Swiss CVs typically include a photo, date of birth, nationality, and permit status. Keep to 2 pages max. Always include a cover letter (Motivationsschreiben). Swiss employers also value reference letters (Arbeitszeugnisse).

LinkedIn is essential for international and senior roles. XING is popular in German-speaking Switzerland. Clearly state your Swiss permit type or right to work.

Jobs.ch is the largest Swiss board. JobUp.ch is strong in French-speaking Switzerland. Indeed.ch and LinkedIn for international roles. Set daily email alerts for new postings.

Swiss hiring culture relies heavily on personal networks. Attend industry meetups, join Internations or Glocals, reach out to connections at target companies. Be genuine and persistent.

If already in Switzerland and unemployed, register at the RAV. Unemployment insurance pays 70–80% of your last salary for up to 2 years if you've worked 18+ months in Switzerland.

Visit your local civil registry or municipality. This stops local taxes and social security. You need a deregistration certificate for Swiss tax authorities.

Inform your home country's pension authority. Bilateral agreements may allow you to transfer or preserve contributions for future withdrawal.

Give notice as per contractual deadlines — many require 1–3 months' notice. Set up mail forwarding with your national postal service.

All household goods must be declared. Submit Form 18.44 to Swiss customs. Items owned for 6+ months are duty-free. Your moving company can assist with this process.

Items owned less than 6 months may incur customs fees. Cars under 6 months old: significant import duty. Pets need microchipping, rabies vaccination, and health certificates. Check FSVO website.

Bring: passport/ID, rental contract or accommodation proof, employment contract, and passport photos. You receive a confirmation; permit card follows in ~4 weeks.

Each family member must register. Bring marriage certificate and birth certificates with certified translations. Only then can you claim Kinderzulagen (child allowance ~ CHF 200–250/month per child).

Your employer needs your permit number to set up AHV/AVS social security deductions and withholding tax. Upload a permit copy to your HR system.

Every household in Switzerland pays CHF 335/year to Serafe — regardless of whether you own a TV. You'll typically receive a letter automatically after registering at the commune.

Your AHV/AVS number is Switzerland's social security number. Check it on your first payslip and ensure it's correct — errors are very difficult to fix retroactively.

Collect: copy of passport/permit, last 3 payslips, employment contract, Betreibungsregisterauszug (debt extract, max 3 months old), landlord reference, and a short introduction letter. Have it as a PDF ready to send instantly.

Use furnished apartments (Wunderflats, Airbnb, corporate housing) while searching. Most expats need 2–4 months to secure a permanent flat in Zurich or Geneva.

Apply the same day listings appear. Popular apartments receive 100+ applications. Never wait until the next day — listings disappear within hours.

Kaltmiete = rent without utilities. Nebenkosten (NK) = utilities (~CHF 150–300/month extra). Kaution = deposit of 2–3 months held in a blocked account. Always ask if NK is included.

Document every existing scratch and mark before moving in. Both parties sign it. This is critical for recovering your deposit when you leave. Do not skip any damage, no matter how minor.

Covers damage you cause to others' property or persons — a bike scratch on a parked car, a broken window, accidentally injuring someone. Most landlords require proof before handing over keys. Annual premiums: CHF 100–150/year. Often bundled with household contents insurance for savings. 100% app-based with Smile.

Covers theft, fire, water damage, natural disasters (storms, floods) to your belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing. Average CHF 100–300/year. Also typically covers vandalism and glass breakage. Bundle with liability for the best rate.

Automatically provided by employer if you work 8+ hours per week — covers occupational and non-occupational accidents from month 3. Until month 3, you can add accident coverage to your health insurer for ~CHF 10–15/month. If part-time (<8h), always add it via your health insurer.

Third-party liability (Haftpflicht) is the legal minimum — covers damage to others, costs CHF 300–700/year. Partial Kasko (Teilkasko) adds theft, fire, glass, natural events. Full Kasko (Vollkasko) also covers your own vehicle regardless of fault — CHF 1,500+/year for newer cars. Compare on comparis.ch for the best rates.

Basic insurance coverage is set by federal law — identical for all providers. Only premiums differ. The average monthly premium in 2026 is CHF 393. Use comparis.ch or priminfo.admin.ch to compare. Premiums vary significantly by canton — Geneva and Ticino are most expensive; Zug and Appenzell the cheapest.

