne or another place). But salaries are usually in line with the high costs of living. The Swiss franc is a very strong currency and considered a "safe haven" in times of uncertainty ... Read More

Jungfrau will start from Interlaken, Titlis will start from Engelberg - so when it comes to "saving some time", it will also depend on your other plans. Jungfrau is a unique rail experience up to about 10,000 feet. Titlis ab Engelberg is ... Read More

At frist sight it is not that easy to socialize with the Swiss. The stereotype Swiss is closed, reserved and "not too open for something new". When you've just moved to Switzerland, don't expect your neighbours to pay a ... Read More

A basic health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland and the city council will check whether you hold such an insurance or not. There are many insurance companies to choose from, yet the coverage of the basic health insurance is identical for all ... Read More

In doing business in Switzerland, consider: - Take your time. Swiss don't decide "on the spot". A try to make a quick deal will be regarded as "superficial" or "without serious interest" by your Swiss business ... Read More

That depends on the work you are looking for and the place in Switzerland you want to work. Switzerland has several official languages. About 2/3 of the population speaks German (with a strong dialect), mainly in the middle, the north and the east ... Read More

4000 chf/month will allow you to live at a bare basic level in Switzerland, but will hardly allow for any extras. Switzerland is expensive, particularly living (accomodation) in the cities. The amounts mentionned above by Steffifi are realistic and ... Read More

Geneva happens to be one of the most expensive cities when it comes to buying property. Look for yourself at www.immoscout24.ch for offers and prices. The good news: interest rates for mortgages are at a historic low. A mortgage for less than 1% ... Read More

Hallo haim41, The first step towards "moving to any part in Switzerland" would be: organise a residence permit. As long as you hold an EU passport, this should be done in the following way: - Take care that you can show that you can ... Read More

Of course, Switzerland has fantastic scenery and it may be very attractive to live somewhere in the mountains. Be aware, though, that distances to towns an cities can be considerably, and that weather conditions high in the mountains may effect ... Read More

Traditionally, expats mention Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Berne and Lausanne as good cities to live in. This is true - but the living has its price as well. Prices for housing can be astronomous and it may be very hard to find something suitable at ... Read More

Switzerland is as safe as its reputation predicts. Criminality rate is low and social control relatively high, particularly in the countryside. There are no explicit "very dangerous and unsafe" places to go during day or night - ... Read More

Getting a job should be your first concern whenever you have plans to come to live here. A permit to stay for Switzerland can only be obtained when you can show that you can provide for yourself - and usually, you need a job (or a pension scheme) ... Read More

Finding friends from your "own" country: usually there are clubs or organisations of people "like you". They organise meetings, drinks, events, and that allows you to meet people from your own country and exchange ... Read More

Apart form thing that generally apply to living abroad, I would give the following specific tips for Switzerland: - Be organised. The Swiss are extremely organised. They plan ahead, they are on time for their meetings and appointments. Being late is ... Read More

For Switzerland, keep in mind that: - if you do not hold aSwiss or European Union Passport, you will only obtain a work permit if your employer can reasonably argue that he cannot find anyone from Switzerland or the European Union. - Unless you look ... Read More

For finding work in Switzerland, please remind: - If you do not hold a passport of Switzerland or any of the European Union countries, you will only get a work permit if your future employer can show, that he was not reasonably able to find a person ... Read More

The most important change of 2015 is the exchange rate of the Swiss franc (CHF). For the last 3.5 years, the Swiss national bank has supported a fixed exchange rate of 1 Euro to 1.20 CHF. The bank stopped this support January 15, 2015 and this lead ... Read More

Hello Dj, In order to get a work permit you must (1) Find a job. If you do not have a Swiss or European Union passport, your employer probably has to show that he cannot find anyone from Switzerland or the EU for the job. Ask the employer - ... Read More

Our daughter was born in hospital (February 2013, Olten SO). The hospital took over the registration procedure with the authorities, this seems to be the default procedure in Switzerland. It requires the following documents of the parents (source: ... Read More

Well, in that case, the "real answer" to the "real question" is: "yes". Read More

Hello Sanchit12, A student visa does not normally allow you to work. Even if your work is an integral part of your study, you'll have to apply for a permit. If you want to work, you need a permit to stay that allows you to work. It does not matter ... Read More

Hello TeoPerry, For most "local" jobs you will be expected to speak the "local" language. That's probably more or less the same in Switzerland and in Brazil. Depending on the part of Switzerland where you want to work, the local language is French, ... Read More

For immigrating into Switzerland, you'll need to show that you can provide in your own income. The "happy few" can do this by showing a well-filled bank account - but most of us can not and will have to work for their income. Thus, the most ... Read More

Hi msc84, I'm glad you could use this information! Whether 5000 CHF net per month is much or not, will also depend on the job and your experience, so I cannot judge that from here. Take care when looking for a house or appartment in canton Zug: ... Read More

Yes, one could say so - though I do not know in which extent that influences salaries. As Switzerland has a direct democracy, there are many elections and referendums, and as a consequence of that, there are a lot of campaigns, political ... Read More

