https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Only 276 kilometres lie between Switzerland’s two largest cities, but distance is not the only thing that separates Switzerland's German and French-speaking hubs. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191031/swiss-city-differences-updated Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:15:22 +0100 swiss-city-differences-updated When it comes to getting settled in Switzerland, many rules and regulations are different, even stranger to those in other countries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210108/explained-five-things-you-should-do-when-you-move-to-switzerland Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:55:13 +0100 explained-five-things-you-should-do-when-you-move-to-switzerland Whether an insurance carrier in Switzerland can turn you down because of chronic illnesses depends on the kind of coverage you are seeking. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210827/reader-question-can-i-be-excluded-from-swiss-health-insurance-if-i-have-pre-existing-medical-conditions Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:28:13 +0200 reader-question-can-i-be-excluded-from-swiss-health-insurance-if-i-have-pre-existing-medical-conditions Looking for a flat? You need to have your documents in order. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220407/checklist-what-documents-do-i-need-for-an-apartment-in-switzerland Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:37:48 +0200 checklist-what-documents-do-i-need-for-an-apartment-in-switzerland If you are planning to follow your significant other to Switzerland, there are some important things you should know about the move. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240207/trailing-spouses-what-are-your-rights-if-you-move-to-switzerland-with-your-partner Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:08:53 +0100 trailing-spouses-what-are-your-rights-if-you-move-to-switzerland-with-your-partner With four official languages, everyday transactions in Switzerland may seem intimidating to new arrivals. For some, the answer might be to hire a service or individual to help with interpretation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240220/when-is-it-helpful-to-hire-an-english-language-interpreter-in-switzerland Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:01:10 +0100 when-is-it-helpful-to-hire-an-english-language-interpreter-in-switzerland When you move yourself, your family, and belongings from the United States to Switzerland, you may be tempted to bring your vehicle as well. But there are good reasons to leave it behind. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250922/not-worth-it-why-you-shouldnt-bring-your-us-car-to-switzerland Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:19:40 +0200 not-worth-it-why-you-shouldnt-bring-your-us-car-to-switzerland Whether you’re returning to your home country, seeking new adventures elsewhere or retiring abroad, leaving Switzerland means more Swiss bureaucracy and there are lots of things you’ll need to arrange before you leave. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240130/checklist-everything-you-need-to-do-if-you-leave-switzerland-for-good Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:24:49 +0100 checklist-everything-you-need-to-do-if-you-leave-switzerland-for-good Looking for a new job in Switzerland? We've put together some tips on where to search for that new role. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240308/what-are-the-best-ways-to-search-for-your-next-job-in-switzerland Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:58:29 +0100 what-are-the-best-ways-to-search-for-your-next-job-in-switzerland Life in Switzerland can look much like life elsewhere, but there are some aspects that can certainly take a while to get used to. Originally from the United States, Zug-based Ashley Franzen takes us through eight surprises of her new life in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220721/eight-swiss-culture-shocks-that-may-take-some-getting-used-to Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:27:49 +0200 eight-swiss-culture-shocks-that-may-take-some-getting-used-to If you are a new arrival in Switzerland, or are about to move here, you may be wondering whether foreign nationals are taxed at a higher rate than the Swiss. This is what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250424/do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:21:42 +0200 do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Many celebrities used to live in Swiss towns and villages, and some still do. One thing characterised them all — despite being rich and famous, they tried to stay mostly under the radar, blending in with the local population. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230525/tina-turner-to-roger-moore-the-stars-who-moved-to-switzerland Thu, 25 May 2023 17:19:35 +0200 tina-turner-to-roger-moore-the-stars-who-moved-to-switzerland An international ranking ranks Switzerland above its German-speaking neighbours Austria and Germany when it comes to how easy it is for foreign residents to get started in the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230321/housing-to-admin-how-easy-is-it-to-get-started-in-switzerland-as-a-foreigner Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:37:19 +0100 housing-to-admin-how-easy-is-it-to-get-started-in-switzerland-as-a-foreigner The language standards for permanent residency is different than that for citizenship. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220708/explained-everything-you-ned-to-know-about-swiss-language-tests-for-residency Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:44:49 +0200 explained-everything-you-ned-to-know-about-swiss-language-tests-for-residency Switzerland’s economic engine. Superb public transport. Perhaps the safest and cleanest metropolis in Europe. It can appear that Zurich has it all. But there are of course some downsides. Here's what our Zurich-based readers told us. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220721/verdict-the-downsides-of-zurich-you-should-be-aware-of-before-moving Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:16:23 +0200 verdict-the-downsides-of-zurich-you-should-be-aware-of-before-moving In the wake of the 2024 US Presidential election, Google has revealed a high number of Americans are considering moving to Europe - and Switzerland ranks second among the destinations sought as a new home. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241121/why-switzerland-is-among-top-choices-for-americans-hoping-to-flee-us Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:06:11 +0100 why-switzerland-is-among-top-choices-for-americans-hoping-to-flee-us Many US citizens who have never visited Switzerland imagine it as a country of cheese, chocolate, and yodellers. All of this is true, but it is not the whole picture. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241104/eight-facts-americans-should-be-aware-of-before-moving-to-switzerland Mon, 04 Nov 2024 10:57:29 +0100 eight-facts-americans-should-be-aware-of-before-moving-to-switzerland Data from the Swiss Post reveals who are the people moving homes inside Switzerland - and how far they usually go to. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240329/how-many-people-move-within-switzerland-every-year Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:36:28 +0100 how-many-people-move-within-switzerland-every-year Switzerland and neighbouring Austria have a lot in common, but there are many differences as well. How can you decide which country is better suited for you? Our comparison provides some answers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230306/switzerland-vs-austria-which-country-is-better-to-live-in Mon, 06 Mar 2023 17:39:40 +0100 switzerland-vs-austria-which-country-is-better-to-live-in Switzerland is a country with many immigrants, but not necessarily an easy place to integrate. One canton has an integration program that helps immigrants learn about the country and make local friends, as writer Ashley Franzen experienced. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221003/peaceful-coexistence-how-one-swiss-canton-helps-foreign-citizens-integrate Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:49:01 +0200 peaceful-coexistence-how-one-swiss-canton-helps-foreign-citizens-integrate