How to Move to Switzerland: Full Guide (2025)

Mountain village of Lauterbrunnen in the Swiss Alps


Jump to: Quick Facts · Living Essentials · Pros · Cons · Visas Guide · Residency & Citizenship · Business · Resources

Interested in moving to Switzerland? Here’s what you need to know:

🇨🇭 Switzerland at a Glance

  • Small but mighty! Switzerland is compact at 41,280 sq. km (15,940 sq. mi) with a population of about 9.1 million.
  • Landlocked Neighbor: Surrounded by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein—no beaches, lots of mountains!
  • Alpine Life: Most of Switzerland is covered by Alps; people mainly live on the Swiss Plateau (the flattest bit between the Alps and Jura mountains).
  • Swiss Confederation: Officially a parliamentary republic with 26 cantons; Bern is the seat of federal power.
  • Super Wealthy: Ranks as one of the world’s richest countries, with the 2nd highest GDP per capita globally.
  • Famous For Food: Swiss cheese, chocolate, fondue—yes, it’s as delicious as you think.
  • Manufacturing Hub: Economy focused on high-tech goods, health, pharmaceuticals, chemicals—plus, the Swiss make half the world’s watches!
  • Foreigners Welcome-ish: About 25% of residents are foreign-born, but moving here isn’t easy, especially for non-EU/EFTA nationals (see Visas section for quotas).

🏠 Living Essentials

  • Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)
  • Spoken Languages: Mostly German (with Swiss German dialects); French, Italian, and Romansh also spoken. English widely understood in cities.
  • Major Religions: Roman Catholic (38%), Swiss Reformed Christian (28%), other Christian (6%), and 21% non-denominational.
  • Biggest Cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne

🤔 Why Choose Switzerland

  • Super Safe: Extremely low crime, strict laws, and very visible police make it a peaceful place to live.
  • Rock-Solid Economy: Low unemployment, high salaries, and strong purchasing power—opportunities abound!
  • Squeaky Clean: Cities are immaculate; little to no pollution, and the air is truly fresh.
  • Top Quality of Life: Zurich and Geneva score Top 10 worldwide for healthcare, cleanliness, transport, and more.
  • Financial Secure: Strong banking system and a tradition of neutrality attract global wealth.
  • Food Lovers Rejoice: Over 450 types of cheese, 200+ breads, and fabulous pastries, chocolates, wines, and beers. A healthy, local-food culture.
  • A+ Education & Healthcare: World-class schools and universities—and yes, excellent healthcare (but costs extra).
  • Public Transport Perfection: Trains and buses are always on time—expect Swiss punctuality in all services.
  • Tax Benefits: Among the lowest overall tax rates in the developed world; federal tax tops out at 11.5% (cantons vary).
  • Outdoor Paradise: Love skiing, hiking, snowboarding, or mountain adventures? This is your playground.
  • Efficient and Professional: No-nonsense bureaucracy—Swiss business culture values professionalism and punctuality.

⚠️ Switzerland Challenges

Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.

  • Very Expensive: Cost of living is sky-high. A 1-bedroom in Zurich’s center runs about $1,800-$2,300/month. Everyday goods cost more, too.
  • Serious Folks: The Swiss can come across as reserved and rule-bound—even at home (quiet hours are enforced!).
  • Integration is Hard: Being a foreigner (ausländer) can feel isolating. Swiss society favors locals, though major cities are a bit more diverse.
  • Language Barriers: Swiss German (and sometimes French) proficiency is key for full integration.
  • Tough Paperwork: Residency and citizenship are notoriously difficult to obtain—even after years.
  • Finding Work is Tricky: Jobs are competitive, especially for newcomers (most options in international companies). Spouses may find it tougher. Apartments also hard to snag; rental agencies are your friend.
    • Hot sectors: Finance, technology, and pharmaceuticals. Pro tip: message Swiss recruiters on LinkedIn for the inside scoop!
  • Making Friends is Slow: Swiss people tend to keep to themselves; many expats find social circles via local international communities.
Political poster depicting outsiders in Switzerland as "black sheep"
A political poster from Switzerland that depicts foreigners as unwanted black sheep

🛂 Swiss Visa Guide

  • Work permits in Switzerland are decided by the canton – your nationality and professional skill-set are key to your eligibility.
  • Annual quotas keep competition fierce for Swiss work permits!
  • L permits: for short-term jobs (less than 1 year).
  • B permits: for long-term stays.

