Moving to Switzerland From Kuwait

If you are considering moving from Kuwait to Switzerland, this guide will tell you everything you need to know—from visa requirements to cost of living differences, healthcare top tips to rules about moving country with your pets—helping you feel empowered when the time comes to make the big move.

Quick Switzerland Facts:

Population: 8.703 million (2021 estimate)
Official Language: German, French, Italian, and Romansh are the national languages of Switzerland
GDP Per Capita: $91,991 USD (2021 estimate)
Random Fact: Switzerland is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in Europe, with four official languages.
Currency: Swiss Franc (Fr.). As of mid 2024, $1 = 0.85 Fr., £1 = 1.12 Fr., €1 = 0.92 Fr., $1 CAD = 0.67 Fr., $1 AUD = 0.60 Fr.

Sections

1. Moving Costs to Switzerland from Kuwait

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from Kuwait and shipping it to different cities in Switzerland:

Destination City	20FT	40FT
Basel	$5,200 - $6,000	$9,500 - $11,000
Bern	$5,300 - $6,100	$9,600 - $11,200
Geneva	$4,900 - $5,700	$8,900 - $10,300
Lausanne	$5,000 - $5,800	$9,000 - $10,400
Zurich	$5,400 - $6,200	$9,700 - $11,300

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (June 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, iContainers, or SeaRates;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. How Long Does It Take To Move to Switzerland from Kuwait?

Let’s examine some sample flight times from Kuwait to give you an idea of the move time to Switzerland.

Kuwait City to Zurich – 11 hours, 5 minutes (one stop) – £175

This duration covers the flight time only, so additional time will need to be added to get you from the terminal to your final location.

3. Moving Restrictions to Switzerland from Kuwait

Moving from one country to take up residency in another will incur various restrictions—most notably, visa requirements, which we will cover in the next section.

For travel periods of 90 days or less, visas aren’t required to travel to Switzerland from Kuwait. But, for permanent stays, you will be required to have a long-stay visa (national or D-visa) arranged before you travel.

If you wish to travel with a cat or dog, you must ensure your pet is properly prepared for the journey, including microchipping, vaccinating, obtaining a health certificate, and more—we will cover this in greater detail later in the article.

You will need a clean criminal record, proof of which will commonly be needed in order to gain employment in Switzerland or to have a permit for residence.

At the time of writing, there are no COVID-19 travel restrictions between Switzerland and Kuwait, but this should always be checked closer to your time of travel to get the most up-to-date information.

4. Visa Requirements to Switzerland from Kuwait

If you want to stay for longer than 90 days, you will need a visa to enter Switzerland along with a valid passport.

The application process is fairly straightforward. You will need to provide the Swiss authorities with:

A completed visa application form relevant to your reason for travel (work, studying, etc.)
Passport photos (coloured)
Copy of your passport

Once you have sent off and been granted a long-stay visa, you can apply for a residence permit. This is a legal requirement for citizens wishing to stay in Switzerland for longer than three months and want to undertake employment.

The main long-stay Swiss visas are:

Work visa – suitable for those wishing to live and work in Switzerland. It’s important to have a job already lined up before applying for this type of visa
Study visa – this is suitable for those already enrolled in Swiss education, wishing to move to the country to continue/complete studies
Retirement visa – suitable for those wishing to carry out retirement in Switzerland
Swiss family reunification visa – for those wishing to join family members living in Switzerland

Each visa type may ask for slightly different documents, so it’s important to find out what’s needed of you to avoid any delays with your application. In all cases, you need to speak to a visa specialist to advise you on your individual circumstances and always keep up to date with the latest changes in the rules.

5. Cost of Living Differences in Switzerland

While this article is covering Switzerland as a whole, house prices will obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will give you an indication of what’s available at what price.

As a general note, the cost of living in Geneva is estimated to be 125.4% higher than Kuwait’s, with rent being around 151.8% higher.

Monthly Rental Prices in Switzerland:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: 2,000+ Fr.
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: 1,700+ Fr.
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: 3,990+ Fr.
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: 3,210+ Fr.

Switzerland Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: 17,300+ Fr.
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside the City: 12,900+ Fr.

Source: Numbeo

6. Tax Treaties in Switzerland

At the time of writing, there is no specific double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) in place between Switzerland and Kuwait. However, these can be negotiated over time, so it’s important to check for the latest guidance.

Kuwait doesn’t charge personal income tax on individuals, including citizens and expatriates, whereas Switzerland does impose taxes. The rate of income tax in Switzerland greatly differs depending on which canton (state) you live in and should be looked into on a case-by-case basis, but generally, these can range from 0% to 40%.

