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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Council of the Swiss Abroad: will direct elections bring fresh blood?
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The high turnout in direct elections has raised hopes, but in the past young people have not stayed long on the Council.
Around the world with a young Swiss explorer in 1900
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Long before he became president of the Red Cross, Zurich-born Max Huber travelled the world for two years documenting every step of his adventure.
Top footballer rues lack of prospects for women in Switzerland
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Luana Bühler plays for the Swiss national team, but she earns her living in England because the basis for a professional career doesn’t exist in Switzerland.
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The number of Swiss people living abroad continues to increase. Five charts explain their characteristics and geographic distribution.
With Isabella Kocum, all that glitters really is gold
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Isabella Kocum works in London as a gilder at the National Gallery and is an artist in her own right. But originally she had other plans.
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Swiss researcher Achille Capelli has found an open-air laboratory in Alaska. He is studying the polar ice shelf and is worried to see the impact of climate change.
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.
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Living outside Switzerland doesn’t mean losing your right to vote. Yet only a small percentage of Swiss citizens living abroad actually cast their ballots. Here’s a short guide on how to vote from abroad.
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.
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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!
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.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
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?
F-35 costs ‘were never fixed’: former Swiss audit chief
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Former Swiss audit boss claims cost of procuring US F-35 fighter jets was always likely to over-run as no fixed price had been guaranteed.
US F-35 jets could cost Switzerland ‘more than CH1 billion extra’
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The United States is trying to charge Switzerland up to CHF1.5 billion more for 36 F-35 fighter jets that were ordered in 2021.
Swiss kayaker stumbles on 20,000-year-old mammoth tooth
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An amateur Swiss fossil hunter has discovered a tooth from a 20,000-year-old woolly mammoth while taking a river trip in his kayak.
The Russia affair in the Swiss secret service: ‘This is espionage’
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Employees of the Swiss intelligence service have been cooperating with Russian contacts for years. Highly sensitive data ended up with Russia.
Swiss food labels must declare animal suffering from July
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From July 1, food labels in Switzerland will have to disclose whether products of animal origin involve painful practices. The Swiss federal government has approved a series of ordinances requiring the labelling of meat, eggs and foie gras.
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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.
‘Switzerland should negotiate but not bend the knee to Donald Trump’
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The Swiss government has launched a charm offensive to counter the US threat of 31% tariffs on imports. But is this the right strategy? Guests on Swissinfo’s Let’s Talk webcast debated the issue.
Renewed controversy in Switzerland over US fighter jets – explained
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The Swiss defence ministry has repeatedly insisted that 36 American-made F-35A fighter jets would be delivered at a fixed price of CHF6 billion. Now the US is demanding hundreds of millions more,
Consular protection: more and more elderly Swiss are dying abroad
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The number of Swiss nationals travelling and living abroad is increasing resulting in more and more consular protection cases.
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Living outside Switzerland doesn’t mean losing your right to vote. Yet only a small percentage of Swiss citizens living abroad actually cast their ballots. Here’s a short guide on how to vote from abroad.
Swiss parliamentary session sets stage for noisy national debates
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The summer session of parliament drew to a close last week. What’s clear is that political debate in Switzerland is picking up again. Parliamentarians focused on several key upcoming people’s initiatives.
With Isabella Kocum, all that glitters really is gold
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Isabella Kocum works in London as a gilder at the National Gallery and is an artist in her own right. But originally she had other plans.
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Home loans are cheap in Switzerland. There are good sides and bad sides to this. Here is what you need to know about mortgages in Switzerland.
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The artist Katharina Grosse is drenching Basel’s Messeplatz in colour. In the picture, a team member is working on the large-scale installation, which is part of Art Basel and opens on June 19.
Flat-hunting in Switzerland’s cheapest and most expensive municipalities
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The town of Le Locle in the Jura and the municipality of Kilchberg on Lake Zurich are 2.5 hours’ drive apart – and thousands of francs per square metre.
Around the world with a young Swiss explorer in 1900
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Long before he became president of the Red Cross, Zurich-born Max Huber travelled the world for two years documenting every step of his adventure.
One against the other: zero-sum thinking can be found on both the political left and right
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A study from the University of Basel shows that zero-sum thinking can be found among supporters of both left-wing and right-wing parties.
Top footballer rues lack of prospects for women in Switzerland
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Luana Bühler plays for the Swiss national team, but she earns her living in England because the basis for a professional career doesn’t exist in Switzerland.
Switzerland and France ‘have shaped each other profoundly’
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Tania Cavassini, the new Swiss ambassador to France, talks about bilateral links, cultural diplomacy, and dialogue with the Swiss Abroad.
‘Switzerland should negotiate but not bend the knee to Donald Trump’
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The Swiss government has launched a charm offensive to counter the US threat of 31% tariffs on imports. But is this the right strategy? Guests on Swissinfo’s Let’s Talk webcast debated the issue.
Renewed controversy in Switzerland over US fighter jets – explained
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The Swiss defence ministry has repeatedly insisted that 36 American-made F-35A fighter jets would be delivered at a fixed price of CHF6 billion. Now the US is demanding hundreds of millions more,
Swiss parliamentary session sets stage for noisy national debates
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The summer session of parliament drew to a close last week. What’s clear is that political debate in Switzerland is picking up again. Parliamentarians focused on several key upcoming people’s initiatives.
Blatten: what price for preserving Swiss mountain life?
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Swiss debates on preserving Alpine life have intensified following the Blatten glacier collapse. Discover the discussion shaping mountain village futures.
How retiring baby boomers could crash Swiss property market
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If baby boomers sell their homes, the property market could collapse. Can younger generations hope for plummeting prices?
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Reactions to the government’s first tactical manoeuvre show that, on this issue, playing for time won’t work. Here is an analysis.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