Annual Quotas (2024):

  • Non-EU/EFTA: 8,500 spots total (4,000 L permits, 4,500 B permits).
  • EU/EFTA providers: 3,000 L permits, 500 B permits.
  • UK nationals: 1,400 L permits, 2,100 B permits.
  • Croatian nationals: No quota from January 1, 2025—free pass!

EU/EFTA Nationals:

  • Job search: Enter Switzerland for up to 3 months to job hunt (extendable to 6 months if searching actively).
  • Register with local authorities within 14 days of arrival.

Non-EU/EFTA Nationals:

  • Harder to get in: Swiss employers must prove no suitable local was available before offering you a position.
  • Priority: Goes to highly skilled specialists/managers with degrees and professional experience.
  • Language skills: Give you an advantage!
  • Permit type: Pass all checks, get an L permit (valid for 1 year, extendable to 2).
  • Foreign students/professional trainees: Also usually receive L permits.

Job Switching:

  • EU/EFTA with B permit: Easy job changes.
  • Non-EU/EFTA: Changing jobs = more paperwork and approvals.

Family Reunification:

  • Language proficiency required for most family reunion visas (except families of L permit holders).

🛬 Residency and Citizenship

Getting a residence permit in Switzerland is tricky!

  • Rules differ for EU/EFTA nationals vs “Third State” nationals.

Permanent Residency (C Permit):

  • EU/EFTA nationals: Apply after 5 years uninterrupted stay.
  • Non-EU/EFTA: Usually after 10 years (but 5 years for US/Canadian citizens).
  • EU/EFTA ‘B’ permit: First step for those with a work contract (12+ months), valid for 5 years. Also available if you prove financial self-sufficiency.
  • Non-EU/EFTA ‘B’ permit: Limited, valid for 1 year, tied to the issuing canton and employer.
  • Federal approval required for non-EU/EFTA permits.

Swiss Citizenship:

  • By birth: If at least one parent is Swiss.
  • By naturalization: After 10 years in Switzerland (3 of last 5 years before application must be in Switzerland).
  • Language test: Must show proficiency in a Swiss language relevant to your municipality.
  • Integration: Must demonstrate knowledge of Swiss life, customs, and no legal issues.
  • Need a C permit before applying.
  • By marriage: After 3 years married to a Swiss and 5 years in Switzerland (6 years marriage if living abroad).

💼 Business in Switzerland

Self-Employment:

  • EU/EFTA nationals only: Apply for a permit to live/self-employ up to 5 years (may be revoked if not financially self-sufficient).
  • Must register a company in Switzerland, provide a business plan, and proof of income.
  • Non-EU/EFTA nationals: Usually NOT eligible for self-employment permits.

Starting a Business:

  • Anyone can register a business in Switzerland (even from abroad!).
  • Operating in Switzerland: Need a work/residency permit first.
  • Register sole proprietorship/partnership: Can be done online—even before arrival.
  • For latest info: Check the official SME Portal (German, French, Italian).

📚 Helpful Resources

  • Federal Office for Migration – Official website with extensive info (available in multiple languages).
  • Jobs.ch – Switzerland’s leading job portal, covering a wide range of professional roles across German, French, and Italian-speaking regions

How to Move: The Book!

I’m putting together a practical, step-by-step guide on how to move abroad – and I need your help! In return, you’ll get a FREE copy of the book. Please see this page for details!

