Moving to Switzerland in March. What are the most important things I need to do when I first arrive there?

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swissnick

Well, it depends what all is organised already for you. Surely you would have to register at the municipality and at the traffic-circulation office considering you would want to use your driver's licence in Switzerland. Do you bring a car along or do you want to buy one here?

Perhaps you need a monthly/yearly card for public transport, a bank account, certainly a health insurance and so on...

Where do you actually move to?

nachosmyman

I just returned from living in Switzerland after three years. Here are things you need to know:

First, both my husband and I worked in Swizterland and we never had to have a chest x-ray. I have never heard of that.

1) If you drive on the autobahn (Highway) your car will need a sticker called a vignette. If you are caught without it, your fine is very high. If you only drive on back roads, you don't need this. Also, depending how long you are going to be living there, you need to get a Swiss drivers license which is quite expensive. If you are only going to be there a year, I wouldn't do it. You must exit the country within 6 months in order to use your foreign drivers license.

2) Be sure you are clear about using the correct trash bags and stickers for the city where you live. You just can't throw trash into the bin in an apartment complex, you must have a special bag with a sticker to cover the costs. If you don't, your garbage will be inspected and you will receive a letter with a warning and a fine. Also, be clear that vegetables are recycled and thrown into the green bin in your complex. Do not throw it away in your trash or you may recieve a warning.

3) Unless you have a washer and dryer in your apartment, plan on having only one day per week to do laundry in the common laundry room of the apartment complex. Sometimes they assign you a day, sometimes you can sign up.

4) You have to pay for cable for TV and radio waves to a government agency called "Beelach". They are the Swiss communications agency. When you move in to your new place, contact Beelach and tell them you are new and have a TV and how many radios you have. If you don't do this and they find out you are using the radio and TV wihtout paying, you are subject to a huge fine.

5) By law, you must purchase Swiss health insurance even if you have coverage in another country. We had Anthem in the USA, but had to buy Swiss insurance to the tune of $900 / month.

6) You must register at the city hall (which is called "Die Gemeinde" in German - I don't know what it is called in French).
There you must register your address and your information. They are especially interested in this information so they can tax you correctly!!!

7) When you file taxes in Switzerland, you automatically donate a portion of tax money to the Catholic Church. You will probably pay your taxes quarterly at first and then you settle up a year or two later. If you don't want this money going to the Church automatically, be sure and tell your accountant about it in advance. They can file for a refund, but you have to ask!!
It can be a fairly good chunk of money.

8) Grocery stores close at 6:00 p.m. and are only open until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sometimes they are opne until 8:00 on Thursday evenings. Closed Sunday. Go early on Sat. or everything gets picked over fast. Migros is the cheapest place to grocery shop, Coop is nicer, but more expensive. Aldi is brand new in Switzerland and if you are lucky enough to have one in your town, it will be cheaper than Migros and they have great food.

9) Swiss people stare alot. Not just because you are a foreigner, but because that is just how they are. Don't let it bother you, just stare back.

10) Check the house rules for your apartment complex. Some are quite strict - no flushing the toilet after 10:00 p.m., no music from Noon to 2:00 p.m. (because people are napping) etc.

11) THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT: When you move into your new apartment, go over the checklist that the leasing company gives you with a fine tooth comb!!! Write down everything that is wrong with the apartment from smudges on the inside of the refrigerator to scratches on the floor, nail holes filed on the walls, chipped paint...anything that is remotely noticeable. This is very important, because when you move out, the leasing company will do an inspection of your apartment and this is an infamous practice - they will charge you for every little speck or chip or scratch and try to make you pay a ridiculous amount to repair these problems and you won't get your full deposit back. If you come back to the USA at some point, bring a sample of the color of the paint (it will be a variety of white) from your apartment walls. Go to Lowe's and have them mix you a pint or smaller quantity to take back with you for touch ups before you leave. The paint used in apartments is only sold in 16 litre pails there, so if you go to Jumbo (Like Lowe's but much smaller) and get a white paint, it will not match and you may end up paying a boatload of money for a touch-up.

I know some of this sounds bizarre, but I am not lying. Good Luck and enjoy your experience.

EDIT: If you are entering the Swiss Military then you must be Swiss. What's the deal?

langstrumpf

hey there

You have to go to the council, to tell them where youre adress.
If you are looking for work, you can go to the RAV or to some other temporary offices (like adecco)

enjoy your time

xenos

go to the train st bahnhof buffet and have a bier or 2

Vampir

Are you a American or a Swiss military, I think you arriven in Zurich, take the train to Bern, and after go to Thun by train 35min, The railroad in Switzerland and the lifecost are very expansive.

SWT

do you have a work sponsor?
you will need a work sponsor to work in switzerland if you are not a citizen. learn the language, and have a great time there!!!good luck!!!!

Orianna

Maybe to go in the city uffice where you will live to register your arrival
And I think they will tell what you have to do

In which city will you will stay?

Mmmmm

See this link.It has lots of info to help you.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SUNA&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Switzerland++rules+for+immigrants&spell=1

Wiretsar

The absolutely first thing you must do when you arrive in Switzerland is to get off the plane.

doodlebug

One of the very 1st things you should do is go to the nearest
train station (there's one underneath the Zurich airport, if that's
how you're arriving) and get a half-fare train pass. ( It's called
an abonnement.) It's an ID card that you pay for 1 time, it's
good for 1 year, and it allows you to pay half-price for all your
transportation on trains. It will pay for itself really quickly if you
travel at all. Also, if you're going to be working there, you will need to get a chest x-ray too. (To be sure you don't have Tuberculosis.) Also, make a friend who speaks English right
away, they can be a huge help if you have problems....
Also, just get used to the fact that they don't do things "our way",
but that's ok. Don't fight it, and don't make a big deal out of it.

Have a great time!

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