Moving to Switzerland, discover all the advantages and disadvantages of building a new life in the Swiss Confederation.
Moving to Switzerland has always been the dream of many: high wages, absence of crime, clean and orderly cities, quality infrastructure, a streamlined and fair bureaucratic and tax systems that reward the most capable citizens, are very appealing factors.
Before taking this step, however, it is important to know all its advantages and disadvantages and be aware that the Swiss system is meritocratic. It offers real possibilities to change one’s life for the better if you have skills and you are willing to commit.
Then discover Luca’s story and all the pros and cons of choosing to move to Switzerland.
Skills and passion, many sacrifices and few results
Luca, a fictional name, lives in Italy, is thirty years old and works with passion and dedication.
Over the years, his skills and commitment have allowed him to get a good gross salary but … taxes, duties and expenses for the accountant, an indispensable figure to survive in the jungle of the Italian bureaucracy and tax system, eroded any gain by denying him the opportunity to reward himself with a nice holiday, a new car or the purchase of furniture to renovate the house.
Luca took for granted that when you open your own business, you need to invest more time to get less profit, but as time goes by he becomes aware that this situation was not destined to change.
A new life in Switzerland
Luca understands that the only solution is to make a radical change and to realize the long-cherished dream of moving to Switzerland. He has always considered this nation a
model of organization and efficiency and his expectations will not be disappointed.
Preparations for the move begin with the happy discovery of a mortgage system more sustainable for families and totally different from the Italian one.
In a few days, Luca obtains the temporary permit and all the necessary documents to start his new life by following simple instructions available on the Immigration Office website.
Once the most practical aspects have been quickly resolved, Luca concentrated on his business and took the big step. In Italy he was a professional with VAT, in Switzerland, he founded his anonymous company, or SA, with a share capital resulting from his past efforts. The procedure was simple and a consultant supported him in every phase.
How life changes in a year
A year later Luca is really happy: he always works a lot but within 6 months, thanks to lower taxes, he gained the net profit of a year of work in Italy.
Enjoying an evening at the restaurant or doing shopping are more expensive but he can now afford these expenses thanks to its higher earnings and he doesn’t feel the anxiety to save at all costs for paying taxes.
Luca moved to Switzerland with the intention of working to contribute to the growth of the host nation. He was aware that one cannot move to a new country without capacities but with only pretensions. Today he is very happy with his choice and his new life.
Pros and cons of moving to Switzerland
Luca’s story is common to many young Italians and Europeans who struggle to establish in their country, not because of lack of skills or commitment but because suffocated by very high taxes and by a bureaucracy system that limits private initiative.
Many of these young people dream of moving to Switzerland, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of starting a new life in this country?
All the advantages of living in Switzerland
Living in Switzerland offers a series of undeniable advantages which led to a higher quality of life than in other European countries.
The Swiss Confederation offers:
- good job opportunities due to the presence of many multinationals and to its solid economy
- a simple administrative and fiscal system, citizen questions are followed by immediate and concrete answers and solutions.
- excellent services for which concerns transport, health and education
- absence of crime obtained thanks to constant monitoring of the territory and a judicial system in which the penalties are certain
All the disadvantages of living in Switzerland
Moving to Switzerland has also its critical issues which can be summarized in:
- high cost of living, an aspect that is easily balanced by higher earnings
- paid health care, every month it’s necessary to pay a fee to obtain private visits and services when needed. So, in case of emergencies is not necessary to address to private clinics like in the countries where the health system is public.
