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Your guide to moving to Switzerland. Switzerland citizenship, visas and more.
Why live in Switzerland?
One of the wealthiest and happiest places in the world to live and work. For nationals, but for immigrants too. Why are the Swiss happy? A high GDP, high life expectancy and freedom may have something to do with it. Or it might be due to the clean and beautiful surroundings that locals get to enjoy every day, even in the bigger cities.
The public transport is great, people are polite to foreigners and each other, nature is everywhere and the Swiss actually get out there to enjoy it. Clean water comes straight from the ground and you can find little, public fountains to drink from everywhere. Most of the food is organic, fresh and local and there is a large variety of local cheese.
Working in Switzerland, you generally enjoy four to five weeks of paid holiday a year and that is just one of the many benefits workers in the country benefit from. There is universal health care and for your daily dose of mental health and happiness: chocolate. People in Switzerland speak many languages. English and Swiss German of course, but depending on where you are Italian, French and German are also widely spoken.
Switzerland Visas and Permits
Short Term Visitors Visas
Those with citizenship of the European Economic Area are able to travel freely to Switzerland. Others should check their requirements using the VisaHQ app to the right.
Switzerland Long Term Visas
Citizens from the European Economic Area are free to move to Switzerland and work there, but if they wish to work in the country for a period longer than three months a residence permit is required. Special rules apply for citizens from Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
Family Visas
- If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Switzerland, you are probably eligible for residency. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.
- See the citizenship section below for more information on residency or citizenship based on descent.
Retirement Visa
You can access a Switzerland retirement visa if you meet the following conditions.
- You have sufficient funds to support yourself
- You have health insurance
In addition, you must either:
- Be a citizen of a European Union country
or
- Be able to show close ties to Switzerland. This could be having a family member living in the country, or having frequently visited.
Switzerland Citizenship
Here are some of the ways that you can become a citizen of Switzerland
- If one or both of your parents were citizens when you were born, you are probably also a citizen.
- If your spouse is a citizen, you can apply for citizenship after 3 years of marriage and 5 years of residency in Switzerland. If you live abroad, you can apply for citizenship after being married to a Swiss national for 6 years however proving that you have close ties to Switzerland. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.
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