Switzerland
■ Population: 7,450,867
■ Capital: Bern
■ Mercer cost of living: 106.2
■ Life expectancy: 80 years
■ Literacy: 99%
■ Government: Federal republic
■ GDP per capita: 41,409
■ Unemployment: 4.1%
■ Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
■ Exchange rate: CHF1 = £0.451; £1 = CHF2.21
■ Languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch
■ Climate: Temperate with cold, wet, snowy winters and cool to warm humid summers
■ Expats: There are about 65,000 British expats in Switzerland, mostly in the Geneva area.
SWITZERLAND IS A LAND OF contrasts, from mountain villages, where little seems to have changed for decades, to bustling cosmopolitan cities with modern architecture. It also has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The country is divided into administrative areas called cantons, and the language spoken varies from one canton to another.The standard of living is high and there is a low crime rate.
Jobs and economy: The economy is stable, although rowth has dropped in recent years. Almost 70 per cent of the workforce are employed in service industries such as banking, insurance and tourism. About 26 per cent are involved in industry such as the development and manufacture of machinery, pharmaceuticals, watches, textiles and precision instruments. Many Swiss businesses are family run, but Switzerland is also home to leading producers of pharmaceuticals and chemicals such as Novartis and Hoffmann-La Roche. About 20 per cent of Switzerland’s workforce is made up of foreign workers, from builders to computer scientists.The main Swiss employment centres are Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne.
Education: The state system is excellent and free, and there are classes for children who do not speak the language. There are also many private international schools.
Healthcare: There is no public health service, so you will need to ensure you have private health insurance.
Renting: Two-thirds of Swiss people rent their homes. Tenants usually have to pay a deposit of one to threemonths’ rent and take out personal liability insurance as a condition of the lease. It can be difficult to find affordable accommodation. Rents vary from F600 (£270) for a oneroom apartment to F1,220 (£550) for a four-room one.
Buying: Foreigners can buy property only in certain tourist areas, unless they have a special permit. A studio apartment costs from F100,000 (£45,000), and a three-bedroom apartment F400,000 (£180,000).
Visas: To live and work inSwitzerland, you will need a Residence Permit. EU citizens also need proof that a Swiss employer is willing to take them on.Your employer should apply on your behalf before you enter the country. An L permit is short-term. It is usually issued for less than a year, for both those with job offers and the unemployed.The standard, or B, permit is usually issued for a year for a specific job and is renewable.The C permit allows the holder to work freely in any occupation except law or medicine, but this can only be applied for by a person who has already held a B permit for five to ten years.
Tax: There is no central tax system. All taxes are levied at federal, cantonal and communal level. Rates vary between cantons but rarelyexceed 30 per cent. Most oreign workers have income tax deducted directly from their pay by their employer.
