Paid to Move to Switzerland
With its stunning snow-capped Alps, famous chocolate and cheese, and soaring per capita GDP, moving to Switzerland features on many a bucket list.
The country has some of the lowest crime and unemployment rates in the world. Couple this with a high-quality educational system and immaculate healthcare, and you have a country that ranks 9th on the 2024 World Happiness Report.
All these factors don’t just make Switzerland a great country for its residents — but also a promising destination for immigrants. British expats, in particular, can benefit from the fact that English is widely spoken. According to the Federal Statistical Office published in 2021, 45% of the population regularly speaks English.
Now, for the best part: While life in Switzerland comes at a cost — considering it’s one of the most expensive countries in the world — moving there is far from impossible. In fact, certain regions even offer to pay newcomers to relocate to the gorgeous country.
Sounds too good to be true? Let’s take a closer look at these schemes and their eligibility criteria and learn how to kickstart your move to Switzerland today.
The Swiss Village that Pays Newcomers to Move
Located 1,300 metres above sea level, Albinen is exactly what you’d picture a Swiss village to look like, with traditional wooden houses overlooking majestic mountains and luscious meadows. However, a few years ago, its inhabitants were struggling.
As more residents left the village for bigger towns and cities, life became harder for those who stayed behind. In 2017, the town’s population had dwindled to roughly 200 — meaning keeping schools, banks and post offices open was impossible.
So, the residents decided to offer a cash incentive of 25,000 Swiss Francs (roughly £22,200) and CHF 10,000 per child, to entice newcomers into settling down in Albinen.
Going by these calculations, a family of four would be eligible to receive a total of CHF 70,000 to move there. The town council maintained a comprehensive fund to finance the scheme.
This is an incredible deal for UK citizens for a couple of reasons. For one, Switzerland has consistently proven to be one of the best countries in the world to live in.
But beyond that, Albinen is also one of its best-preserved and naturally stunning villages. Located on the sunny side of the Rhone Valley, the municipality is close to a world-famous thermal spring, challenging ski slopes, and fantastic views.
Eligibility and Requirements
But, don't go packing your bags just yet. There are still some criteria you need to meet in order to qualify.
Here’s a brief overview of the rules:
- Applicants must be below 45 years old
- Applicants must be prepared to invest at least CHF 200,000 into buying a home
- Applicants cannot buy more than one home in the village
- Applicants must hold a Swiss C Residence Permit. EU citizens who have lived in Switzerland continuously for five years can apply for this permit. Non-EU/EFTA immigrants, including UK nationals, must have lived there for 10 years
- Applicants who sell or move from the property within 10 years must refund the amount they received in full
As of 2023, 17 applications from families, couples, and individuals have been accepted. This works out to 31 adults and 16 children who have been financially incentivised to make Albinen their new home at the cost of CHF 710,000.
Other Incentives Encouraging People to Relocate
The village of Albinen is not the only place in Switzerland offering cash and other incentives in an attempt to increase its population and discourage the growing migration from rural to urban.
Here are some of the other Swiss hamlets with similar ongoing programs:
Villages Offering Homes for £1
In 2019, the village of Monti Scìaga, situated on the Swiss border with Italy, announced that people could buy a stone cottage for only £1. The hamlet put up nine homes for sale as long as the new owners promised to invest their time and money into renovating the properties.
Now, this is a pretty unbelievable offer when you consider that the charming village is only 100-odd km from Milan and about 60 km from the star-studded Lake Como.
What’s more incredible is that it wasn’t alone. Until 2022, the village of Gambarogno had a similar ongoing program. Considering it was about two minutes from Monti Scìaga, life there offered many of the same benefits.
Small Towns Pay Residents to Have Children
In the rural municipality of Grossdietwil, one scheme offers all residents under 30 a sum of CHF 1,500 to stay behind. Many other hamlets have now taken this a step further — offering cash bonuses to residents who give birth to or adopt children.
In Ticino and Geneva, you can receive as much as CHF 3,000 as a “baby bonus,” while Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri, Fribourg, Jura, and Neuchâtel offer between CHF 1,000-1,500.
These measures are put in place not only to prevent the population from stagnating in rural areas but to also fill up more homes. For expats, the incentives are also promising enough to plan an early move to the country and go through the naturalisation process.
Why Switzerland Needs Expats
But wait: If Switzerland is such a great place to live, why are so many municipalities actually paying people to migrate?
Well, as of June 2024, it was found that there were 51,974 empty homes across the country. And while this number is lower than the 78,832 houses vacant in 2020, certain cantons with higher vacancies — like Ticino and Jura — need to fill up their homes and build up their communities or risk being abandoned.
Plus, experts have predicted that Switzerland will need an additional workforce of 430,000 employees by 2040 due to these demographic changes. With the country seeing a sharp decline in birth rates and a rapidly ageing population, Switzerland needs more skilled and unskilled workers to fill up crucial roles — and needs them fast.
How to Move to Switzerland from the UK
Clearly, many villages, towns and cantons in Switzerland are looking to grow. But how can you, as a resident of the UK, join the select few who are invited to live there?
The answer lies in some research and foresight.
