Moving to Switzerland from the UK: a complete guide

Thinking about booking a flight to Switzerland and starting a new life there? You’re not alone, since over 40,000 Brits already call this beautiful country their home.¹ In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Switzerland from the UK, including the cost of living, what has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders from the money services provider Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Switzerland for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Want to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Table of contents

Can you move to Switzerland from the UK? Moving to Switzerland from the UK after Brexit⁴ How to get a Swiss visa?⁵ How to move to Switzerland from the UK? What’s the cheapest way to get to Switzerland from the UK? Options for retiring in Switzerland Retirement visas¹⁰ Pensions¹¹ Living in Switzerland - what you need to know Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Switzerland?¹³ Healthcare system¹⁴ Opening a Swiss bank account¹⁵ Finding a job in Switzerland⁴ Renting or buying property in Switzerland Checklist for moving to Switzerland from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Switzerland with Wise

Can you move to Switzerland from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Switzerland from the UK, but it might be complicated.

Even though Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it’s still in the Schengen Area. So, the same rules apply here as anywhere in that area when it comes to entering and staying. British citizens don’t need a visa for entering Switzerland, but they need permits for longer stays and permanent residence.²

Anyone who stays in Switzerland for longer than three months requires a permit. The permits are issued by the Cantonal Migration Offices and there are three types: short-term residence permits, annual residence permits and permanent residence permits.³

Moving to Switzerland from the UK after Brexit⁴

Because of Brexit, UK nationals now have third-country citizen status in Switzerland. This means you don't need a visa for short-term stays, but anything over 90 days requires a permit.

It’s more difficult to move and find a job now, since EU and Swiss nationals will always have an advantage over you. Also, only highly qualified professionals have a chance of moving to Switzerland from the UK, but more on that later.

How to get a Swiss visa?⁵

As a citizen of the United Kingdom, you don’t need an entry visa for Switzerland. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days, after which you’ll need to apply for one of the residence permits.

The L permit is a one year temporary permit. It’s issued to those who have a specific job waiting for them in Switzerland.

The B permit allows you to study or work in Switzerland. It’s also valid for one year for UK nationals, while EU residents get five years.

Finally, the C permit is the permanent residence permit. You must live in Switzerland for at least 10 years in order to apply.

How to move to Switzerland from the UK?

The best way to move to Switzerland depends on what you plan on doing once you arrive there. If you want to work, the best option is to find an employer who is willing to sponsor your visa. They will apply to the local cantonal immigration or labour market authority for a work permit.⁶

Also, consider studying in Switzerland. A proof of university acceptance along with a few other documents will get you a residence permit.⁷

Whatever option you choose, make sure you check for any updated information in case anything changes.

What’s the cheapest way to get to Switzerland from the UK?

The easiest and most common way to get to Switzerland from the UK is by plane. The cheapest month to fly is April, when you can get a one-way ticket for as little as £14.⁸

However, you won’t always find such a good deal and if you do, it will probably be limited. The average ticket price for a one-way flight to Switzerland is between £50 and £100.⁹

📚 Read more: How to use the UK-issued Wise card abroad?

Options for retiring in Switzerland

Whether you’re approaching retirement age or thinking in advance, you might be considering Switzerland as a potential retirement destination. Switzerland has so much to offer, starting with great healthcare and a high standard of living.

But how easy is it to retire in Switzerland? Here are the things you should be aware of:

Retirement visas¹⁰

In order to retire in Switzerland, you need a five-year residence permit called the B permit. Whether you’ll get it or not depends on certain criteria, which is quite strict for non-EU citizens.

You need to be at least 55, with required financial means to support yourself and proof of special personal relations to Switzerland. An example of this would be spending a relatively long time in Switzerland in the past or proof of Swiss origin.

Pensions¹¹

If you manage to retire in Switzerland, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK bank account or a Swiss one, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.

Living in Switzerland - what you need to know

Here are some basic facts you should know about Switzerland if you’re considering moving there:

• Currency - Swiss franc (CHF)
• Main languages - German, French, Italian, and Romansh
• Population - 8,841,531¹²
• Number of British expats - around 42,000¹

There are both good and bad sides of living in any foreign country, but if having a British community is important to you, Switzerland might be the place for you.

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Switzerland?¹³

Before moving to Switzerland from the UK, it’s good to get an idea of how far your money will go.

