The banking secrecy and privacy laws of Switzerland are world-renowned. Starting as a way to protect wealthy European banking interests, Swiss banking secrecy was codified in 1934 with the introduction of the Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks. Switzerland has essentially been one of the largest offshore financial centres and tax havens in the … Read more

Switzerland is a Central European country, home to numerous lakes and mountains, which is particularly well known for its view of the Alps and its really delicious chocolate. From small rural villages, surrounded by green pastures in the summertime, to winter ski spots and cities, Switzerland has so much variety that there’s something for everyone.The … Read more

Switzerland, with its famous chocolate and beautiful scenery, is a popular destination among tourists and expats alike. Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to travel there. This article will walk you through what types of visa are available, based on why you are visiting and how long you intend to stay. It … Read more

Switzerland is a popular place for expats to find work, particularly those who are highly skilled; almost 50% of all executive jobs in the country are filled by foreigners. The country’s appeal is largely due to high salaries and a generally high standard of living. Consequently, competition for jobs is fierce, and opportunities are even … Read more

The only way to register with the health system in Switzerland is to take out private health insurance (Soziale Krankenversicherung / Assurance maladie / Assicurazione-Mallatie) with a recognised Swiss healthcare insurance provider. There is no national health insurance scheme and employers do not offer healthcare plans.Insurance is provided at two levels, basic and supplementary. Basic … Read more

Every Swiss resident faces the minimum monthly cost of a premium on a private health insurance policy. Healthcare cannot be accessed without it.Simply trying to stay well without insurance is not an option as health insurance is compulsory for all residents, one policy per individual, and anyone who does not voluntarily take out insurance within … Read more

Switzerland spends more than any other European country on its healthcare, but the costs of actual treatment are paid directly by patients in the first instance. Every resident is required by law to have private health insurance to access the healthcare system, but before the insured patient can make a claim they are expected to … Read more

Switzerland has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, so it’s no wonder that pre-natal and post-natal care in the country ranks among the highest globally in terms of quality. On average, women living in Switzerland give birth at 30.7 years of age. In 2018 there were 87,851 live births in the country, … Read more

Around a third of medications in Switzerland can only be obtained with a prescription, whilst the rest can be bought over the counter in a pharmacy. To obtain a prescription an individual needs to visit their doctor, who will write one out. Prescription medication is covered by the Swiss Mandatory Health Insurance (MHI), therefore its … Read more

With its beautiful scenery and low unemployment and crime rate, Switzerland is considered one of the countries in the world with the highest quality of life and the nation’s healthcare system matches this, ranking among the very best.The country’s healthcare system is mostly organised, funded and overseen by its 26 cantons. The cantons also partly … Read more

Switzerland has climbed seven places, knocking Singapore off the #1 spot in the HSBC Expat Insider survey. As a long-term favourite expat destination, it is no surprise that this stunning country has secured a position in the top 10 every year since 2011, and placed 8th in the 2018 survey.This year’s survey breaks down its … Read more

We are all getting more conscious of the need to look after our planet. Around the world, initiatives to clean up the air, the oceans and the food we eat are taking effect. In the UK for example, shops are required by law to charge for plastic bags, seeing a massive drop in the amount … Read more

Switzerland has a worldwide reputation for low taxation but in reality, residents pay a wide and varied range of taxes. The key to it all will be whereabouts in the country you choose to live.The Constitution of Switzerland sets out the extent to which citizens can be taxed, and citizens are asked to vote for … Read more

It might be easy to assume that all European countries fund and deliver their healthcare services in a similar way, but Switzerland’s health insurance system is a good reminder that expats need to fully plan all areas of their relocation if they want to avoid unexpected bills.Switzerland is a modern, economically successful country whose residents … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Switzerland and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.Expat Parents SwitzerlandFacebook Page | Facebook Group … Read more

Switzerland is known for its clocks, cheese and chocolates, and also the Swiss are known to be punctual and efficient. But, there’s more to Switzerland than this. It is a diverse, cosmopolitan and multilingual nation, and among the top tourist destinations for travellers from around the globe. There are a number of retirees who call … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Switzerland and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.This Off Script Life www.thisoffscriptlife.com Jennifer followed her husband’s job to Zurich … Read more

For most expats and travelers, the word ‘exorbitant’ is what immediately comes to mind when talking about Switzerland. This is hardly surprising, as this Alps country has featured among the top in the list of the ‘Most Expensive Places to Live in the World’ for several years in a row.Almost every single Global Survey on … Read more

Switzerland, with its spectacular natural landscapes, cosmopolitan population, and high standard of living, is an expat magnet. A multilingual country with 26 cantons, Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Romansch and Italian. The country is also an attractive investment destination on account of its robust economy and favorable banking laws. Due to the stable … Read more

Switzerland is a very popular country with expats from around the world who aren’t just looking for job opportunities and a low tax regime, but who are also wanting to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. It would therefore be helpful to give someone thinking of moving to Switzerland an idea of the tax rate they are … Read more

Some countries are famous for their cuisine: the spicy servings of India, the delicate dishes of France and the hearty fare of the UK. But Switzerland has more of a reputation for cuckoo clocks and yodelling than for its food. The alpine nation is seen as a bastion of efficient financial services and a haven … Read more

Mention the words “Switzerland” and “winter” in the same sentence, and there’s a high chance that almost anyone you’re talking to will immediately think of skiing on snow-covered Swiss mountains. Outsiders tend to imagine the whole of Switzerland as a snowy wonderland all through the winter, even though a considerable part of the country enjoys … Read more

