Living in Switzerland
Europe — Expat guide for moving and living abroad
Country overview
Capital
Bern
Currency
CHF
Continent
Europe
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Entry requirements
Check if your passport needs a visa for Switzerland.
Check visa requirementsPopular passport access to Switzerland
| Passport | Status | Max Stay |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Visa Free | 90 days |
| United States | Visa Free | 90 days |
| Austria | Visa Free | — |
| Belgium | Visa Free | — |
| Bulgaria | Visa Free | — |
| Croatia | Visa Free | — |
| Cyprus | Visa Free | — |
| Czechia | Visa Free | — |
| Denmark | Visa Free | — |
| Estonia | Visa Free | — |
Detailed visa guides for Switzerland
Monthly costs
Zurich
Rent (center)
2,200 CHF/mo
Groceries
500 CHF/mo
Transport
87 CHF/mo
Est. Monthly Total
2,987 CHF/mo
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Work permits
-
L Permit (Short-term Residence)
Duration: Up to 1 year, renewable once
Workers with an employment contract up to 1 year
-
B Permit (Residence Permit)
Duration: 1 year (non-EU) or 5 years (EU/EFTA), renewable
Workers with an employment contract of 1+ years or self-employed persons
-
C Permit (Settlement Permit)
Duration: Permanent, renewed every 5 years
Long-term residents after 5-10 years (depending on nationality)
Salary & tax
Income Tax Range
0% – 12%
Social Security (Employee)
0.063%
Federal tax only. Cantonal and municipal taxes vary significantly (effective total 20-40%). Social security includes AHV/IV/EO (~5.3%) and ALV (~1.1%).
Calculate your net salaryUseful services
Insurance
SafetyWing
Nomad health insurance for your stay in Switzerland. Monthly subscription, cancel anytime.
Get a SafetyWing quote →Connectivity
Airalo
Switzerland eSIM data plans from $4.50. Activate before you land — no SIM swap.
Get an Airalo eSIM →Privacy
NordVPN
Stay secure on public WiFi in Switzerland and access services from home.
Get NordVPN →Language
iTalki
Book 1-on-1 video lessons with native tutors before you move. 150+ languages.
Find a tutor →