Important Updates
Important Updates
June 11, 2025 | IrelandIrish Legal News: Fragomen Opens Second Office in Cork
June 11, 2025 | CanadaCanada: Ontario Provincial Nominee Allocation Significantly Reduced for 2025
June 11, 2025 | ColombiaColombia: Immigration Processing Delays and Closures due to Earthquake
June 11, 2025 | United KingdomConstruction News: The Immigration White Paper: What Builders Need to Know
June 11, 2025 | FinlandFinland: New End-of-Employment Notification Rule and New Job-Seeking Deadline
June 11, 2025 | IrelandIrish Legal News: Fragomen Opens Second Office in Cork
June 11, 2025 | CanadaCanada: Ontario Provincial Nominee Allocation Significantly Reduced for 2025
June 11, 2025 | ColombiaColombia: Immigration Processing Delays and Closures due to Earthquake
June 11, 2025 | United KingdomConstruction News: The Immigration White Paper: What Builders Need to Know
June 11, 2025 | FinlandFinland: New End-of-Employment Notification Rule and New Job-Seeking Deadline
June 11, 2025 | IrelandIrish Legal News: Fragomen Opens Second Office in Cork
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationHumanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)Vietnamese ImmigrationImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapFragomen Consulting EuropeAustralian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Humanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Fragomen Consulting Europe
  • Australian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
  • Insights

Expats in Switzerland

April 16, 2019

Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

By: Cesare Annecchiarico

In all statistics worldwide, Switzerland is always at least in the top 10 when it comes to the living standard. It is therefore hardly surprising that the country attracts foreign nationals. Cantons such as Zug, Zurich or Geneva are extremely popular with expats. In Zurich, for example, it is normal for people to be able to speak English in everyday life. But who are these expats and are there different types? In this blog, I will look at some of the different categories of expats, and the unique challenges and characteristics of each of these expat categories.

Types of Expats

The Optimizer

Share of Swiss expats:  18 percept

Reasons for moving: The search for a better quality of life, financial reasons or politics, religion, and personal security.

Characteristics: The optimizers move because they see many advantages in living abroad. Most of them are then very satisfied with their decision, work full-time and no longer complain about their financial situation. In addition, these people have few problems settling into their new home and quickly find their way around the new culture.

This is what distinguishes their life abroad: They have a mediocre knowledge of the local language and are rarely mainly friends with locals. However, they often stay abroad permanently.

The Assignee

Share of Swiss expats: 16 percent.

Reasons for the move: The decision came from the employer.

Characteristics: Almost every expatriate is employed full-time and works an average of 46.1 working hours per week. Worldwide, more than three out of five expatriates are satisfied with their career opportunities, and almost seven out of ten consider their job to be secure. But 60 percent also think it is likely that they will return to their home country sooner or later. One of the reasons for this could be that one in five expatriates living in a relationship has travelled abroad alone and has a long-distance relationship.

This is what distinguishes their life abroad: The expatriate has a mediocre knowledge of the national language and is rarely friends with natives.

Accompanying partners

Share of Swiss expats: 6 percent.

Reasons for the move: The partner moves for his or her work.

Almost nine out of ten characteristics: Nearly nine out of ten accompanying partners are female. Since they move because of their partner's job, it is often the case that these expats mainly take care of the home and the children. Usually, they are also looking for work. They find it more difficult than average to settle in abroad, and more than half of them do not feel at home in the host country. Finding friends is also considered very difficult.

This is what distinguishes their life abroad: The accompanying partners often have a mediocre knowledge of the local language and are rarely mainly friends with locals.

These are just a few of the different types of expats that live in Switzerland.

However, despite offering a high standard of living a recently published survey by Internations, an international network for expats showed that on a scale of 65 countries, Switzerland only ranks 27th out of a total of 13,000 respondents.