Stephen, you're Headmaster at the Geneva English School. Tell us a bit about your role – what does your day-to-day routine look like? There is a lot of routine to the role of Headmaster but plenty that isn’t. For instance, we have a dressing-up celebration today for a local Geneva annual celebration and this year … Read more

Switzerland often tops the list of the best places in the world for expats to live in because of its high standard of living, low crime rate, booming economy, modern infrastructure, scenic beauty and natural resources. However, life in this country isn’t ideal for everyone. There are a few aspects that a foreigner should carefully … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Switzerland and some of the bloggers who write about living there. Europe Diarieshttp://europediaries.com/ The blog of an expat from India who now lives by … Read more

Expats living and working in Switzerland are required to pay Swiss taxes. The taxation system in Switzerland is complex as the 26 cantons and almost 2300 municipalities levy different taxes. Managing your money in a different country can seem daunting, so to make things simpler here are ten finance tips that should come in handy … Read more

Switzerland is a country with a lot of diversity and it is an extremely popular destination with a lot to offer travellers. Living in Switzerland is however quite different from holidaying in Switzerland. This obviously holds true for most countries, but it’s something that most expats tend to forget because it is easy to get … Read more

Switzerland’s cultural and linguistic diversity makes it easy for most European expats to settle down and assimilate. Nevertheless, culture shock is an inescapable reality that any expat has to deal with when moving to a new country. Dealing with culture shock is never easy but a simple way to reduce it is to familiarize yourself … Read more

Moving to a new place is always pretty tough, but it should be a no-brainer if the move is to anywhere in Switzerland! While Switzerland may be a pretty expensive country to live in and that may seem daunting to most, the truth is, if you do move to Switzerland on work, you will be … Read more

The 2014 Expat Explorer Survey says that Switzerland is the most popular destination among expats, followed by Singapore, China and Germany. There are many reasons why expats love living in Switzerland. The economy is strong and inspires confidence in young professionals and businesspersons. The working conditions are favorable and many feel that there is a … Read more

The Swiss healthcare system, known as LAMal, is reputed across Europe for providing top-quality health services and facilities to residents. Switzerland spends approximately 10 percent of its GDP on healthcare and the country ranks among the top OECD countries for medical expenditure. This policy of investing in healthcare ensures that citizens receive a variety of … Read more

Golf is growing in popularity in Switzerland and there are some great golf courses in the region. There are about 90 golf courses in the country and all of these are in relatively close proximity to each other. Golf enthusiasts will especially love playing amidst the picturesque natural scenery that is such a significant part … Read more

Switzerland is a small country with not too many natural resources; but this actually works in favor of its residents because the country invests heavily in its population, considering it to be its most important resource. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2013 Human Capital Report, Switzerland’s investment in education, healthcare and talent is higher … Read more

Switzerland has always been a popular expat hub because of its booming economy and high quality of life. But despite the advantages, it is natural for expats to experience culture shock or homesickness as they attempt to settle in a foreign country. Expats clubs serve as helpful aids during this transition period. Switzerland has a … Read more

Switzerland is known for many things – the fine art of watch-making, spectacular ski slopes and melt-in-the-mouth cheeses, among other things. But there’s something else for which the country is known, and that is its exorbitant cost of living. In fact, the Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva and Bern are often ranked among the top … Read more

Expat Expo is an exhibition for all English speakers across Switzerland. It usually hosts five conferences each year, in Zug, Geneva, Basel, Ticino and Zurich. The next one for 2013 will take place on the 6th of October in Geneva. The exhibition plays host to over 5,000 people each time, and representatives from local businesses … Read more

On paper, Switzerland seems like a fantastic place to live. A top-notch public healthcare and social services system, close proximity to other major European countries, and neutrality in pretty much every war mean that even the prohibitively high tax rate might not put you off. Plus, if you studied French, German or Italian at school, … Read more

In terms of overall well-being and health, Switzerland ranks among the top countries in the world. According to the Better Life Index, which looks at factors such as employment, education and health, Switzerland offers a high quality of life and is an excellent choice for expats. Many people in the UK choose Switzerland for a … Read more

As counter-intuitive as it seems, Switzerland has always seemed to receive a bad reputation on account of the fact that it enjoys a high living standard. For evidence of this, we need look no further than Orson Welles’ famous monologue in The Third Man (based upon similar comments made by the painter McNeill Whistler), in … Read more

by Nancy Bach In other parts of the world, it is known as Lake Geneva. But the Swiss and French know this lovely glacial lake as Lac Leman. I like to call it that so it’s not confused with Geneva Lake, Wisconsin! Its southernmost tip is at Geneva Switzerland; then it stretches up to Lausanne … Read more

by Nancy Bach Views from the heights of Lausanne looking south to the lake with the surrounding Alps, in the crisp, clear Swiss air are impressive. City businessmen sponsored construction of the Sauvabelin Tower, with a 100-foot climb up a circular wooden stairway to make the views even better. Breathe in the tranquility; you may … Read more

by Nancy Bach We loved Swiss trains. As expats we faced uncertainty every day, but we could always count on the trains for grounding. If the scheduled time was 12:30, we knew with certainty that we’d miss the train if we arrived at 12:31. When you’re running late there’s far less stress if you know … Read more

by Nancy Bach After living in Hong Kong for six years, we were ready for a change of pace with our move to Switzerland. Just as we had done in Asia, we wanted to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So we used every weekend and holiday to explore. We took a long drive down … Read more

by Nancy Bach La Douane? What’s that? When we learned we were moving to Switzerland I was elated. I love visiting new countries and learning new languages, so I was excited for the opportunity to add Swiss to my personal language portfolio. It took a while to remember that there is no “Swiss” language. Depending … Read more