Hello Hadenhester, The salary will depend not only on education, but also on the job on offer, your experience, and the sort of company you're going to work. As taxes and costs of living vary around the country, salaries may vary as well. I made ... Read More

Health insurance comes in two parts. First, a mandatory part which you have to take. You have to show proof of mandatory insurance within 3 months after registering in the town where you live. It is offered by many companies (compare prices at ... Read More

One thing that you must know when coming to Switzerland: this is an expensive country, even if you are used to the (also quite expensive) Scandinavian price levels. Though there is no official minimum wage in Switzerland, you would be mad if you ... Read More

Okay, thanks for your answer. Maybe we forget this thing and focus our energy and time to take care of other things including relocation :)."Dragonbay" is quoting the correct part of the law: 3 years marriage to a Swiss and 5 years living in ... Read More

Okay, that´s why it wasn´t cheaper. We know that it´s expensive but maybe it´s better to take several insurances in the beginning for everyone..?There are two health insurances: There is the *mandatory* insurance ("KVG") which is mandatory for ... Read More

That's more or less correct. Don't be mistaken. 4,000 CHF gross per month looks like a lot of money, but costs of living are high in Switzerland. It is almost impossible to live on 4,000 CHF gross per month for a family with children. At ... Read More

Hi Dim78, I assume that you have Greek nationality. With your passport, you can come to Switzerland to apply for a job. As soon as you have found a job (or can prove that you can provide for your income in another way), the immigration process is ... Read More

Costs of living are exceptionally high in Switzerland, particularly because of the current exchange rates. Because of the financial crisis, euro, pound and US dollar have lost 20-25% against the Swiss franc in the past three years. Therefore, a 6.5 ... Read More

Hello vishal_jaiin, I don't think that so many jobs are unsuitable for vegetarians. Well, a job in a butcher's shop is of course not the thing you're looking for, but for the rest, most jobs should be ok... About food: "Vegetarian" is not the ... Read More

Learning the local language is essential to get a job. If a hotel finds two suitable candidates for a job, of which one speaks the local language and the other doesn't, they'll take the one that speaks the language... I know that sounds hard, but ... Read More

It is important to distinguish between holiday flats/houses and property that serves as permanent accomodation. For holiday accomodation, there are not so many limitations as to being a foreigher or not. On the other hand, in many areas there are ... Read More

Hi Ramu, I can confirm Srinivas details on getting a work permit. The main rule is: If you are not holding an European Union or Swiss passport, an employer can only hire you if he can show that he cannot find any EU or Swiss people for the job. If ... Read More

1500-1750 CHF for a 4 to 4.5 room (that's a 3 bedroom) flat won't be easy to find in Basel itself, and don't expect a big flat for that amount (up to 90 m2). If your husband has found a job at the airport, why don't consider to go and live in France ... Read More

Hi "smoke1", Chances for jobs are the best in international firms. There are quite some with their main office in Switzerland. You'll mainly find them in the bigger cities like Zurich, Basel and Geneva. For local firms, it is very helpful if you ... Read More

Preparation, preparation and preparation are the key success factors for a job interview. Prepare your cv and dossier carefully. Swiss are used to an extensive dossier, including written references of former employers and diploma's (always use ... Read More

Hi Demelene, There are many people and families in Switzerland who have to live from less than 80'000 per year. So that shouldn't be a problem. Zurich city centre is very expensive when it comes to renting a place. You may want to consider to love ... Read More

I agree with you, vijaysrini, that Switzerland is expensive. Eating outside for 12-20 CHF per full meal is in fact a lower boundary, and one needs to compare prices carefully when on a tight budget. Many places offer set menus for lunch at ... Read More

Law differs from canton to canton in Switzerland. Though I have no personal experience in law, I would expect that persons who have studied Swiss law(s) are generally preferred to those who haven't. However, Switzerland is home to the main offices ... Read More

When it comes to taxes, beware the following: - Some of the mandatory social insurances are deducted from your gross income. Examples: unemployment insurance, and the first and second pilar of pension insurance (First pilar is "AHV", second pilar is ... Read More

Some things that may be usefull to know. What to bring and what to leave behind. Many things are relatively expensive in Switzerland, so in general, it is good to "bring" your stuff when you can do so at reasonable costs. An exception comes for ... Read More

Banking shouldn't be a problem in Switzerland, it's one of the national industries right here. Usually, you need to provide legitimation (passport or permit to stay). Not all banks will open an account for people not living in Switzerland. For ... Read More

That's a thing you've got to live with in Switzerland. Companies first ask you what you expect to earn before making an offer themselves. It may be weird, but that's the way things go right here. 6500 net per month should be enough to live on - but ... Read More

Try "Detailhandel" / "Commercio al dettaglio". I can't judge the job contents and responsabilities, so I can't judge whether 6500 net per month is realistic or not. I played a bit with the "Lohnrechner". 27 years old, 2 years experience, ... Read More

This is a typical Swiss thing: at or after a job interview it is quite usual that the employer asks you what your salary expectations are, instead of making an offer. A good help is the "Lohnrechner" / "Calculatore Salariale" ... Read More