Higher franchise = lower monthly premium. If healthy and rarely visit a doctor, the CHF 2,500 franchise saves up to CHF 1,540/year vs CHF 300. Rule of thumb: if your annual healthcare costs are under CHF 2,000, choose CHF 2,500. If you need regular care or medication, choose CHF 300. You can also pay 1–2% less by paying premiums annually vs monthly.

Alternative models save 10–25% vs Standard model. Hausarzt (family doctor): designate a GP as gatekeeper, save ~10–15%. HMO: use a specific health center first, save ~15–25%. Telmed: phone triage first, similar savings. According to Comparis, switching insurer can reduce your premium by a further 20–30% — compare every autumn before the end of November deadline.

Lower-income households receive cantonal subsidies — in some cantons, subsidies cover up to 70% of premiums. Apply through your canton's social services office (Sozialamt). Apply immediately after arriving; don't wait.

Optional extras: private hospital room, alternative medicine, dental, worldwide coverage. Buy at enrollment — adding supplemental insurance later requires medical checks and can be refused. Comparis satisfaction data (2025): Aquilana, Helsana, SWICA and ÖKK are top-rated for policyholder satisfaction.

Open enrollment is every autumn. Notify your current insurer by end of November to switch for January 1st. Since all basic plans cover the same services, switching to a cheaper provider costs you nothing in coverage. Comparis estimates the savings potential for those who don't switch is at least 40% — or ~CHF 2,200/year.

You need your permit card and passport. Digital banks (Neon, Yuh) accept fully online applications — ideal for newcomers. Neon is available in English, French, German, and Italian. Note: since May 2025, Neon charges a 0.35% surcharge on foreign currency transactions on the free plan (or CHF 20/year for Neon Plus). Revolut and N26 are not ideal in Switzerland — they lack a personal Swiss IBAN and don't support eBill or TWINT reliably.

TWINT is everywhere in Switzerland — farmers markets, small shops, vending machines. Requires a Swiss bank account and Swiss mobile number. Essential for day-to-day life.

Swiss bank transfers abroad cost CHF 15–25 per transaction. Wise charges under 1% and uses the real mid-market exchange rate. Multi-currency accounts make it easy to hold foreign currencies.

Voluntary pension savings. In 2025 & 2026: up to CHF 7,258/year fully tax-deductible for employed persons (CHF 36,288 if self-employed). A single person in Zurich earning CHF 100,000 who contributes CHF 7,258 saves ~CHF 1,300 in taxes. New from 2026: you can now buy back missed contributions from 2025 onward — start contributing this year to create a gap you can fill retroactively. Use Frankly (ETF-based, low fees) for investing your 3a, not just saving in cash.

For investing in stocks, ETFs, and global markets. Interactive Brokers has the lowest fees globally. Swissquote is Swiss-regulated and offers crypto trading too.

Available at Zurich/Geneva airport, Coop, Migros, and phone shops — only requires ID, no address needed. Salt and Sunrise have airport kiosks. Upgrade to a contract plan once you have your permit card and bank account.

Your EU SIM will have expensive roaming in Switzerland — Switzerland is not part of the EU roaming agreement. Swiss plans also charge for EU data usage. If you cross borders frequently (common in Basel, Geneva, Schaffhausen), choose a plan with included EU roaming. Sunrise specifically highlights flexible international calling options.

Monthly plans are far better value than prepaid. Requirements: Swiss address, permit card, Swiss bank account. The three main operators are Swisscom (best coverage, most expensive), Sunrise (50% off via SwissNewbie, excellent 5G), and Salt (budget-friendly). UPC's cable network is now part of Sunrise. MVNOs (Wingo, Yallo, Spusu) run on the same towers for less.

Swiss internet speeds rank among the fastest globally — fibre optic with speeds up to 10 Gbit/s (Swisscom) available in urban areas. Bundle mobile + internet + TV with Sunrise for maximum savings. You can also use Zattoo for live Swiss and international TV streaming without a TV subscription.

Many Swiss contracts lock you in for 24 months with early termination fees. Intro prices often jump after 6–12 months — read the fine print before signing. Tip: ask for month-to-month plans (some providers offer them at slightly higher prices, worth it for flexibility while settling in).