Study the Current Relationship
The first thing to note is that neither Switzerland nor the UK are members of the EU. Still, the mountain country offers certain concessions to EU citizens, which UK citizens no longer qualify for after Brexit.
With that said the two countries have a comprehensive bilateral agreement that allows UK citizens certain rights and privileges when living and working in Switzerland. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 40,000 Britons already call the Alpine country home.
For more specific information, read up on the latest agreements between the countries.
Understand the Visa Requirements
As a non-citizen, you will require a visa to stay in Switzerland for longer than 90 days.
Fortunately, most UK citizens are free to apply for a long-term visa provided they receive a job offer, wish to reunite with family, or pursue an educational course. This type of visa is issued by the relevant local cantonal migration authority.
UK citizens can also retire in Switzerland, provided they furnish proof of sufficient income. They can also continue to withdraw their UK state pensions once there.
But it’s crucial to note that if you’re above 45, you may not qualify for many of the financial incentives offered by specific municipalities.
With that said, visa requirements and regulations are always changing, so don’t forget to stay updated with the latest information from official government sources.
Account for Tax and Healthcare Contributions
Switzerland has a reputation for favourable tax terms — especially for the world’s uber-rich. But don’t be mistaken — tax rules can greatly differ depending on where in the country you live. Regulations are issued at the cantonal level, with tax rates ranging from 0% - 30% in the 26 cantons.
Long-term residents of Switzerland are also required to have health insurance with a Swiss company. Even if your employer makes contributions on your behalf, you must still either take out a private policy of your own or a separate state-issued cover.
Plan for Your Stuff
Residents across the UK can move their personal belongings stress-free with a dedicated removals company, like Gentlevan Removals.
We offer packaging solutions, storage solutions as well as a fleet of specialised vehicles capable of ferrying small items, large appliances, and anything in between.
Our dedicated load service allows you to ship your belongings in a private van. Meanwhile, partial loads can be sent in a shared lorry along with another client’s load, reducing costs and emissions.
Compile Relevant Documentation
No move abroad is free of paperwork. While you may be aware of the documentation needed to move to an EU country, the process of moving to Switzerland differs.
For one, UK citizens who move their belongings need to qualify for a Transfer of Domicile status. Those who don’t may be subject to additional VAT charges or import duty based on the value of their goods.
Some examples of additional documentation you may be required to furnish include:
- Completed customs declaration form
- Evidence that you’ve lived in the UK for the previous year
- Document of registration from a local council in Switzerland
With that said, the specifics depend on your individual case requirements. Gentlevan Removals will gladly help you compile and submit the relevant paperwork.
Pros and Cons of Living in Switzerland
As a UK citizen, it may seem tempting to move to Switzerland for the stunning scenery alone. But before you plan the big move, consider some of the most prominent pros and cons of living in this Alpine paradise.
Pros:
- Apartments are modern, spacious, and well-connected to public transport
- Swiss citizens score higher than average on several criteria, including income, health status, social connections, and work-life balance
- The education system is exemplary. The country has several bilingual and international schools catering to expats and their children
- Unemployment rates are very low
- The outdoor experiences make Switzerland one of the top countries for hiking, nature walks, and winter sports
- The country has a diverse and quickly growing international community
- English is widely spoken across Switzerland
- The country is very safe. Over 70% of Swiss nationals say they feel comfortable walking home alone at night, while only about half of UK citizens report the same
- Provided you meet their criteria, some municipalities pay you to move
Cons:
- Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world; however, when you consider the above-average incomes, the costs even out in the end
- Making friends may be difficult at first, as the Swiss are known to be reserved and more private
- The public transport network in Switzerland is one of the best in the world. But its train tickets are also some of the most expensive
Move From the UK to Switzerland With a Budget-Friendly Removal Company
Clearly, the pros of living in Switzerland outweigh the cons. Provided every stage of your application goes according to plan, the country won’t just welcome you with open arms but actually financially compensate you for moving there. But even if you don’t qualify for these programs, don’t worry — it’s not the end of the road. You can still apply for a job, pursue an academic course, or choose to retire in Switzerland.
As for the cost, there are ways to reduce the burden. At Gentlevan Removals, we understand that moving to Switzerland can be expensive, which is why we’ve tailored our services to ensure you spend as little as possible moving your valuable belongings.
Over the last 13 years, we’ve leveraged our logistics expertise to help several British expats like you make the move. Our team’s widespread knowledge ensures your belongings arrive on time, at the right place, and as efficiently as possible.
Gentlevan Removals’ services extend across various Swiss cities, including:
- Zurich
- Geneva
- Basel
- Lausanne
- Bern
- Winterthur
- Lucerne
- Saint Gallen
- Lugano
- Biel/Bienne
But that’s not all.
Our comprehensive packaging solutions ensure that your belongings always stay safe across long distances, while our team maintains the highest standards to reduce delays.
Our choice of vehicles ranges from a 3.5-tonne luton van to a 36-tonne road train — making us capable of handling large dedicated shipments, or smaller shared loads with equal ease.
But most crucially, our extensive knowledge of paperwork and documentation processes helps ensure everything goes according to plan — and improves your chances of qualifying for one of Switzerland’s much-coveted financing programs.
Contact our team for a free online quote today.