Moving and Living in Switzerland

Since 1969, OSS have provided complete global door to door moving services. That’s 50 years of specialist international moving, and over 200,000 moves.

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According to the 2010 Mercer Quality of Life Survey, out of 221 global destinations three Swiss cities ranked in the top ten.

Moving and Living in Switzerland

Expats moving to Switzerland will find that the prosperous, orderly cities and cantons of mountainous Switzerland make for an ideal destination for relocation. Foreign workers have long been integrated into the economy, particularly the financial and diplomatic sectors, where the demand for international expat workers is high. In fact, over 20 percent of Switzerland’s overall population are expats -and most of these are employed as skilled professionals.

The cost of living is exceptionally high, especially in the key expat destinations of Geneva and Zurich; although, above average salaries compensate for this point of concern. Crime is a rarity, and social problems virtually non-existent. Furthermore, the country’s education and healthcare systems are world-renowned, and its infrastructure meticulously maintained.

Switzerland runs likes clockwork, appropriate for a country famed for its watch making, and is a point of great pride for the fastidious Swiss. For expats, this means that life here is a trouble-free, if not a slightly sanitised, experience.

Moving to Switzerland OSS World Wide Movers

According to the 2010 Mercer Quality of Life Survey, out of 221 global destinations three Swiss cities ranked in the top ten; a reflection of the nation’s safe, stable, wholesome lifestyle and solid economy. The few drawbacks to living here include an occasionally insular population of locals that don’t fully welcome expats, and comprehensively cold and snowy winters. But as they say, if life gives you snow, go skiing, and that is precisely what many expats find themselves doing on the world class Alpine slopes around Geneva, Interlaken and St Moritz.

Moving to Switzerland to live and work as an expat is a fantastic move for driven and motivated individuals who want to work in a country where their skills are highly regarded and well rewarded.

Switzerland couldn’t be more central to Europe! A popular and exciting destination for Australians moving to Switzerland to further their professional training, skill base, and/or career opportunities.

Expats moving to Switzerland will find that the prosperous, orderly cities and cantons of mountainous Switzerland make for an ideal destination for relocation

Moving your household goods to Switzerland

Can I pack my own goods when I move to Switzerland?

It is recommended that you do not ship items to Switzerland which have been “owner packed” as they will attract stringent inspection by Customs on arrival. It is advisable to have your goods packed by your moving company to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.

Can I move to Switzerland with pets?

It is recommended to send your pet through a registered pet transportation agent who will be able to contact all the relevant agencies in Switzerland.

For more information about moving overseas to Switzerland with pets, please refer to our detailed guide to moving pets overseas page

How do I move my car to Switzerland?

Moving motor vehicles and motorbikes to Switzerland is possible provided Customs criteria are met.
This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in Switzerland following customs clearance.
Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in Switzerland, or copy of lease or rental agreement on in Switzerland would be sufficient.

Can I move my boat to Switzerland?

Moving a boat to Switzerland has similar requirements to moving a car to Switzerland when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in Switzerland will have a special interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life, however as Australia has a fairly clean marine environment, your boat should pass customs and quarantine without any problem.

What insurance should I have when moving to Switzerland?

OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs.
Although your shipment to Switzerland will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product

How long will my move to Switzerland take?

When moving your household goods to Switzerland by sea freight, this will typically take 5-7 working days for an FCL service. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.

Restricted and Prohibited items when moving to Switzerland

When looking to relocate to Switzerland you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following PDF has an extensive list of prohibited and restricted items when moving to Switzerland: Moving to Switzerland – FIDI Guide

Tax implications when moving to Switzerland

It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.

Electrical Goods and Compliance when moving to Switzerland

In Switzerland there are two associated plug types, types C and J. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type J is the plug which has three round pins. Switzerland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Visa and Immigration Information

When travelling or moving to Switzerland, make sure your passport and visas are correct and valid. Check these links to find out some of the latest requirements.

Consulate / Embasy in Australia

Contact the Swiss Embassy by visiting 7 Melbourne Avenue, Forrest, ACT 2603, Australia. Phone +612 6162 8400 Fax +612 6273 3428 Email can.vertretung@eda.admin.ch or follow this link to the Embassy website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/australia

Visa Information

General visa information can be found here: https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/australia/en/home/visa.html

Passport Information

General passport information can be found here: https://www.ch.ch/en/applying-passport-identity-card/

Immigration Information

Follow this link for immigration information and related services: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home.html

Citizenship Information

A guide to citizenship: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home.html