When thinking of retiring or relocating to Europe, Switzerland often comes up on many people’s wish lists. That’s hardly surprising because of the country’s natural beauty and high standard of living, but also because Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world. It has a stable political environment, well-developed infrastructure, and an outstanding education system.
Relocating to Switzerland in 2025 could be a dream come true for you, but it’s not the easiest country in the world to move to. That’s why we at Remitly have created this guide to the legal requirements, the best places to stay, transportation options, and other things you’ll need to know before moving to Switzerland.
Getting to know Switzerland
Switzerland is located in the mountainous region of central Europe. Like its neighbors Germany, France, and Italy, it’s a federal republic, and again like them, it’s a highly diverse place—so much so that it has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
The country is divided into 26 administrative regions called cantons. Fun fact, Switzerland doesn’t have an official capital city! Having said that, the de-facto capital is Bern, but it’s Zurich that’s the largest city. Christianity is the largest religion in the country, with approximately 63% of the population identifying as Christians.
Switzerland is often ranked among the top 10 happiest countries in the world.
Why move to Switzerland?
If you’re thinking of making the move to Switzerland, you’re not alone—of its 8.7 million population, some 2.2 million are not Swiss citizens. And as we mentioned, its inhabitants are pretty happy to live there, so it’s clearly a very attractive option.
Natural beauty
Few countries can compete with Switzerland when it comes to spectacular landscapes.
The Alps, one the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in the world, will take your breath away, with snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear lakes giving you a feeling of awe, but also of calm and relaxation.
Such terrain provides world-class skiing in winter, and fantastic hiking and mountain biking in summer. The Swiss are rightly proud of their country’s natural splendor.
High standards of living
As you might expect after what we’ve told you about Switzerland, the country is ranked among the very best for healthcare. Not only will you be treated by well-trained, highly qualified medics, but you’ll also have access to some of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the world.
Job opportunities
Again, Switzerland is ranked among the best countries in terms of economy and development. It’s among the top 10 economies in the world by GDP per capita. Its economic landscape is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, so if you’re an entrepreneur with a good idea and an eye for strategy, you could do well in Switzerland.
All this makes it an appealing destination, especially if you’re looking to move to a place where you can find jobs with good pay, prospects, and perks. It’s particularly strong in finance, technology, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.
Understanding visa requirements when moving to Switzerland in 2025
US citizens can visit Switzerland for up to 90 days without a visa, but must apply for a long-stay visa to remain beyond that. It’s slightly complicated by each canton having its own regulations for visas and work permits, but in general, the most common types relate to work, family, and study.
Swiss work visa
For any job, even a short-term one, U.S. citizens need a work permit. The employer in Switzerland has to show that they couldn’t find a suitable candidate from within Switzerland, the EU or EFTA region, and the Swiss government limits the number of permits available for people from outside those zones each year.
Your employer, government, or organization is usually responsible for submitting the application. However, if you’re self-employed, you’ll have to undertake the process by yourself.
A work visa is only granted to management-level employees, specialists, and other qualified employees. You can find a full breakdown of the procedure, if you do meet all the criteria, on the Swiss government’s website.
Some of the things you’ll need to submit during application include,
- Original copy of authorisation issued by the cantonal authority
- Valid passport
- A recent photograph
- Visa fees
You’ll also have to take out mandatory private health insurance for you and your family members within three months of arriving—more on that later.
Family reunification visa
A family reunification visa is granted to individuals who have a close family member living in Switzerland. This may include parents, spouses, and children.
If you’re after this type of visa, you must prove that you have large enough accommodation—according to Swiss standards—for the whole family, and you can’t be dependent on social assistance.
Student visa
If you’re heading to Switzerland to pursue an academic interest, there are two types of student visa you can apply for.
C visa: This is a short-term visa that provides authorization for a foreign student to stay in the country for up to 90 days. It’s a bit easier to get, and it’s suitable for summer schools, seminars, or language schools that last for the specified amount of time, and doesn’t give you any rights to work.
D visa: This is a long-term visa if you’re intending to stay in the country for more than 90 days to do a degree, for example. It authorizes a one-year stay with the option of extension, and allows you to apply for permission to do up to 15 hours of work per week after the first six months.
For this one, you’ll need a residence permit, a letter of acceptance from your university, and a written confirmation that you’ll leave Switzerland at the end of your study.
Finding a place to live
While it’s among the most expensive countries in the world to live no matter where you choose, prices for accommodation still vary across the country. The cities have very different characters, too.
Zurich is the financial hub of the country, the ideal place for you if you work in IT, manufacturing, financial services or insurance. If you like the idea of a city lifestyle with nature close at hand, Zurich may be the place.
