Moving to Switzerland from The United States

If you are considering making the move from The United States 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 to 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 home to around 7,000 lakes – with Lake Geneva being the biggest at just over 580 km2
Currency: Swiss Franc (Fr.). As of late 2023, $1 = 0.87 Fr., £1 = 1.10 Fr., €1 = 0.95 Fr., $1 CAD = 0.64 Fr., $1 AUD = 0.58 Fr.

Sections

1. Moving Costs to Switzerland from The United States

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

Origin Port	Destination City	20-foot Container (USD)	40-foot Container (USD)
Charleston	Basel	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,200 - $13,100
	Bern	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,300 - $13,300
	Geneva	$5,800 - $6,800	$10,800 - $12,600
	Lausanne	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,900 - $12,800
	Zurich	$6,300 - $7,300	$11,500 - $13,500
Houston	Basel	$6,300 - $7,300	$11,500 - $13,500
	Bern	$6,400 - $7,400	$11,600 - $13,700
	Geneva	$6,000 - $7,000	$11,200 - $13,000
	Lausanne	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,300 - $13,200
	Zurich	$6,500 - $7,500	$11,700 - $13,700
Long Beach	Basel	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,800 - $12,700
	Bern	$6,000 - $7,000	$10,900 - $12,900
	Geneva	$5,600 - $6,600	$10,300 - $12,100
	Lausanne	$5,700 - $6,700	$10,400 - $12,300
	Zurich	$6,100 - $7,100	$10,800 - $12,900
Los Angeles	Basel	$5,800 - $6,800	$10,700 - $12,600
	Bern	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,800 - $12,800
	Geneva	$5,500 - $6,500	$10,300 - $12,100
	Lausanne	$5,600 - $6,600	$10,400 - $12,300
	Zurich	$6,000 - $7,000	$10,800 - $12,900
Miami	Basel	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,400 - $13,400
	Bern	$6,300 - $7,300	$11,500 - $13,600
	Geneva	$5,900 - $6,900	$11,000 - $12,900
	Lausanne	$6,000 - $7,000	$11,100 - $13,000
	Zurich	$6,400 - $7,400	$11,600 - $13,700
New York	Basel	$6,000 - $7,000	$11,100 - $13,000
	Bern	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,200 - $13,200
	Geneva	$5,700 - $6,700	$10,900 - $12,700
	Lausanne	$5,800 - $6,800	$11,000 - $12,800
	Zurich	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,400 - $13,400
Oakland	Basel	$5,800 - $6,800	$10,700 - $12,600
	Bern	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,800 - $12,800
	Geneva	$5,500 - $6,500	$10,400 - $12,200
	Lausanne	$5,600 - $6,600	$10,500 - $12,400
	Zurich	$6,000 - $7,000	$10,900 - $12,900
Savannah	Basel	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,200 - $13,100
	Bern	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,300 - $13,300
	Geneva	$5,800 - $6,800	$10,800 - $12,700
	Lausanne	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,900 - $12,800
	Zurich	$6,300 - $7,300	$11,500 - $13,500
Seattle	Basel	$6,000 - $7,000	$11,100 - $13,000
	Bern	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,200 - $13,200
	Geneva	$5,700 - $6,700	$10,900 - $12,700
	Lausanne	$5,800 - $6,800	$11,000 - $12,800
	Zurich	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,400 - $13,400
Virginia	Basel	$6,100 - $7,100	$11,200 - $13,100
	Bern	$6,200 - $7,200	$11,300 - $13,300
	Geneva	$5,800 - $6,800	$10,800 - $12,600
	Lausanne	$5,900 - $6,900	$10,900 - $12,800
	Zurich	$6,300 - $7,300	$11,500 - $13,500

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 The United States?

There can be big discrepancies in move time duration when it comes to moving from America due to the vastness of the country.

Let’s take a look at some states from a range of locations in the north, east, south and west of the country to give you an idea of move time to Switzerland.

