More and more people are choosing to emigrate and work abroad. Working abroad is not only good for your CV, but will also be a very nice life experience. In the past, countries like France and Spain were attractive to most people, but nowadays Switzerland is also very high on the list. The country that is known for the Swiss Alps, beautiful lakes and a strong economy. Oh, and winter sports of course. Emigrating to Switzerland is therefore increasingly popular. But why?
Why do people increasingly choose Switzerland?
Switzerland is known for many more things than you have read before. The country of almost 9 million inhabitants is also known for its cheese, chocolate and don't forget the Swiss watches! When you live in Switzerland you will also notice that there are a lot of Swiss companies that are known worldwide. Switzerland is therefore also full of expats who work in such companies in Switzerland.
Switzerland and the European Union
In 1992, Switzerland applied to become a member of the European Union (EU), but this was blocked by the Swiss people after a referendum. After this, the country did not take any further steps to become a member and this desire still does not exist today.
Schengen
However, Switzerland is forced by its location to make the necessary agreements with the EU. The country is therefore not a member state of the EU, but is part of the Schengen area. This means that free movement of people is possible, so all EU citizens can travel freely into the country.
Do you need a residence permit?
Free movement of persons in Switzerland, like elsewhere in the EU, has a maximum of three months. Do you want to extend your three-month stay? Of course you can, but you will need a residence permit.
Types of residence permits
Switzerland has various permits. For example, they have:
- L-permit
This is for shorter employment contracts of up to 1 year.
- B-permit
This is for employment contracts longer than 1 year. You also need this permit when you are going to emigrate to Switzerland and want to live there.
- C-permit
This is the permanent residence permit. You will only be eligible for this after 5 years of living and working in Switzerland.
Where can you find vacancies?
For vacancies in Switzerland, it is best to look around online. You can search for certain functions on Google, but you can also use a job site such as Indeed. Here you can find many open vacancies. Finding work in Switzerland via the internet is actually the best way to find a job, because here you can find the latest vacancies.
Do you want to work as a self-employed person?
In Switzerland it is very difficult to start working as a self-employed person. The rules for this are legally established and you must of course comply with them. Switzerland is known for being difficult even for knowledge migrants. The process is very complicated and long-winded. For this it is best to work via a 'payroll construction'.
Are you a self-employed person and can you demonstrate that your business is successful? Then you can also qualify for a permanent residence permit after 5 years.
What other jobs does the country have to offer?
Skiing is of course also something that Switzerland is known for. In the four weeks of vacation time that the Swiss have, you will see that they can also enjoy this very much after a period of hard work. Of course, there are also foreign tourists. Do you have nothing to do with skiing in the most famous mountains of Europe, the Alps? Then you can of course also choose to work in one of the large companies in the cities of the country. The city of Geneva, for example, has many international companies that are located there. Think of the Red Cross and the United Nations. In the country, the pharmaceutical industry and medical technology are also very popular. The country is known for the latest technology in these sectors.
Taxes in Switzerland
Taxes in Switzerland are much higher than elsewhere in Europe. Income tax is levied at the national and cantonal level in the country. The amount of taxes varies per canton. Your marital status is also important when paying taxes. If you are single, you have a different rate than if you are married or have children.
Health care
In Switzerland, you are required to insure yourself. You must do this within three months of your emigration. Have you found a job for a maximum of three months? Then you only need to be able to prove that you are insured in the Netherlands. In Switzerland, unlike in neighboring Austria, employers are not required to insure you. You must arrange this yourself. The premium for your health insurance fund can vary considerably, so do your research.
A Swiss bank account
In Switzerland, of course, the Swiss Franc is used and not the Euro. This means that if you keep your Dutch bank account and want to withdraw it in Euros, you will often have to deal with expensive exchange rates and bank charges.
You can easily open a bank account at one of the Swiss banks. This can be the Crédit Suisse, but also for example the HSBC. For this you need your passport and you often have to go there to hand in some extra documents.
The language
Switzerland has 4 official languages. These are French, German, Italian and Romansh. Some Swiss of course speak all 4 languages, but not everyone can do this of course. That is why it is very important to know which language is spoken in the canton where you are going to live. If you are going to work there as a Dutch person, you naturally want to be able to show that you have also studied their language.
Furthermore, the cantons with different languages also have their own traditions and therefore also suffer from prejudices. The German cantons, for example, are seen as strict and not so friendly. The French cantons are often said to be a bit quieter and more into parties. In the Italian cantons, for example, people tend more towards the Italian 'la dolce vita'. At least, that is what is said.
The Swiss work culture
The Dutch are punctual, but the Swiss are even more punctual. Of course, they are not just known for their Swiss watches. Punctuality is deeply rooted in their culture. Hierarchy is also still very important in business life. The boss makes the decisions and will not consult with the employees. Often the boss is also someone of a higher age, because in Switzerland it is often the case that the older the employee, the higher the position.
Hard workers
Swiss people have high salaries, but they also work hard for it. The country is known for its largest lakes, but also for its very hardworking people. That is why the government in the country has set a maximum number of hours you can work. It is legally stipulated that you may never work more than 50 hours a week and in offices this is a maximum of 45 hours.
Finally..
As you have read, living and working in Switzerland is a bit different than in the Netherlands. The different languages are something to take into account, but fortunately the Swiss also speak English quite well. You should be aware that this will be less outside the big cities.
Furthermore, it is a country where everything is well-organized, but on the other hand, life is also a bit more expensive. The average rents are therefore considerably higher than in the Netherlands. Therefore, take a good look at houses at least six months in advance if you are interested in the country and want to work there.
Do you have any questions?
Do you have any questions regarding emigrating to Switzerland? Living in Switzerland? Or working in Switzerland? Then we would like to refer you to the other articles on our website. We have a lot of other information that can help you with your move to Switzerland and we are almost certain that you will benefit greatly from this information.
Would you like to get in touch?
Do you perhaps have specific questions that you can't find anything about online and haven't been able to find in our other articles? Would you rather speak to one of our colleagues? Then that is of course also possible. You can always contact us and perhaps we can help you further!