Lausanne, on the shores of Lake Geneva, has some of the best universities including IMD Business School, the International Academy of Sport Science and Technology, and ECAL, the University of Art and Design, among others. It’s also a biotech and engineering hub. It’s a scenic city with a lot of eateries and student-friendly places and activities.
Multicultural Geneva is the global home of many international organizations including the UN, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and a host of others. It’s close to the French and Swiss Alps’ skiing centers and is known for its outstanding quality of life and extremely high cost of living.
The rental process
Renting is much more common than home ownership in Switzerland—in fact, buying property is much more difficult for a non-Swiss citizen than a local, with the law limiting the number of properties that can be sold to foreigners, or even to Swiss companies that are more than 30% overseas-owned.
This varies from canton to canton, whether you’re buying a place to live in it, and so on. The market is highly competitive, too, with demand often outstripping supply. So rental is by far the most likely way to secure accommodation.
To help make the process smoother, consider using the services of local real estate agents who often have insightful information about properties and neighborhoods. You can also rely on online resources such as Homegate and Comparis.
Some of the things you might need to apply include:
- Personal details like name, age, marital status, etc.
- Your profession, employer, and salary
- A reference letter from your employer
- Residency or visa status
- Estimated period of renting
Renting is another aspect of Swiss life that can change from canton to canton. In Geneva, for example, you also have to supply your last three months’ wage slips, proving that the cost of rent is no more than 30% of your total income. And to give you an idea of how competitive it is, you may even need to provide a letter of motivation, explaining why you want that particular property.
The cost of living in Switzerland
Wherever you live in the country, it’s expensive. Geneva is comfortably the costliest city to live, while quieter, rural areas are the cheapest.
At time of writing, the estimated monthly cost of living for a family of four is around $6,500 USD excluding rent. For a single person, the cost is estimated to be around $1,800 USD excluding rent.
A standard, four-room apartment (kitchen, one bedroom, bathroom, living room) in Geneva is likely to be over $2,400 USD per month, in some neighborhoods even higher. In the canton of Jura, by contrast, that same type of apartment might cost around 30% less than that.
So you’ll need a firm grip of your monthly budget, pretty much wherever you are.
Health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland. You’ll need to get cover within three months of entry into the country, and each member of your family must be covered individually.
Hospitals in the country fall under public and private categories, but they’re all well-equipped. In addition to hospitals, pharmacies and drugstores offer a good alternative if you have any general health questions. Pharmacists in the country go through extensive specialist training to ensure they can handle medical or health-related concerns.
Opening a bank account
Switzerland has a global reputation for banking—some of the best-known banks in the world originated there, UBS being by far the biggest of them.
Having a local account isn’t a legal requirement but it will make things like getting paid much easier, and avoid fees related to international transactions. Consider things like interest rates, account features, bank fees, accessibility or convenience, customer service, ATM availability, and exchange rate calculations when you’re looking for the right bank for you.
Some banks may ask for a letter from your employer, but all of them will require:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residency or visa details
- Proof of address documents
As Switzerland’s banks have very high security standards, it’s also possible that you’ll be asked for proof of income, details on what you’ll be using the account for, and even the source of the original funds.
International and local money transfers
While having a local bank account has many benefits, there are quicker, equally secure and cheaper alternatives if you need to send or receive money. Remitly offers competitive exchange rates alongside our super-fast, transparent and highly secure service.
Getting around Switzerland
Moving around Switzerland is quite easy. The country has one of the world’s most highly developed public transport networks, with buses and trains reaching even the remote areas,
Residents of Switzerland from outside the EU/EFTA can use their own license for a year but, before that year is up, you’ll have to get a Swiss driving license. The good news is that you won’t have to take a test, though some cantons may require you to take a sight test.
Switzerland is well-connected to the rest of the world too, with three international airports.
What’s stopping you from moving to Switzerland today?
While Switzerland may have a high cost of living and tight requirements for residence, its very good quality of life more than compensates. The country has so much to offer to people who can afford to live there.
With sufficient budget, a job or university to go to, or family there, you can move to Switzerland and find out why its residents are so happy.
FAQs
Are there expat communities in Switzerland?
Yes. There are many expat communities in Switzerland thanks to its attractiveness to immigrants and the large number of international organizations that call the country home.
Which industries in Switzerland offer the most opportunities for professionals?
Some of the best industries for professionals to explore include technology, finance, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.
How can I learn about Swiss culture?
Some official elements of Swiss life may actually require you to demonstrate you’re integrating with a language test, for example. You can learn about Swiss culture by reading articles and books, watching documentaries, interacting with the people, and even trying some of their cuisine.