Moving to Switzerland from Australia

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.

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. For 40 years OSS World Wide Movers has been assisting individuals, business people, and Corporates relocate to Switzerland with the professional service and advice that comes from choosing a quality international moving specialist.

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 my pet to Switzerland?
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. More information about relocating pets can be found in our moving links section of this website or speak to an OSS World Wide Move Consultant.Move Consultant.

How much will it cost to ship my belongings to the Switzerland?
The cost of your move will vary according to a range of factors; Freight type, if you container is personalised or shared, the nature of your items (ie. fragile, exotic etc).
Please submit an enquiry and/or request a quote to find out more information on what it will cost to ship your belongs to Switzerland.

How do I move my car to Switzerland?
Moving motor vehicles and motor bikes 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.

How long will my move to Switzerland take?
Clearance of your move into Switzerland takes approximately 5 to 7 working days for an FCL (Full Container Load e.g. not a shared container), and 7 to 10 working days for a GRP (Groupage or shared container load) once the shipping container has been unloaded from the vessel.

Swiss Consulate

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.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home.html

Citizenship Information

A guide to citizenship: https://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/themen/buergerrecht/faq.html