How can I move to Switzerland?

Question

How difficult is to obtain Swiss residency? I know you'll need to find emplyment first, but I don't know where to look. I'm college educated, and going for my masters in journalism next year.

Once you have residency, can you apply for permanent residence, or does it expire? I heard it's impossible to gain citizenship, but I'm fine with that. I've been to the country twice and fell in love with it, and I know that's where I want to settle down permanently when I finish school.

Please help. Advice and info is really appreciated.

Answer 1

I recommend you to prepare yourself very goog, because the swiss people is very conservative, if you studied, for example Hotel management, management jobs in other professional areas will be difficult to get for you.

You have to think too, that the swiss people learn in the school at least 3 languages (2 national: French, German or Italian, and English), so, you have to learn at least one of them to be competitive.

Other cultural aspect, your cv have to have all the certificates and recommendations of the companies and schools, which you mention, and your application letter have to be interesting enough.  In the German speaking countries, the professional recommendation  are called "Zeugniss", they have a strict structured and a code (it´s forbid to talk bad about the employee, but one has to say the truth, for this reason there is a code). If you don´t have all your Zeugnisse is a bad sign, and the same, if they say something negative about your personality, work, functiones, etc. Of, course they know, in others countries it is not like this, but you have to give at least 2 names with phone numbers of your last employers, who can give this information about you...

To get the swiss nationality is easy if you married a swiss person or you have been living some years here, but it is very expensive.

I live in Switzerland since 3 years, I am Mexican and German (my husband is German), so I can live here, if I have enough money to pay my stay or I have a job.

There are differents permits of residence: L (if you work a maximum of 1 year), B (for students, employees or investors, it is for 5 years, afther that it can be renewed).

http://www.berneinvest.com/public/fact_s...

Usually, if you have a job, the company can arrange all the documents, which you need. To find a job you can check the sites which I wrote below, I recommend you Manpower too, because they have good contact with many companies.

http://www.jobrapido.ch/?q=english

http://www.medienjobs.ch/stellen/

http://www.jobscout24.ch/JS24Web/Public/...

http://www.careerjet.ch/suchen/stellenan...

Here is an official site of the swiss goverment:

http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/them...

Other important point, you can´t expected the swiss people work and handle like the people of your country, you will discover many confusing/disturbing attitudes, which you have to learn to tolerate and accept (just some hints: a Spanish friend tolme , the Swiss are cold people// an American friend told me they are "square heads"// a German person told me they are very, very "conservative"// I think they are very nice, but old fashion about social issues and with a complicate way to handle...), if you can cope with it, it is great to be here.

Answer 2

You will find it is nearly impossible to gain Swiss residency.  You can read the websites below to start.  You could contact the Swiss embassy and ask your questions...might save a lot of research.  Since you are neither from a European Union country, nor a refugee from a third world country, you will have to have a job skill in an area they need workers in. ...usually only in very high tech jobs.

Answer 3

Since you are getting a master in journalism, try to get a job with a major news company, like Reuters, AP, etc. That's really the best way for your field by  working for an international firm which has an office in Switzerland, so you have more chance to live there.

Other than that, pretty nil.  You also must, at least, speak and write at least one of the official language (German, French, Italian) that would help too.

You won't be able to just go there, find a job and and take residence.

Answer 4

Your best bet is to get married to a swiss lady.