Over 820,000 Swiss nationals live abroad. That’s around 11% of people who hold a Swiss passport. And the number is growing. In terms of population, if the Swiss Abroad made up a canton, it would be the fourth-largest canton in Switzerland.
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The Swiss Abroad in nine charts
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The number of Swiss people living abroad continues to increase. Five charts explain their characteristics and geographic distribution.
What the Swiss living in the US think of abortion restrictions
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Nearly 100 Swiss nationals living in the United States gave us their views on the tightening of abortion rights in several states.
The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad
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Spouses of Swiss citizens abroad can apply for Swiss nationality. But there are many conditions to meet and documents to provide. Here is a detailed overview.
Swiss engineer in Antarctica prepares for tough winter months
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Operations engineer Thomas Schenk ensures the Neumayer III polar station makes it through winter. The challenges are enormous.
Swiss-born artiste Neda Cainero carves her own path abroad
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Singer, actor and acrobat Neda Cainero is forging a creative path outside Switzerland – free from the reputation of being the daughter of well-known artist parents.
Swiss marine scientist dives into paradise in the Seychelles
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Swiss marine scientist Henriette Grimmel lives on a remote island in the Seychelles. She spends her days studying life in the ocean.
How a Swiss musician is lending a hand to people in Ukraine
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Originally travelling to Ukraine because of the Maidan protests, Bänz Margot has been setting up an aid organisation there since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Swiss distiller creates world’s best vodka in Cape Verde
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From Appenzell to an island in the Atlantic: how José Steiner shifted careers to become an award-winning vodka distiller.
How Swiss-designed wigs make their way from Bali to the big screen
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In Bali, Swiss expat Orlando Bassi makes handmade wigs for Hollywood and Broadway – so successfully that he can afford to pay two butlers.
Adopted illegally in Switzerland, tracing her roots in Colombia
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Born in Colombia, Nathalie Favre was adopted by Swiss parents when she was seven months old. She describes her return to her native country.
Going on a quest for a Swiss passport – as a Swiss national
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Born to Swiss parents, Cate Riley was adopted by an Australian family in the 1970s. She is on a journey to be recognised as a Swiss citizen.
Emigrating with family: what to do if a child doesn’t want to move
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New surroundings, new school, new friends – emigration can be a daunting prospect for children. Two experts share their tips.
Tax information when emigrating from Switzerland: what you need to know
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Tax liability in Switzerland does not always end at the country’s border – here’s what you should bear in mind when moving abroad.
Voting from abroad: How to register for Swiss elections
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Switzerland grants voting rights to its citizens living abroad. If you want to exercise your voting rights, you must first get on the electoral register.
Emigration and pension benefits: how to save on taxes
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Taxes are due when withdrawing pension fund capital. Swiss citizens living abroad may, under certain circumstances, reclaim a portion of these taxes.
Swiss abroad health insurance – what are the options?
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Should you take out insurance abroad? Or with a health insurance company in Switzerland? Is that even possible? We explain.
Emigration: what steps should I take to leave Switzerland?
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This article, along with a practical checklist, will guide you step by step through the emigration process – supplemented with further helpful articles and links.
Bringing a pet to Switzerland requires meticulous preparation
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Whether visiting Switzerland on holiday or arriving to live permanently, entering the country with a pet involves a number of steps and formalities. Here’s what you need to know.
Five things to know about your Swiss bank account before emigrating
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Swiss Abroad frequently pay significantly higher fees at Swiss banks than their compatriots in Switzerland. You can find an overview of prices here.
Swiss state pensions abroad and what you need to know
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How can I claim my state pension abroad? Can I still make voluntary contributions from outside Switzerland? Answers to some FAQs.
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Moving abroad is an exciting but often challenging experience. Many emigrants experience different phases between culture shock and assimilation.
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?
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Toblerone invests in Bern and puts new emphasis on Swiss cross
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Since US multinational Mondelēz relocated part of Toblerone production to Slovakia in 2023, the company is no longer allowed to call its chocolate “Swiss made”.
New at Zurich Zoo: hovering tigers and feeding ropeways
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The tiger, lion and snow leopard have moved into their new home at Zurich Zoo. Their updated habitats are designed to allow them to behave as they would in the wild.
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The Swiss are participating in an open test of the new electronic identity card. This will eventually lead to a state-recognised e-ID.
