Moving to Switzerland

Key Takeaways

Visas to Switzerland from South Africa

To immigrate to Switzerland from South Africa, you must apply for the correct visa. Choose from the following options depending on your situation:

Requirements to Move to Switzerland

Whether you’re staying short or long-term, here are the essential documents you’ll need when applying for a Swiss visa:

• Application form
• Valid South African passport
• Passport photo (taken within the last 6 months)
• Cover letter explaining your reason for moving
• Recent bank statement (last 3 months)
• Relevant certificates (birth, marriage, police clearance)
• Valid European travel health insurance

How Much Does It Cost to Move to Switzerland from South Africa?

To give you a better idea, we gathered the average moving costs from Cape Town to Geneva via sea:

Disclaimer: These are estimations, average costs can change according to the different factors mentioned above.

The final cost depends on several factors: volume, transport method (sea or air), moving date, and distance. If you think you may need a container to ship all of your belongings to Switzerland, take a look at our container shipping prices page.

Request Moving Quotes For Switzerland

Request quotes from international movers to get accurate estimates based on your household size and needs. You can get up to 5 free quotes in just 24 hours.

Cost of Moving Pets to Switzerland

If you want to bring your furry friend, they must be:

• Identified with a microchip
• Vaccinated against rabies and had its blood tested
• Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) permit – Find the form
• Health certificate

Living in Switzerland as a South African

If you’re moving from South Africa to Switzerland permanently, it’s important to understand the differences in cost of living, culture, and daily life.

Switzerland offers a high standard of living but comes with significantly higher prices, especially in cities like Geneva and Zurich.

Living Costs in Switzerland

Average costs of living in Switzerland vs South Africa:

Source: Numbeo

Pros and Cons of Living in Switzerland

Working in Switzerland as a South African

Switzerland offers many work opportunities for South Africans and other foreign nationals, especially in industries like finance, healthcare, and IT.

How to Get Work in Switzerland?

To get work in Switzerland, you can start researching on popular platforms for job opportunities you are eligible for. Here are some websites that you can use to find jobs in Switzerland before you move:

• Indeed
• The local
• Jobscout 24
• Monster
• Total jobs

Housing in Switzerland for South Africans

As a South African immigrating to Switzerland, start with rental platforms and consider temporary housing until you are settled.

The best way to find housing is through online portals, such as the ones below:

• Homegate
• Immo Scout24
• UMS
• WG Zimmer

Healthcare System in Switzerland

The Swiss healthcare system is regarded as one of the best in the world. However, it isn’t free, and it’s important to take out basic health insurance within the first three months of moving to Switzerland. For more information, you can visit the Swiss authorities’ website.

Education System in Switzerland

If you’re interested in moving to study at a university, you should know that there are plenty of opportunities for international students at top universities. Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano is probably the ‘most international’ university, as 65% of its students come from 100 different countries.

Interesting Facts About Switzerland

• The population is estimated to be around 8,700,000
• The country has four official languages – German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
• Milk chocolate was invented by a Swiss chocolatier in 1875 to make it less bitter.
• Switzerland is a direct democracy, meaning citizens have direct rights over laws.
• They are leaders as watchmakers, producing some of the most sophisticated in the world.

How to Immigrate to Switzerland From South Africa: Checklist

If you’re wondering how to immigrate to Switzerland from South Africa, this checklist will help you organise each step of your move:

Ready to Move to Switzerland?

We hope that we have provided you with enough information for your move and that you find immigrating to Switzerland less daunting than before. Below are some other pages that you may be interested in that could be relevant to your move.