The scheme was designed to counter a steady outflow of its population – which had shrunk to just 200 – to larger towns.
“We’re pleased to see how the village has been swept up in a feeling of optimism,” Albinen mayor Beat Jost told SWI swissinfo.ch two years into the scheme. “Albinen is alive! And that’s exactly what we wanted.”
But the inducement scheme has partially backfired as international media coverage led to an unforeseen administrative burden.
“We get around a hundred enquiries a day. Most come from abroad and do not meet our conditions. We must still answer them and that is a lot of work,” current mayor Nicole Köppel told the Watson.ch news portal.
Initially, the scheme was only open to new residents aged under-45, with CHF200,000 to invest in real estate and at least a C permit, which allows them to live in Switzerland for five years.
The cash inducements were later delayed until new residents had taken root in Albinen for five years.
The village has approved 17 applications, attracting nearly 50 new residents, at a cost of CHF710,000, Watson.ch reports.
“Albinen has no school, no bank, no post office, one remaining pub, one shop and a bus every hour. You have to anticipate that beforehand and accept it when you’re here,” says Köppel.
More
More
Majority of Swiss want to limit immigration
This content was published on
Almost two-thirds (62%) of Swiss residents are in favour of restricting immigration, according to a survey.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Controversial Russian soprano Anna Netrebko returns to Zurich
This content was published on
Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, who is said to be close to Russian president Vladimir Putin, to perform at the Zurich Opera House.
This content was published on
Multiple births following artificial insemination in Switzerland have fallen sharply over the last 20 years, shrinking from 17.4% in 2002 to 2.8% in 2023.
This content was published on
Three independent UN experts call on Switzerland and other countries to redouble efforts a year after a ECHR ruling in favour of Climate Elders.
“No US tariff negotiations”: Swiss economics minister
This content was published on
Switzerland has yet to enter formal tariff negotiations with the United States despite making contact with the administration.
Soaring cocoa prices hit Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut
This content was published on
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut suffered from soaring cocoa prices in the first half of the 2024-2025 financial year.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Immigration spurred Swiss population growth in 2022
This content was published on
The resident population in the Alpine Nation increased by 0.8% to 8.8 million last year, with immigration offsetting a historically low birth-rate.
This content was published on
Take any vote or election in Switzerland – it ends with the rest of the country looking enviously towards to the small canton of Schaffhausen. Here 65% of residents eligible to vote, do so. This sits in stark contrast to the rest of Switzerland, where voter turnout has lagged behind for decades at the relatively…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.