Housing co-operatives offer Swiss alternative to rising rents
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From large historic co-operatives to self-managed projects and hybrid tenant-owner models, housing co-operatives offer a variety of affordable housing solutions.
The hidden environmental footprint of Swiss pharma
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Switzerland’s pharmaceutical industry wants to go green. But new figures reveal that where production happens, the environment often pays the price.
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People over 60 who are physically active drink more alcohol than so-called ‘couch potatoes’ who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle.
Switzerland’s iconic cherry tree faces replacement as blooming speeds up
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Ornamental cherries are blooming in the cities. Now the famous wild tree near Basel is following suit, but it will soon have to be replaced.
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Swiss homeowners are increasingly expanding their properties underground – for comfort, leisure or safety reasons, according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS.
Origami-inspired heart patch developed by Basel researchers
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Development has begun in Basel-City on a patch made of paper and cells designed to mitigate the consequences of a heart attack.
Virtual Swiss agents cleared to infiltrate chatrooms
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Swiss secret service agents have been given permission to track suspected terrorist in chatrooms under cover of assumed identities.
‘With my pension money I can’t live in Switzerland’
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An ever growing number of retirees in Switzerland are withdrawing their pension capital and emigrating to cheaper countries – some out of necessity, others by choice.
Tibetan language courses to stop at University of Bern
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The University of Bern is currently the only Swiss university where Tibetan language courses can still be taken. These are to be discontinued from the autumn.
Lake Geneva’s ecosystem under threat after latest mild winter
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For the thirteenth winter in a row, the waters of Lake Geneva have failed to fully mix or “brew”– a trend driven by global warming, scientists say.
Swiss workers reflect on how Covid-19 spurred job pivots
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A train driver, a café owner and a potter look back at their successful decisions to start new careers in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.
Swiss Emmental ‘show dairy’ to end cheese production
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The Emmentaler Schaukäserei AG, which showcases the production of the famous Emmentaler AOP Swiss cheese with holes, is due to close the cheese-making facility at its site near Bern.
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Read selected articles from across Switzerland and discuss current issues with people living in Switzerland and fellow Swiss Abroad in our debates.
Listen to science stories with our podcast: The Swiss Connection
Explore Science stories and research from Swiss universities, research institutions and businesses. Please listen and follow the Swiss Connection Podcast.
Why Switzerland is an archaeological treasure trove
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No other country offers such comprehensive, freely available, high-resolution radar scans – a unique resource for science.
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Got a Swiss passport and dreaming of working abroad? We’ll show you how to get started in under 90 seconds – the countdown is on!
Lost Swiss citizenship a surprising reality for many
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Swiss citizenship is not always guaranteed for life. Many Swiss living abroad have lost it – often unwittingly, or due to historical rules.
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The number of Swiss people living abroad continues to increase. Five charts explain their characteristics and geographic distribution.
Number of Swiss around the world grew by 1.6% in 2024
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Last year, 13,300 Swiss citizens moved abroad, taking the total number of Swiss Abroad to 826,700 (+1.6%). Three-quarters have more than one nationality, new figures show.
Why more Jewish people in Switzerland are considering a move to Israel
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Anti-Semitism is not the main reason the Swiss community in Israel is growing. But more and more Jewish people are thinking about emigrating for this reason.
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The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad wants to improve the standing of the diaspora among the compatriots back home – not an easy task.
Swiss engineer in Antarctica prepares for tough winter months
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Operations engineer Thomas Schenk ensures the Neumayer III polar station makes it through winter. The challenges are enormous.
What the Swiss living in the US think of abortion restrictions
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Nearly 100 Swiss nationals living in the United States gave us their views on the tightening of abortion rights in several states.
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The vote to decide Viola Amherd’s successor in the Federal Council – Martin Pfister or Markus Ritter – is set for March 12, but the ‘dialogue’ community appears to have already made up its mind.
Swiss-born artiste Neda Cainero carves her own path abroad
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Singer, actor and acrobat Neda Cainero is forging a creative path outside Switzerland – free from the reputation of being the daughter of well-known artist parents.
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When a cold, dry wind sweeps through Switzerland, many people complain of headaches and other problems. They then often curse the bise.
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A non-representative survey reveals that approximately nine out of ten users (87%) of the “dialogue” community perceive the super-rich as a threat to democracy.
Spell check: the Swiss origins of the European witch craze
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The 15th-century description of a witch hunt in the Bernese Simmental became the blueprint for witch hunts across Europe.
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?