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44 replies on “How to Move to Switzerland: Full Guide (2025)”

Hello, I’m Ardiana, I’m 25 years old, I was born and raised in Kosovo, but now I’ve been living in Canada for 2 years.
But now I want to emigrate and work in Switzerland, I have my family there, my brothers.
I live in Canada without a family.
I have a Canadian Residence Permit (PR).
How is it possible to become a resident of Switzerland?

THAN YOU

Hi Ardiana, the first step is to get a job offer from a Swiss company. Can your brothers help with that? Are they working there?

My great great grandparents both came from Bern, Switzerland. I have visited Switzerland three times. I and my wife are retired and wish to possibly spend 6 months to one year ion Switzerland. Would I be able to do this? I live on a pension and Social Security which amounts to a little over $60,000 a year. Would that be enough be comfortable in the Bern area?

Hi Jerry, you can spend up to 90 days out of any 180 day period in Switzerland if you have a US passport. So you could potentially do two trips, 90 days each, as long as there’s a 90 day break in between. Since you won’t have the benefit of signing a long term lease, your rental costs would be higher than typical. As far as costs go, I think you’re in a better position to answer that question as you have already visited three times! It depends on the specific accommodation prices – I would start with researching this for the Bern area.

Hi There my name is Rafael citizen of Angola that is an African country i am a teacher and i also work as pressure test technician i want to move to switzerland i want some clear instructions and information about it. i am looking forward to receiving your reply.

Best regards.

Hi Rafael, your best option is to find a job from a Swiss employer first. It’s not an easy country to move to!

Hello am a Daniel a Kenyan university student, I have great admirations for Switzerland culture, I would love to work over there how and if possible become a citizen. How will I achieve this aspiration

Hi Daniel, you will have to do some research about what jobs are in demand in Switzerland and go from there. Lots of people want to move there – very competitive!

Hi Yosef, you’ll have to apply for jobs in Switzerland directly. Have you reached out to recruiters on LinkedIn for your chosen field?

Hi Jean, short answer: probably. Specifics can be found on the Immigration portal of the relevant canton. Full list here: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/sem/kontakt/kantonale_behoerden/adressen_kantone_und.html

For example, here is the one for Bern. https://www.migration.sid.be.ch/de/start/einreise/familiennachzug.html

Scroll down to the “For Swiss citizens” section for detailed requirements of how a Swiss citizen (your partner) can get you a “B” permit. You’ll have to auto-translate the page into English.

Hello, I’m Nshuti, I’m 27 years old, I was born and raised in KIGALI, but now I’ve been living in RWANDA .
But now I want to emigrate and work in Switzerland,
I have a Rwandan Residence Permit (PR).
How is it possible to become a resident of Switzerland? thank you

Hi, Switzerland is not an easy place to move to! You should look for a job from a Swiss employer as a way to get started.

Hi
I am Abobakr Alfakih
From sana’a – yemen
I have wife and 3 child
I think you know abuot the satiuetion in yemen
What can i do to come and move and Immigration to
Swiss
Can you help

Hi Abobakr, are you looking for refugee status in the EU? I’m afraid I don’t know much about this path. Otherwise, immigrating to Switzerland is not an easy task!

Hello
I am a 58-year-old man with a family of 2 daughters and my wife. I am retired and have a decent income. As I have read, I can live in Switzerland by paying a special tax. Can you explain the conditions of this method more precisely?
Thankful

Hello, I am an Indian by origin and I would like to settle in Switzerland, Can I freelance in Switzerland.?

Hello Nick, and thank you for writing this article.

I’m French married to a US citizen. We’re both self-employed and considering immigrating to Switzerland in 2024. Your article says I’m eligible for self-employment permits in Switzerland as an EU national but my wife isn’t as Americans are considered Third State nationals.

Would you have any tips or recommendations that would help us make it possible still? Would she absolutely need to find a Swiss employer for us both to get a chance?

