In the past, people did not think of Switzerland at all when emigrating. They immediately thought of the South of France, Spain or Curacao, for example. Nowadays, however, Switzerland is becoming increasingly popular and more and more people are deciding to move to Switzerland.
Some Dutch people have visited the country before during hiking, skiing or other holidays and have fallen in love with the country. But often it is because of the high standard of living in Switzerland that people decide to emigrate there. Are you also someone who is moving to Switzerland soon? Then this article may be of help to you.
Why is Switzerland so popular now?
The country not only has beautiful nature, a rich culture and is a nice place to live, but the country is known for many more things. For example, the favorable fiscal climate, which is also favorable for people of non-Swiss origin, is an important reason to move to the country. However, there are regional differences and certain things are arranged differently per canton.
Switzerland also has a very high standard of living. For example, there are very good health care facilities and the education system is also very well organized. The country is also one of the safest countries in the world.
Furthermore, it is a politically stable country and Switzerland does not belong to the European Union. Many people find that this has its advantages.
The European Union (EU)
Switzerland may be in Europe, but moving to Switzerland is not that easy. This is because the country is not a member of the European Union. It may be strange to believe when you read this, because most people think that this is the case. To understand it well, here is a small history lesson about Switzerland and Europe.
History lesson on Switzerland and the EU
In 1992, the country submitted an official application to the EU to join the union. However, the Swiss people later that year indicated in a referendum that they did not want to become a member of the European Economic Area. After that, Switzerland did nothing more with their official application. It was only recently that Switzerland announced that they would like to withdraw this application.
The Swiss border
It is of course true that Switzerland has good ties with the EU. Even though the country does not belong to the EU, it is forced by its location to make good agreements with the European Union. The country is surrounded by countries that are members of the EU and therefore Switzerland also has to deal with open borders. That is why the EU and Switzerland have been forced to make clear agreements about this. That is why Switzerland belongs to the Schengen area of the European countries.
Carefree emigration
If you want to move to Switzerland, it is wise to do some research in advance. Take a good look at what moving to Switzerland entails. Do not only look at the culture of a country, but also look carefully at what needs to be arranged. Emigrating to Switzerland is confusing for many people, because the country is not part of the EU, but does have certain things from the EU.
Required documents
The country is known for its bureaucracy, so prepare yourself well for a pile of paperwork. There are also certain documents that you need to take with you during the move. Think of papers for customs, for example. Switzerland does have certain rules for when items are imported.
Furthermore, it is also important to look at your own documents. Think of your passport/ID card or your Dutch driving license. Of course, these should not only be valid when entering, but you also want them to be valid for a longer period of time. You will need the documents when arranging many of your affairs with regard to your emigration in Switzerland. Of course, you do not have time to go after such matters at the beginning of an emigration. Such a move already takes a lot of time and energy.
Official languages
In Switzerland there are 4 official languages. These are German, French, Italian and Romansh. Romansh is only spoken in the canton of Graubünden. Which language you will hear or speak in Switzerland depends on where you are in Switzerland. For example, in the canton of Zurich the German language is spoken, but in the canton of Geneva it is French.
If there are certain documents that need to be translated or legalized for your emigration to Switzerland, it also depends on which canton you are moving to. According to Swiss law, each canton can decide for itself which languages are used for the documents, but of course this is always the language that is most spoken in a canton. There are also cantons that are bilingual. A good example of this is Biel/Bienne. In Biel, German and French are spoken. All street names are in both names here and official documents can also be drawn up in both languages.
Do you want to live in a canton, but do they speak French there and you are not so good at it? Then you can always choose to live in another canton!
Health insurance
When you emigrate, you must cancel your Dutch health insurance in the Netherlands. Are you moving to Switzerland soon? Then it is good to know that you are obliged to take out health insurance in Switzerland immediately. The country has an insurance obligation. This is called the 'grunversicherung'.
Insurance obligation in Switzerland
As you may have read earlier, in Switzerland you have an obligation to have insurance. The country finances this system through insurance premiums.