Despite offering a high standard of living, why Switzerland ranked 27th on this survey? The expats surveyed in Switzerland cite the high cost of living and "settling in" as the main reasons. Almost seven out of ten report having difficulties in making friends. For other reasons, such as the difficult language, Swiss culture, and the large expat community, almost half of those surveyed are almost exclusively friends with other expats.

That's a pity in today’s global environment. An international company like Fragomen, in particular, shows that embracing diversity and new cultures allows better collaboration and teamwork. One should not forget that Switzerland, in particular, offers enormous diversity and quality of life. The country, for example, offers excellent schools, international networking opportunities, geographical advantage, and four national languages.

What is needed is a little courage and open-mindedness on both sides. We at Fragomen, therefore say: Dear expats, welcome to Switzerland!

If you have any further questions about moving to Switzerland, please contact Cesare Annecchiarico: [email protected].

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

Construction News: The Immigration White Paper: What Builders Need to Know

Senior Associate Clara Gautrais and Immigration Paralegal Sean Pearce outline the impact of new visa skill requirements and sponsorship rules on UK construction firms.

Learn more

Video

European Club Season Wrap Up & Looking Forward to the 2025 Club World Cup | #FragomenFCLearn more

Media mentions

Irish Legal News: Fragomen Opens Second Office in Cork

This article in Irish Legal News covers the firm's recent announcement of its new office opening in Cork, Ireland.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Kiplinger: Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream

Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo

Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution

Fragomen announces the appointment of Partner Daniel Brown to the position of Chief Executive Officer of WorkRight U.S., the firm’s I-9 employee verification technology.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025

Fragomen earned top rankings in Chambers USA 2025, with Band 1 recognition nationally.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Hollywood Reporter: Will Trump Torch L.A.’s Olympics?

San Diego Managing Partner Karine Wenger discussed the upcoming Olympic immigration landscape and potential challenges for international participants.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Standard: Could Social Media Silence Cost You a US Student Visa? Experts Weigh In

Partner Daniel Pierce notes that limited social media activity or private accounts could lead to greater scrutiny for international students applying for US visas.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Grows Irish Operations with New Cork Office

Fragomen announces the opening of a new office in Cork, expanding its presence in Ireland to better support clients across the country's southern and western regions.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen Ranked in 2026 Edition of "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers

Fragomen is ranked both nationally and locally in "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers.

Learn more

Awards

Global Mobility Lawyer Recognises Fragomen's Wout van Doren and Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders

Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.

Learn more

Media mentions

Construction News: The Immigration White Paper: What Builders Need to Know

Senior Associate Clara Gautrais and Immigration Paralegal Sean Pearce outline the impact of new visa skill requirements and sponsorship rules on UK construction firms.

Learn more

Video

European Club Season Wrap Up & Looking Forward to the 2025 Club World Cup | #FragomenFCLearn more

Media mentions

Irish Legal News: Fragomen Opens Second Office in Cork

This article in Irish Legal News covers the firm's recent announcement of its new office opening in Cork, Ireland.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Kiplinger: Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream

Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo

Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution

Fragomen announces the appointment of Partner Daniel Brown to the position of Chief Executive Officer of WorkRight U.S., the firm’s I-9 employee verification technology.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025

Fragomen earned top rankings in Chambers USA 2025, with Band 1 recognition nationally.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Hollywood Reporter: Will Trump Torch L.A.’s Olympics?

San Diego Managing Partner Karine Wenger discussed the upcoming Olympic immigration landscape and potential challenges for international participants.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Standard: Could Social Media Silence Cost You a US Student Visa? Experts Weigh In

Partner Daniel Pierce notes that limited social media activity or private accounts could lead to greater scrutiny for international students applying for US visas.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Grows Irish Operations with New Cork Office

Fragomen announces the opening of a new office in Cork, expanding its presence in Ireland to better support clients across the country's southern and western regions.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen Ranked in 2026 Edition of "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers

Fragomen is ranked both nationally and locally in "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers.

Learn more

Awards

Global Mobility Lawyer Recognises Fragomen's Wout van Doren and Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders

Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.