Hi Alex, thanks for stopping by! Two non-Swiss, both attempting to be self-employed in Switzerland – this is the immigration game on “Hard Mode” and I salute you 🙂

I’ve looked into this some more and I’m seeing some conflicting information. For example, this page states: “[only] Holders of a valid C permit (settlement permit for third-country nationals), the spouse of a C permit holder or the spouse of a Swiss citizen have the legal right to establish their own business in Switzerland.”

On the other hand, this page states:
[a third country national can take up self-employment if]: The foreign citizen is married to or living in a registered partnership with an EU-/EFTA member state citizen

My approach would be: decide which canton(s) you’re targeting, and get in touch directly with them to see whether you can both be self-employed. There may or may not be income requirements. Good luck!

Hi, my name is Robert and I’m from Poland, I moved to UK 20 years ago where I worked and saved some money. I was thinking to move to Switzerland

Good luck, Rob! Switzerland is pretty expensive, but salaries are good in the right sector. Poland is also much better than it was 20 years ago, no?

Hello Nick, can you pls give more info on the cons of immigration and why the Swiss government creates these rules (immigration injustice) ?

The biggest con to immigration is that it doesn’t actually lead to increased levels of happiness (unless you’re fleeing a really bad situation). As for Switzerland, I’m not sure about the historical origins of their immigration policy but it has always been a tricky place to move to (especially for non-EU passport holders). However, there are plenty of foreign professionals working there (e.g. in the tech sector) so if you really want to make it happen, it’s possible.

Hi, I’m from Indonesia. Just visited Schengen countries with few days stop by in Zurich few months ago with package travel. I plan to visit Switzerland alone with longer time. Would you mind giving me an advise.

Hi, thanks for visiting the website (if you want tips for travel, check out our partner site: https://sologuides.com/). Switzerland is an expensive place, even for a visit! Would suggest planning well ahead so you get the most out of your trip. You will need a Schengen visa for stays under 90 days (https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/canada/en/home/visa/entry-ch.html) and a National Swiss visa if staying longer than 90 days (https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/canada/en/home/visa/entry-ch/more-90-days.html)

Hey there,
I’m a 30-year-old biological researcher from Iran. Is there any chance that I can immigrate to the Switzerland?

It’s not easy to immigrate to Switzerland. I would start by trying to find a job there that matches your experience. Also considering widening your search to other European countries such as France, Germany, Netherlands, etc.

Hi, Nick!

First thank you for this website that act as a lighthouse for the lost ships like myself.
I am fluent in English, Japanese, Russian, Turkish, Korean and can communicate in French, German at A2 level. Do you think I might have a chance to get a job and relocate to Swiss? The thing is I amnot an engineer or specialist in in IT. My only strongest point is my languages and the experience in working in overseas sales companies.(I am Caucasian but a naturalized citizen of South Korea)

Hi, thank you for the kind words – and congratulations on mastering so many languages! Switzerland is an especially difficult place to relocate to (even for qualified IT professionals). It seems just about everyone wants to live there! One strategy would be to connect with Swiss recruiters on LinkedIn and see whether your skills and experience qualify you for any positions over there.

This page has more details about working in Switzerland for non-EU/EFTA nationals: https://www.ch.ch/en/foreign-nationals-in-switzerland/working-in-switzerland/#non-euefta-nationals

Hi, I work as a clown for marketing, motivational shows at schools, hospital shows, birthday parties, how can I get Swiss residency or citizenship?

Hi Nick I still go to school,i can speak English,dutch, Spanish,I want to move to Swiss but I don’t have work I have a daughter and a boyfriend he didn’t go to school,and we don’t have anyone there,I hear swiss is offering people 20 k € to stay for 10 years please I want more information about this

Hi Georgeanne, I have never heard of Switzerland offering people money to move there! Where did you hear about this? Based on your situation it’s unlikely that you can live in Switzerland – I recommend getting a job there first.

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