The basic health insurance
Basic insurance is mandatory. The coverage is the same for all insurers in Switzerland. However, you should pay close attention to this, because there are huge price differences. Look carefully at the different health insurers in your canton.
The supplementary insurance
Supplementary insurance is not mandatory in Switzerland. With supplementary insurance, the differences between prices and coverage are very large. Furthermore, it is also good to know that insurers may refuse you with supplementary insurance. When taking out basic insurance, they may not do this.
Living in Switzerland and corona
Switzerland, like the rest of the world, has been affected by COVID19. As a result, the country has had to implement additional rules and measures to keep everything under control. We understand that if you are moving, you naturally want to be informed about the developments in a country regarding the corona pandemic.
Practical tips
As you have read, there are a few things to consider when moving to Switzerland and an international move can present some obstacles. You do not have to be afraid of this, because if you prepare yourself well, an international move can also go smoothly. Therefore, make a 'moving checklist' for yourself and write down the important steps you need to take to make your emigration as smooth as possible. This way you can neatly check off all the points without stress.
Benefit
A benefit that you receive in the Netherlands, you may not always take with you abroad. If you move within the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, the rules are somewhat more flexible than if you move outside these areas. For example, the following benefits may not be taken with you to Switzerland:
- Benefits based on the Participation Act or other assistance schemes
- A benefit based on the Allowances Act
You are also not allowed to take a Wajong benefit to Switzerland. There are exceptions to this, so it is best to contact the UWV. Special rules also apply to child benefit, the child-related budget and childcare allowance. For more information about these matters, you can contact the Social Insurance Bank.
You can take an unemployment benefit with you for three months in the aforementioned areas. You can also contact the UWV about this.
Pension
In order to receive a pension abroad, you need to look at how long you have worked or lived in the Netherlands. You also need to look at which country you are moving to. Sometimes you cannot receive your entire AOW in certain countries, but you will receive a part of it. You can request more information about this from the Social Insurance Bank or from your own pension fund.
International moving
An international move requires the necessary preparation. When you are moving to Switzerland, it is therefore wise to look for an international moving company well in advance. Such an international moving company has years of experience with international moves. In Switzerland, for example, you will have to deal with Swiss customs. They can also ensure that your move to Switzerland goes smoothly. When you are going to live abroad, you naturally want your belongings to be delivered to your new address by a specialized moving company without any problems.
Costs of moving to Switzerland
The costs for an international move are difficult to estimate, because every move is different. Think about the size of your belongings and home, but also think about the accessibility of your home. The size of your belongings and home will affect the price for how many movers need to be deployed and, for example, how big the moving van needs to be. Furthermore, your wishes are also very important in calculating the costs for a move. For example, do you want to book extra services? Think about a packing/unpacking service. Or would you rather pack and unpack everything yourself? Do you need extra movers? All these things can significantly increase the price for a move abroad.
For all the reasons mentioned above, it is important that when you move abroad you first request moving quotes from different moving companies.
Request free moving quotes
It is very important to request quotes for your move from different moving companies. This way you can get an idea of the average costs. With these quotes you will also see what a moving company can offer you. We understand that you are moving abroad and may not have the time to contact different moving companies for quotes. That is why we at Moova have come up with a solution for this. At Moova you can arrange it quickly and you can easily request free moving quotes. Within 2 minutes you have requested the free quotes and you can make your choice at home at your leisure.
Have you found a moving company that appeals to you and that you think can handle your international move well? Then you can contact them and report your move.
Finally..
It is true that Switzerland is a country that is located in Europe, but a large part of the rules in the country differ from the rules in the Netherlands and the rest of the EU. This is of course due to the fact that Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but does have certain agreements with the EU. We understand that this can all be very complicated and confusing for you and that is why we have tried to provide you with some information in this article.
Do you have any questions?
Are there certain topics that we have not discussed or do you perhaps have other questions? Then you can always consult the other articles on our website. Perhaps your question will be answered there. Do you have any other specific questions? Then you can always contact us.
