Moving countries is always challenging, especially since Switzerland has its own particular way of doing thingsthat foreigners may find baffling. But settling-in help is at your fingertips.
If you are feeling a little (or much) overwhelmed by all the challenges, don’t worry – almost everyone who has ever moved to Switzerland has felt the same way at some point.
Now that you are here, what’s next?
These are some of the tasks you need to do:
Buy health insurance
In Switzerland, all residents – Swiss and foreigners alike – need to have the obligatory health insurance, which you will have to purchase within three months of arriving in the country.
Not getting this insurance is not an option; consequnces include being denied medical care (except for emergencies) and the canton stepping in to buy a policy and having you pay for it.
Once you purchase a plan, you can go about finding a GP (read more about it below).
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about health insurance in Switzerland
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Register your address
The ‘address registration’ rules may come as somewhat of a shock to people from some other places, like the United States, where you can move from one location to another and stay pretty much under the radar.
Not so in Switzerland. Swiss authorities want to know who is living in their country and where.
When you settle in a new home, you have 14 days to announce your arrival in your new commune of residence, though in some places the deadline may be longer.
(Where you live will then determine your taxation rate as well as your health insurance premium).
READ MORE: Why you need to tell Swiss authorities where you live
Find a doctor
Now that you have health insurance and are registered as resident in your municipality, it is time to look for a GP who will treat you or refer you to specialists if needed.
Choosing a doctor is an important step in ensuring that your and your family’s health are in good hands.
Your selection may be based on criteria ranging from the doctor’s English-speaking ability (most medical professionals in Switzerland have some knowledge of English) to the proximity of his or her practice.
The best way for a newcomer to find a doctor is through recommendations of people they know and trust.
READ MORE: What you should know about finding a doctor in Switzerland
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Change your driver license
Switching your licence over to a Swiss one within a year of moving to Switzerland is relatively easy and does not require any additional tests.
You will, however, however, need to bring the following to your local motor vehicle office: a completed application form, original driving licence (with a translation if applicable), residence permit, two colour passport photos, as well as a certificate from a qualified ophthalmologist attesting to good vision.
READ MORE: How to convert your driver’s licence for a Swiss one
Keep essential paperwork
Almost everything you do in Switzerland requires a pile of documents – either in digital or paper form.
Therefore, you need to know which documents are most important when you settle here.
You won’t have to save every little scrap of paper, but some you should definitely keep.
READ MORE: The most essential pieces of paperwork you’ll need in Switzerland
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Get ‘socialising’
For a newcomer, there is no better way to meet people (often a difficult task in Switzerland) and develop a social network than joining clubs and associations of like-minded people
There are definite advantages to becoming a member of these groups — especially in Switzerland, where being part of a community is seen as a sign of integration and could prove to be of value when applying for naturalisation.
READ MORE: The helpful groups foreigners in Switzerland could join
