Living in Switzerland

You've secured your job, the visa is in place, you're moving to Switzerland...now what? It is time to book your removals firm, find a place to live and start to grapple with Switzerland's four languages, not to mention the rules and regulations.

Many people move to Switzerland for work, and others for the lifestyle or the surroundings it offers. If you're moving to Switzerland, you'll need to prepare a lot of things to be ready for the move. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has also provided a guide for living in Switzerland, which can help you to navigate your rights and responsibilities as a Swiss resident.

Mountains. Cheese. Chocolate. Cuckoo Clocks?

When you hear the name Switzerland, most likely you think of at least one of these things: mountains, cheese, chocolate and cuckoo clocks.

You'd be right to think of mountains; the Alps are some of the most stunning in the world. Switzerland has always been a popular European destination, especially for the lovers of mountainous landscapes and winter sports, as well as for those conducting business or looking for employment - especially in the financial and business sectors.

Cheese, too, is a Swiss staple and you'll find various Swiss cheeses, such as Emmentaler, on tables across the world. Chocolate may be Switzerland's best loved export, and they do it well. But cuckoo clocks aren't Swiss! They originate from a few miles north of the Swiss border, in Germany's Black Forest. But you'll still see them sold in the tourist shops of Zurich, as people have come to associate cuckoo clocks with Switzerland.

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Gruetzi! Bonjour! Buongiorno! Allegra!

For a small country, Switzerland is incredibly diverse both in its landscape and in its people, traditions and languages. There are four official languages in Switzerland - German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romansh, and they are spoken in different areas of the country.

For example in Geneva, the cantonal language is French, in Zurich it is German, in Lugano it is Italian. Rhaeto-Romansh is spoken by less than 1% of the country's residents. While German is an official language, only written German will look like what you might have learned in school - spoken German is very different and the dialects will vary from town to town.

Winters can be cold, especially the mountainous regions, but Switzerland is generally a pleasant, safe, and politically stable place to live, making it an ideal destination for many. The diversity of stunning landscapes and climates are perfect not only for the lovers of skiing, but also for those who enjoy hiking, and want to see some beautiful sceneries. Whether you enjoy the nature and rural areas or prefer modern cities, Switzerland can be a perfect location.

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Official moving dates and logistics

There are two official moving dates in Switzerland - end of March, end of September and in some cases, a third date at the end of June. You can, of course, move at a time other than those specified, but if you're leaving rented accommodation then you'll need to find a new tenant to take your place.

There is no moving on a Sunday in Switzerland, as it would violate the rules regarding quiet.

Frequently, stair cases are too small to accommodate furniture, and outside removals lifts are used where the items are passed through a window and onto the lift.

If you're moving into - or out of - the country, customs documents must be prepared for your entry or exit.

Don't forget to register with the migration office of your new town or city within 14 days of your move - even if you're just moving to a new flat. All residents of Switzerland must be registered at their address, regardless of citizenship or visas. 

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Tips for moving to and living in Switzerland

If you want to work and settle down in Switzerland permanently, you will need some form of work and residence permit. An agreement between the EU and Switzerland facilitates the entry, residence and employment of EU citizens in Switzerland. Non-EU citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain a work and residence permit.

The unemployment rate is low in Switzerland and the job market is rather flexible. While you might find it harder to find a job as an expat, there are a range of opportunities, especially in the financial and other specialised sectors.

If you are moving to Switzerland with your children, you will also have to consider education options. Switzerland has a number of international schools, or you can also choose a local school, however this will also depend on where you are moving in Switzerland and the predominant language in that area.

Medical care is generally excellent, and all residents are required to purchase basic health insurance.

Living costs in Switzerland are higher than in the UK, and it is usually considered an expensive country. However these additional costs are normally offset by high salaries.

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Interesting festivals in Switzerland

Burning of the Böögg (Sechseläuten), Zurich

The Zurich tradition of Sechseläuten, where the Böögg (an effigy of a snowman) is burned until the fireworks in his head explode to predict the summer weather

Wagons of fire parade (Chienbäse) near Basel

The Basel tradition of Fasnacht (Carnival) kicks off the night before just outside of the city in the town of Liestal with the Chienbäse. Wagons and bundles of fire are paraded through the town and its medieval gates to chase away winter.

Carnival in Basel (Fasnacht)

At precisely 4am in Basel, Fasnacht begins with the Morgestraich - all lights in the city are shut off and a parade of candlelit lanterns begins. Festivities continue each day of Fasnacht, with events for everyone including the children.

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Removal quote appointment booking service

Britannia Bradshaw can help your move go smoothly. Contact us for a free, no obligation quote, or by calling 0161 877 5555 (Manchester) or 0121 504 0966 (Birmingham & Coventry) and speak with one of our removals specialists.

How are our appointments carried out

In the current times you might prefer that we don't visit your house in person to carry out a survey. This is fully understandable and we can just as easily undertake the survey by video call, using whatever method you're comfortable with, usually FaceTime or WhatsApp.

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Brilliant, pleasant, professional and fun to be with

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Your service has been first class from start to finish and we could find no fault whatsoever.

This process has been very difficult and protracted for us so to get such good support on the actual move itself was so comforting. The guys were all brilliant, pleasant, professional and fun to be with. All good Black Country lads. Please pass on our appreciation and reward them appropriately.                               

Andrew Skinner

The move was done at the time stated and very efficiently.

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Details through post.

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Friendly service and cheaper than other quote.

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Very efficient, professional and friendly.

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
Not sure you can.

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
The move was done at the time stated and very efficiently.

Christine Haley

a good team who clearly knew their stuff.

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Found you on-line

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
8/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
9/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Fair price based on a thorough initial survey

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Friendly, reassuring, efficient, thorough - a good team who clearly knew their stuff. 

How would you rate our communication?
9/10

How can we improve our service?
Would have liked to know your team’s eta on day 1 of the move out.  Phoned the office - they checked with the driver and I was then kept well informed.

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
9/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Your team were reassuring & substantially eased the stress of our move.

Barbara Hedley

Every member of the move team where a joy to be with

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Was recommended by Strike and after speaking to Claire numerous times after my completion dates had changed, she was very helpful and kept in touch if we needed  help

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
First impressions on how professional and helpful you are

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Every member of the move team where a joy to be with they moved everything with a smile and there professionalism is off the chart from loading the stuff in the vans to unloading them in the house and placing our items in the areas we wanted and again did it with smiles on their faces.

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
Don't  know really, everyone and everything was fantastic

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Conrad Hammond

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