New York to Zurich – 14 hours, 25 minutes – $560
Los Angeles to Zurich – 10 hours, 55 minutes – $920
Minneapolis to Zurich – 16 hours, 30 minutes – $800
Dallas to Zurich – 18 hours, 25 minutes – $675

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 The United States

Moving from one country to take up residency in another will incur various restrictions – most notably, this comes in the form of 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 The United States. 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 from the States with a cat or dog in tow, it will be necessary for you to 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 on in the article.

You will need a clean criminal record, proof of which will commonly be needed 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 The United States, 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 The United States

Alongside a valid UK passport, you will need a visa to grant you entry into Switzerland if you are wanting to stay for longer than 90 days.

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 then move on to 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 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 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, it is estimated that the cost of living in New York is 6.6% lower than that of Bern, with rent being around 63.2% higher.

Monthly Rental Prices in Switzerland:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: 1,900+ Fr.
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: 1,500+ Fr.
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: 3,300+ Fr.
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: 2,550+ Fr.

Switzerland Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: 14,400+ Fr.
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside the City: 10,350+ Fr.

Source: Numbeo

6. Tax Treaties in Switzerland

There is a taxation law in place between Switzerland and The United States – named the US Switzerland Tax Treaty, first signed in 1996 – which aims to prevent the double taxation of income.

This treaty outlines how income is taxed between countries, helping to prevent the individual from paying double tax. For the tax paid into one country, the other country will provide a tax credit to use against that country’s tax return – effectively providing tax relief for the individual.

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. 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, this will be paid at 25% above the normal working wage but 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 will usually be determined in line with 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

Switzerland, much like The United States, does not have free healthcare – instead, private health insurance is compulsory and must be taken out by all Swiss citizens.

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

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

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 will need to be accredited by the USDA, and given to you by an accredited veterinarian
Vaccinations – the most common one needed is against rabies, 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 before their rabies vaccination

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. Some banned dog breeds aren’t permitted to enter Switzerland, which currently includes:

American Staffordshire Terrier
Boerboel
Bullmastiff
Cane Corso
Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux
Fila Braziliero
Mastiff
Matin Espagnol
Matin de Naples
Pit Bull
Presa Canario
Rottweiler
Thai Ridgeback
Tosa Inu

Pet transport companies exist to help make your move as seamless as possible, ensuring all guidelines are adhered to, and 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

When looking to compare Switzerland with another country, Austria commonly appears high on the list. Being countries situated in central Europe, and both being landlocked, the two areas share similar geographical features, with the Alps running between both.

The countries are known for their industrial prowess, with strong economies and a focus on innovation and technology in particular. As a result, there is a high standard of living in both areas, with excellent healthcare systems, educational establishments and a high standard of safety.

Switzerland and Austria are popular tourist locations, drawing in visitors from around the globe to see both natural and manmade features. An abundance of ski locations – 300+ in Switzerland and over 400 in Austria – as well as mountains and lakes make up a list of key attractors for tourists.

11. Pros and Cons of Moving to Switzerland from The United States

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

Advantages of Moving from The United States to Switzerland	Disadvantages of Moving from The United States to Switzerland
Switzerland offers a high quality of life, with a strong economy, efficient public services, and a well-developed healthcare system.	The cost of living in Switzerland is notably high, with expensive housing, groceries, and other daily expenses.
Switzerland is known for its picturesque landscapes, including the Swiss Alps, and provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities.	The Swiss culture may differ from the United States, with a reserved and formal demeanor. Adjusting to local customs and building social connections may require time and effort.
Switzerland has a reputation for a stable and safe environment, with low crime rates and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.	The job market can be competitive, and strict immigration policies may pose challenges for expatriates. Additionally, the country's multilingual nature may require proficiency in multiple languages.

Whatever you decide, you must understand the legal factors affecting your move – be sure to speak to The U.S. Embassy and Consulates for all the information you need.