In general, the cost of living in Switzerland is significantly higher than in the UK. For instance, you will pay more than double for groceries and over 60% more for dining out. However, the purchasing power is higher in Switzerland.

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Switzerland, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £105 in Switzerland, while it’s £60 in the UK
• A loaf of bread is around £2.73, compared to £1.22 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £6, compared to £4.5 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass is approximately £70, compared to £68 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £1,570, compared to £1,059 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £208 a month, compared to £250 in the UK

When it comes to purchasing a property, this is also much pricier in Switzerland. For instance, the price per square metre for a city centre apartment is over 160% higher than in the UK.

Healthcare system¹⁴

Switzerland is known for having a very good and stable healthcare system. However, it’s not free nor cheap.

In Switzerland, the healthcare system is financed by individuals, not through taxes or by employers. Private health insurance is mandatory and each person spending more than 3 months in Switzerland is required to get it.

All insurance companies must offer basic healthcare coverage, which covers 80–90% of your medical costs. Since you’ll have to get private insurance, it’s advisable to do some research before moving.

Opening a Swiss bank account¹⁵

Opening a Swiss bank account should be one of the first steps in your new life abroad. It’s essential for paying rent, handling everyday expenses and being paid by your employer.

Swiss banks are known for protecting the privacy of their clients and generally being safe. Some of the documents you’ll need to provide when opening an account are authenticated copies of your passport, proof of the source of your funds etc. There aren’t any special restrictions for expats, except being at least 18 years old.

You can even check with your bank whether you can keep using your UK account in Switzerland.

And, as an alternative to a bank account, check out the Wise account. You can send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and Swiss francs. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Finding a job in Switzerland⁴

Since the UK left the EU, it’s no longer possible to come to Switzerland and look for a job. Now only managers, specialists or other skilled professionals can be allowed to work. Unfortunately, residents of Switzerland and the EU will always have an advantage over UK nationals.

Another thing that has changed because of Brexit is that starting a business in Switzerland and being self-employed is no longer as easy. You need to prove that your self-employment will have a positive effect on the Swiss labour market. Along with this, you need to give them your detailed business plan, as well as projected turnover and profit.

Renting or buying property in Switzerland

Finding a place to live is one of the most important things when moving to any new country. Whether it’s renting or buying property in Switzerland, picking a perfect apartment will most likely require effort and patience.

When it comes to renting, you can always consult an estate agent. This way, you might even get access to some unlisted properties. If you’d like to look through some available options, these are some popular property websites:

• Blueground
• Homelike
• Immostreet
• Immoscout24
• Homegate

Since Brexit, some extra steps are required when buying property in Switzerland. You can buy a home if you plan for it to be your main residence where you’ll live permanently. However, if you want to buy a second property or a holiday home, you’ll need to apply for authorisation. The exception are citizens who have a permanent settlement permit.¹⁶

📚 Read more: How to transfer large amounts of money from the UK?

Checklist for moving to Switzerland from the UK

Let’s go through the most important steps of moving to Switzerland from the UK:

• Go through available visa options, gather your documents and apply for your visa of choice
• Find a place to live - do this online or travel to Switzerland to view properties
• Do some research and get an estimate for shipping your belongings to Switzerland
• Look into Swiss banks, find some that suit you and see if they let you open an account before arriving
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to Switzerland with Wise

Before moving to a new country, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Switzerland for low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. For starters, you can spend in CHF from the moment you step off the plane using your contactless Wise card. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used:

1. SWI swissinfo - Giving expats the vote: what can the UK and Switzerland learn from each other?
2. Immigration Advice Service - Moving to Switzerland from the UK
3. State Secretariat for Migration - Residence
4. State Secretariat for Migration - FAQ
5. Immigration Advice Service - Moving to Switzerland from the UK
6. State Secretariat for Migration - UK nationals coming to Switzerland to work from 1 January 2021
7. Prospects - Study in Switzerland
8. Skyscanner - London to Switzerland
9. Skyscanner - Flights from London to Basel
10. Visa Guide - Switzerland Retirement Visa
11. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
12. Worldometers - Switzerland population
13. Numbeo - Cost of living in the UK compared to Switzerland
14. Internations - Healthcare in Switzerland Explained
15. Investopedia - How to Open a Swiss Bank Account
16. SWI swissinfo - Buying property in Switzerland

Sources last checked on date: 25-Apr-2024