Situated in Central Europe, east of France and north of Italy Switzerland is an ideal place for migration not only because of its famous chocolates and because of the fascinating Swiss Alps. It also boasts of a stable economic and political condition. Switzerland is peaceful because of its low crime rate and wealthy because of its strong currency. Residents enjoy low taxation and among the world’s richest citizens. In the 2006 Quality of Life survey, Switzerland ranked second in the listing of the world’s best place to live.
Basic Information
Capital: Bern
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Language(s): German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic
Currency: Swiss francs (CHF), Euros
Population: 7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant
Government: formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic
Economy: Industrial, supplier of financial services
Migration and Employment Policies
The unemployment rate is considerably low as compared to other European countries and its workers are highly skilled. However, obtaining a residence or work visa is not that easy in Switzerland because it has an immigration quota and follows a strict and complex immigration rules. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU) but it has a bilateral agreement with the EU so foreign workers from the EU states are given employment priority. Generally, EU citizens and other nationalities such as--- are not required to get a visa to visit Switzerland. On the other hand, citizens from non-EU countries who want to work in Switzerland faces strict admission policy.
The visa that will allow you to live and work in Switzerland is a combination of residence visa and work permit. This document is not given in Switzerland so the application should be done in the foreign workers’ native country.
For a period of three months, EU citizens can look for work in Switzerland without a residence permit. Citizens of other countries must apply for a pre-authorization before coming to Switzerland. The pre-authorization states that one will obtain the actual residence permit upon arrival in Switzerland. There are different types of residence permits in Switzerland depending on the length of stay.
The employer of the foreign workers must be the one to process the application and the visa-processing can take months. Only when your prospective employer receives government approval to hire you should you begin seriously planning your move to Switzerland.
Note:
Please be reminded that the information contained in this article is subject to frequent changes. To be updated on the latest advisories, contact the Swiss Embassy consulates, immigration offices, and the Swiss ministry for foreign affairs.
