When Americans decide to relocate, Switzerland is one of the best places they consider for relaxation.
The home of the World Bank, Switzerland is a very welcoming country for expats with one fourth of the population are foreigners.
If you are planning on moving from the USA to Switzerland, here’s a detailed guide for you. Let’s dive in
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Benefits of Moving to Switzerland from the USA
The benefits of moving to Switzerland from the U.S are diverse. When you have decided to move, here are some relocation tips for USA to switzerland
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1. Healthcare System
If you are moving to Switzerland, it is legally required to sign up for health insurance in the first three months of your arrival.
That even includes tourists or personnel who are in Switzerland for more than 90 days. You are covered by the health insurance scheme.
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2. Education System
Switzerland is renowned for its education system and expats have reported being delighted with their children’s growth in their Schools.
If you relocate to Switzerland, your children will receive a basic education that will prepare them for whatever further paths they follow in the future. Moreover, Switzerland has a 100% literacy rate.
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3. Safety
No need to worry about school shootings, drive by shootings or the other vices that are prevalent in the USA. Be rest assured, Switzerland is one of the safest countries in Europe.
If you need to know, the county has been neutral in any war since World War 1. In and out, Switzerland is safe.
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4. Sports and Lifestyle
If you like sports and an active lifestyle, Switzerland is a place to be. Switzerland is known for their love of winter sports and also like the rest of Europe enjoy soccer.
You can catch people snowboarding, skiing and or winter fishing. Basel is one popular football club from Switzerland if you love football.
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5. Economy and Job Opportunities
The Swiss economy is stable, with unemployment rate at 4.3% in March 2020. This is one of the lowest rates in the world.
Though foreigners amount to almost half of these numbers, it is a good number considering that this number is higher in the US and other developed economies.
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About 85% of jobs are in the tertiary sector, services to be precise.
Healthcare, retail and construction are the other top sectors which demand the services of US expats.
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Many US expats find work easily in Switzerland. This number favours the highly skilled with almost half of all executive jobs in the country held by foreigners.
This should encourage you if you want to know how to move to Switzerland as an American.
There are many job opportunities in Switzerland for Americans. The average salaries in Switzerland are higher than those in the USA and working conditions and standard of living are generally better too.
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6. Higher Standard of Living
Only a few countries in the world can stand side by side in the issue of standard of living with Switzerland.
Switzerland enjoys a life expectancy of 84 years, three years above the OECD average of 81 years. In contrast, the standard of living in the US is 79.11.
This is due to a good healthcare system, reduced work hours, clean air and reduced pollution.
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Process of Moving to Switzerland from the USA
Now we have established why Switzerland is a glorious destination for expats. How do you, if you are interested, move to Switzerland from the USA?
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In other words, what are the requirements for moving to Switzerland from the USA?
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1. Apply for a Swiss Long-Stay Visa
If you must stay in Switzerland for a period that’s longer than three months, you need a residence permit. This is important in the visa process for moving to Switzerland from the USA.
However, before you can apply for the residence permit, you need to apply for a Switzerland long-stay visa.
The visa is also called the D-visa or National visa.
The D Visa is granted to foreigners who want to move to Switzerland to work or study.
This should not be confused with the Shengen visa which granted foreigners stay up to 90 days within a period of 6 months.
Another difference is that the Schengen visa requirements are coming to all Shengen countries while the D-Visa is only applicable to Switzerland.
Immigrants always confuse this.
The long-stay visa allows foreigners to enter Switzerland so that they can apply for a residence permit.
You can live and work for a long term with the Switzerland residence permit.
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2. Apply for a Residence Permit
You will need a Swiss residency for Americans if you want to stay in Switzerland for more than three months. You have to apply for a Swiss residence permit as long as you are a foreigner.
It is compulsory to apply for the residence permit within two weeks of having entered Switzerland.
Firstly, you have to register at your local Residents Registration Office and after that you will receive the residence permit from the immigration office of the canton you wish to stay.
A canton is a division of the country, more like states and Switzerland contains 26 cantons. The cartons have the final authority to grant you residency or not.
You can apply for a residence permit at the cantonal immigration office of the canton you desire to stay.
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3. Obtain Permanent Residence
Permanent residency is issued by cartons. These cantons have different requirements to grant residency. If you follow their requirements faithfully, you have a chance to get residency.
Some of the most popular cantons for US expats include
- Zurich
- Geneva
- Bern
- Basel
- Uri
- Zurg
Popular Areas to Move Within Switzerland
Switzerland offers many beautiful places to work and live even if you are on a budget.
The cost of living in Switzerland vs USA is not so huge. And it varies from city to city. With the beautiful landscape and lovely environment running throughout the country, where could you live in Switzerland?
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– Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland’s economic powerhouse and largest city. Sometimes confused to be the capital city, it holds the
largest American expatriates in Switzerland.
So why do so many foreigners choose to live in Zurich?
With great bars and restaurants, Zurich houses an excellent transit metro which links to many cities across Europe. What else could you want in life?
– Geneva
Geneva is a luxurious and beautiful place to live. The city is crispy neat and public services are of high standard. It is very safe with a good culture. If you like eating out or mountain climbing, you are in the right place.
– Bern
Bern is home to 130 parks making it a beautiful place to live with your family. High mountains and fresh air gives a stark difference from the murkiness of US city life. With low cost accommodations and health care, Bern is a place to be.
Cost of Moving from the USA to Switzerland
You are interested in moving to Switzerland from the USA and you are wondering how much it is going to cost. Since you are moving entire continents, you might wonder if it won’t be financially draining to move from the USA. We can be your USA to Switzerland moving guide.
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Factors Affecting Moving Costs
The cost of moving is determined by some factors which include:
- Location
- Mandatory Health Insurance policy
- Family members (do you have kids or your spouse with you)
- The amount of luggage you’re moving
- Distance. Moving from the Eastern USA is cheaper than from Western USA. The USA is a very large country.
Average Moving Cost Estimate
International moves are expensive. Moving from the US to Switzerland is flying over the Atlantic, it should cost way more.
The average cost of moving to Switzerland is $3,500. It’s better to consider the services of professional movers.
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Additional Considerations for Relocating
Aside from the rigorosity of moving properties across the Atlantic, there are other implications of moving to Switzerland from the U.S.A. One of such concerns is the tax implication.
The USA and Switzerland have a tax treaty in place, so Americans living in Switzerland are not double taxed.
However, the IRS also does several other potential tax credits and deductions for expats, such as: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Foreign Tax Credit.