Expat Abroad · Switzerland

Living in Switzerland.

10 practical guides for Americans living in Switzerland, grouped by topic. Each one lists the official sources it is based on.

Switzerland

Arrival and immigration

The glass and steel east wing pier of Terminal 1 at Geneva Airport

Arrival and immigration · 6 min read

Entering Switzerland on a US passport: the 90/180 rule, EES and ETIAS

What a US passport holder needs at the Swiss border: passport validity, the rolling 90/180-day count, the EES biometric check, ETIAS timing and the D visa for moves.

Switzerland

Documents and ID

Kramgasse in Bern old town with arcades, flags and the Zytglogge

Documents and ID · 5 min read

US embassy services in Switzerland: passports, voting and STEP

What Embassy Bern and the consular agencies in Zurich and Geneva do for Americans in Switzerland: passports, birth reports, notarials, voting, taxes and STEP.

Winterthur Stadthaus with its columned facade and Swiss flag

Documents and ID · 5 min read

Registering in Switzerland after you arrive: the first 90 days

Deadlines after landing in Switzerland: commune registration in 14 days, the permit card, health insurance within three months and your AHV number.

Switzerland

Getting around

Road over the Saint Gotthard Pass with cars beside the mountain lake

Getting around · 5 min read

Driving in Switzerland with a US license: IDP, exchange and the test

How long a US driver's license works in Switzerland, when residents must swap it for a Swiss one, the control drive, documents, fees and the motorway vignette.

Switzerland

Health

University Hospital Zurich building on a city street

Health · 6 min read

Swiss mandatory health insurance: deductibles and the three-month rule

How Swiss basic health insurance under the KVG works for Americans: the three-month enrollment window, deductible choices, co-payments, models and switching dates.

Switzerland

Pets

Pets · 6 min read

Bringing a dog or cat from the US to Switzerland

The microchip, rabies vaccine, USDA-endorsed health certificate and entry control rules for moving a dog, cat or ferret from the US to Switzerland.

Switzerland

Safety

Rega air rescue helicopter flying in front of snowy Swiss Alps

Safety · 6 min read

Safety and emergencies in Switzerland: numbers, alerts and help

Swiss emergency numbers and what they cost, how mobile location works, Alertswiss and avalanche warnings, and how the US Embassy in Bern helps citizens in trouble.

Switzerland

Shipping and moving

Swiss customs house at the Kriessern border crossing with the Swiss flag

Shipping and moving · 6 min read

Shipping your belongings to Switzerland: customs and household goods

How Swiss customs treats household goods when you move from the US: the six-month rule, form 18.44, the inventory list, cars, pets and later shipments.

Switzerland

Visas and residency

Dome of the Swiss Federal Palace in Bern with the Eiger behind

Visas and residency · 5 min read

Becoming a citizen of Switzerland: residence and dual nationality

Swiss naturalisation for Americans: ten years and a C permit, cantonal residence rules, language levels, integration criteria, fees and keeping US citizenship.

The Federal Palace in Bern at night, seen across the flagged Bundesplatz

Visas and residency · 7 min read

Moving to Switzerland from the US: which visa or residence route fits

How US citizens can move to Switzerland: skilled work permits under the quota, the retiree route at 55, family reunification, and the D visa you apply for first.