To be completely sure about your taxation requirements while in Switzerland, it’s advised that you enlist the help of a financial professional to ensure you are following the correct rules and don’t end up paying too much – or too little – tax.

7. Working Rules in Switzerland

Swiss law dictates that a standard working week should equate to 45 hours for office workers, retail workers, and industrial workers, with some other professions requiring up to 50 hours per week. If overtime is required, it will be paid at 25% above the normal working wage, but this can vary from company to company.

Statutory annual leave is 4 weeks per working year, which can be increased relative to the time an individual has spent at a company. At least 2 consecutive weeks should be taken during the annual leave period, although employees are free to use their leave days as they wish.

There is currently no statutory minimum wage in Switzerland. Income is usually determined based on an employee’s seniority at a company, with higher-importance positions receiving higher incomes.

Whatever your employment circumstances, it’s important to have your visa ironed out before entering the country to ensure a smooth transition. It’s also important to get up to speed with taxes and any beneficial programs, such as healthcare schemes, so that you are completely clued up on your rights.

8. Healthcare in Switzerland

Private health insurance is compulsory for all Swiss citizens. In Kuwait, the public healthcare system offers citizens access to healthcare at a subsidised or free rate.

Switzerland’s healthcare system is deemed one of the best in the world, ranking 20th by The World Health Organization. This means that if you are in Switzerland and require medical attention, you are sure to receive a high standard of care and knowledge.

You can opt to take out whichever private health insurance package you wish, but the cheapest options will always be the most basic packages, which are sold with no mark-up. Some types of care, such as postpartum appointments and individuals recovering from accidents, are subsidised.

When you move to Switzerland, it’s best to already have your healthcare package sorted out, but you do have up to three months to arrange this if you need a little longer or want to shop around for the best option for you and your health needs.

9. Rules Around Moving With Pets in Switzerland

Moving house includes lots of boxes of belongings – but it can also include some particularly important furry friends, too! If you need to move to Switzerland with a pet in tow, here’s what you need to know.

You will need to ensure that your pet has the following before travelling to Switzerland:

Health certificate – this needs to be obtained from a veterinary practice within 10 days of travel to assure your pet is fit to fly
Vaccinations – the most common one needed is against rabies at least 21 days before travel, but cats can also need FVRCP and feline leukaemia, and dogs may also need DHPP, bordetella, leptospirosis and CIV
Microchip fitted – this must be implanted prior to their rabies vaccination
Pet passport – this will also come from your veterinary practice and will state your pet’s vaccination history, microchip information, and health certificate

If your pet will be 12 weeks or below at the time of travel, they will be banned from doing so until they are older. There are also some banned dog breeds that aren’t permitted to enter Switzerland, which currently include:

Pit bull terrier
American Staffordshire terrier
Staffordshire bull terrier
Mastiffs
Crossbreeds of any of the above

Pet transport companies exist to help make your move as seamless as possible. They ensure all guidelines are adhered to, providing you and your pet with the most stress-free experience. If you are at all in doubt about what’s required from you or your pet, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional to get the latest information and advice.

10. Similar Cities

Drawing comparisons between Switzerland and Kuwait can be tricky. Switzerland is a landlocked country in central Europe with mountainous terrain and a temperate climate with distinct seasons, whereas Kuwait is situated on the Persian Gulf, with a desert landscape and arid conditions exceeding 45°C.

Both countries’ economies are strong, with Switzerland being a global financial hub with a high GDP per capita and Kuwait similarly having a strong economy that is mostly dependent on oil exports.

11. Pros and Cons of Moving to Switzerland from Kuwait

Perhaps you’re moving for a new job opportunity or just to try out a completely different country and climate—whatever your reason for wanting to move from Kuwait to Switzerland, let’s take a look at some of the main pros and cons associated with moving.

ADVANTAGES OF MOVING TO SWITZERLAND FROM KUWAIT	DISADVANTAGES OF MOVING TO SWITZERLAND FROM KUWAIT
High Quality of Life: Switzerland ranks highly for "Quality of Life" owing to its excellent healthcare, education, safety, and overall well-being	High Cost of Living: The cost of living in Switzerland is 125.4% higher than Kuwait, making it considerably more expensive to live in the country
Stable Economy: The economy of Switzerland is robust with good employment opportunities in a number of sectors	Income Tax: Individuals will need to pay income tax in Switzerland, unlike in Kuwait
Scenic Beauty: Switzerland's landscapes are picturesque and beautiful, with rolling hills, mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and more	Language Adjustment: There are four languages in Switzerland, and adjusting to them or learning one of them might take some time

Whatever you decide, it’s important that you understand the legal factors affecting your move. Be sure to speak to the Embassy of Switzerland – Kuwait for all the information you need.