Halves the price of virtually any ticket in Switzerland — trains, trams, buses, boats. Pays for itself with 2–3 intercity trips. Almost every Swiss resident has one. Buy at any SBB station or sbb.ch.

Buy tickets, check timetables, show digital tickets. One of the best transit apps in the world. Also useful: Fairtiq for automatic fare calculation on local buses and trams.

Swiss public transport is honor-based. Inspectors appear randomly. Fines start at CHF 100 + fare. No grace period, no "I forgot" — inspectors have heard every excuse. Always buy a ticket.

Unlimited travel on nearly all trains, buses, and boats in Switzerland. CHF 3,860/year (2nd class). Very expensive but cost-effective for daily commuters. Check if your employer subsidizes it — many do.

All foreign licence holders must exchange to a Swiss licence within 12 months of establishing residency. EU/EFTA licences: no driving test required. Non-EU: may need theory exam or driving test depending on your country.

Required: application form, biometric passport photo, eye test certificate (from any optician), residence permit copy, and original foreign licence. Process through your cantonal road traffic office.

Foreign-plated cars can be used for up to 1 year. After that: register at cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt. Bring vehicle docs, proof of insurance, customs declaration, and Swiss ID.

Required to drive on Swiss motorways (Autobahn). Available at border crossings, petrol stations, and post offices. Driving without one: CHF 200 fine. The vignette is valid for the entire calendar year.

Earn Cumulus points on every Migros purchase. Points convert to vouchers redeemable in-store. Sign up at any Migros checkout or online. Note: Migros does not sell alcohol or tobacco — it's a family-friendly environment.

Earn Superpunkte on all Coop purchases. Also redeemable at Coop partners (petrol stations, restaurants). Coop has a wider range than Migros including alcohol, specialty items, and the premium Coop Fine Food line.

Both German discount chains operate widely in Switzerland and offer noticeably lower prices on basics, fresh produce, and dairy. Great for bulk pantry staples. Limited selection vs. Migros/Coop but excellent value.

Most supermarkets close at 8–9pm on weekdays and 6pm on Saturdays. Sunday shopping is mostly closed except at train station branches (open daily). Don't get caught without food on a Sunday evening.

Both chains offer full online grocery delivery. Migros Online.ch and Coop@home cover most of Switzerland. Useful for bulk orders, heavy items, or busy weeks. Delivery fees apply but are reasonable.

Many Swiss residents near the German, French, or Italian border shop abroad for groceries. Price differences can be 30–50% lower. Check your duty-free allowance — up to CHF 300 of goods per person per day can be brought in without customs fees.

Buy tickets for any train, tram, bus, boat or cable car. Real-time timetables, platform changes and delays. Save your GA or Halbtax subscription digitally. Notifies you instantly of track changes. Even Swiss locals call the station vending machines slow and confusing — use this instead.

Official Swiss route network for hiking, cycling, inline skating and canoeing. Detailed topographic maps (1:10,000 scale from Swisstopo), difficulty levels, elevation profiles, time estimates and public transport connections along the route. Essential for anyone exploring the Swiss outdoors.

Swipe right to start, swipe left to stop — FAIRTIQ automatically calculates the cheapest fare for your journey and charges your card. Works on all Swiss public transport. Great if you don't want to think about zones and fares. Google Maps also now shows Zurich transport tickets and live train tracking directly in the app.

The Swiss mobile payment standard. Pay by scanning a QR code in stores, restaurants, parking meters, markets, vending machines and online shops. Split bills, send money to contacts, store digital loyalty cards (Cumulus, Supercard). Over the last few years it has become so universal it's surprising to meet someone without it. Get your bank's own TWINT app — each bank has one. Yuh users get a dedicated app; Neon users rely on the TWINT prepaid app.

From Switzerland's official weather office — the most accurate forecasts in the country, especially for alpine conditions. Live rain radar, altitude-specific forecasts, UV index, air quality, pollen forecasts, and avalanche warnings. Set up push alerts for severe weather before hiking or skiing. Far more reliable than generic weather apps for Swiss mountain conditions.

Official Swiss civil protection app. Sends location-specific alerts for floods, landslides, contaminated water, storms and other emergencies. Can receive alerts even without mobile signal via the national siren system. Useful for alpine areas and extreme weather. Could genuinely save your life — well worth downloading and forgetting about until you need it.