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Working in Switzerland
Capital: Bern
Largest city: Zurich
Population: 7.99 million (212 census)
Currency: Swiss Franc
Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is located in northern Europe
Although a brilliant destination for travellers, Switzerland does not offer great opportunities for working holidaymakers who are not citizens of the EU or of EFTA member states. Citizens of EU and EFTA member states can live and work in Switzerland. Canada and Switzerland have developed a Nationals of all other countries must first be offered a position with a Swiss employer.
Tourism Video
Visa Summary
Visa: Youth Mobility Program (Citizens of Canada only)
Age: 18 – 35 (for the Youth Mobility Program)
Length of Stay: 18 months
Application Fee: available on application
Restrictions:
Citizens of EU and EFTA member states:
Authorisation is not required for employment of up to three months per calendar year
Employment status must be registered with the canton
For employment of longer than three months a residence permit is required
Third-country nationals
Must be offered employment by a Swiss-based employer
Can only be offered employment if no one with the same qualifications can be found in Switzerland or an EU / EFTA state.
Only managers, specialists and qualified workers will be admitted.
Youth Mobility Program
Must be a Canadian citizen and
Have a secondary education and have completed a 2-year training program or
Be studying at a post-secondary institution or
Have completed post-secondary studies
Emergency
Emergency numbers
Police 117
Fire 118
Ambulance 144
Australian Consular representation in Switzerland
Australian Consulate-General
Chemin des Fins 2
Case Postale 102
1211 Geneva 19
Telephone: +41 (0) 22 799 9100
Facsimile: +41 (0) 22 799 9178
Tax System
Anyone working in Switzerland will have to pay taxes to the Swiss government. Taxes are collected at three levels: Federal Taxes, Cantonal Taxes and Communal Taxes. The total amount of tax paid will vary from Canton to Canton and the Communal (local taxes) can also vary depending on where you live.
Tax law in Switzerland is further complicated by the fact that the country is often seen as a tax haven by the very wealthy from right around the world. The taxation system is administered by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA).
If you will be living and working in Switzerland, seeking local tax advice is highly recommended. For tax information and other employment related advice, www.ch.ch/en/ is an excellent resource.
Bank Account
Swiss banks have a long-standing reputation for welcoming account-holders from around the world. This reputation is well earned and as a result, it is relatively easy to open an account with a Swiss bank. The account holder must be at least 18 years old and an account can be opened using many currencies including; the Swiss Franc, US Dollars, the Euro and Pounds Sterling, There is no minimum opening balance required although most Swiss banks will stipulate a minimum on-going balance. This will vary from bank to bank and also according to account type.
Local banks include Credit Suisse, Hyposwiss Private Bank and UBS. There are also a number of other Swiss banking institutions, many of which are family owned banks.
Employment
Once you have secured permission to work in Switzerland, there are a number of ways you can go about funding a job. Typical methods include local newspaper classifieds as well as a number of online job boards. There are also some job placement agencies that can provide assistance. Job websites in Switzerland include:
The best phone-related option for travellers and working holidaymakers in Switzerland is to bring your own phone and obtain a local SIM from a Swiss provider. The three mobile network operators in Switzerland are: swisscom, sunrise and orange.
There are also a number of virtual network providers who re-sell services out of one of the existing networks. It is important to do some research and comparison-shopping before deciding on a mobile service in Switzerland. Get started by looking at:
