Over 800,000 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.
At SWI swissinfo.ch you will find everything that concerns the Swiss Abroad in one place.
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Swiss chef Luc Liebster blends cultures with unique culinary creations
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Luc Liebster has trained in some of the finest kitchens. At 26, he is now opening his own restaurant in Mexico City, where food is revered. This is his story.
Thousands of emigrants’ descendants in Argentina demand Swiss citizenship
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Even those born abroad inherit Swiss citizenship. However, thousands of descendants of Swiss nationals who emigrated have lost it. A petition now wants to change this.
Aussie adoptee gains Swiss citizenship at 54 thanks to old envelope
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For years, the authorities denied her Swiss citizenship – wrongly. Cate Riley has finally won back her Swiss citizenship.
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Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected the only federal initiative on the ballot, as well as most of the cantonal proposals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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The latest articles for and about the Swiss Abroad
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Swiss Abroad more open to sustainable economy
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Most Swiss Abroad voters rejected the initiative on environmental responsibility on Sunday, but without inflicting the same defeat as the rest of the country.
Family travels through Mexico by bus – piano included
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A family adventure: Gabriella Sieber and René Loosli have been travelling through Mexico with their three children for two years.
Is the job of Swiss government minister too complex and ‘politically exposed’?
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The position of Swiss government minister seems to have lost its shine – that is according to a non-representative survey of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)’s “dialogue” community.
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A Swiss TV report has revealed how a small group of individuals in French-speaking cantons are behind numerous bankruptcies – a fraud scam that has left unpaid workers, customers and the state to pick up the pieces.
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The Vogt-Schild printing company in Derendingen is handling a major order: six million voting booklets are printed for each voting date.
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How can artificial intelligence (AI) be integrated and utilised in everyday life? Courses on this topic are increasing in demand.
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.
An eye-opening guide to Switzerland’s ear-splitting sirens
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Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, the sound of 7,200 sirens fills the Alpine air, startling anyone who doesn’t know it’s a test.
Marius Bear – bullied as a child, applauded as a musician
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Marius Bear represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Turin in 2022: but he was once a Swiss Abroad.
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Young people who are studying or on a low income can now travel for free on public transport in Geneva in western Switzerland, while fares for elderly residents have been halved.
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A top position is up for grabs in the Swiss government – but nobody seems to want it. Who will succeed Viola Amherd on the Federal Council?
Spring begins in Geneva when the official horse chestnut tree says so
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It’s spring in Geneva when the secretary general of the cantonal parliament sees the first leaf on the city’s official horse chestnut.
The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers
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The Swiss Alps are attracting a growing number of investors, prepared to pump hundreds of millions of francs into vast tourist complexes. But at what cost?
Could Swiss insurers cancel policies, as is happening in California?
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In California, where fire warnings now affect 13 million people, wildfires have become a constant threat, exacerbated by climate change. Over the past five years, nearly 3 million fire insurance policies have been cancelled as insurers deem the risks too frequent and severe.
Home care: good for patients and good for the wallet
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Doctors and nurses from two Zurich hospitals are visiting patients at home – a new way of working that could serve as a treatment model for other parts of Switzerland.
Cultural asset or unnecessary din? Bell ringing polarises opinion
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In Hochdorf, in central Switzerland, the church bell now rings for a shorter duration, though other parishes continue to stick to tradition.
Thousands of emigrants’ descendants in Argentina demand Swiss citizenship
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Even those born abroad inherit Swiss citizenship. However, thousands of descendants of Swiss nationals who emigrated have lost it. A petition now wants to change this.
