Twan
@Twan
Dutch expat in Switzerland
Forum
132 posts
Contacts
5
About me
Dutch
Lives in Olten
Speaks Dutch, German, Swiss German, English, French, bits of Italian and Czech
Registration: 10 August 2011
Activity
B permit questions by kat92
Hi! I have two questions about the B residence permit (as an EU citizen). 1.Can you sign a rental agreement before applying for the B permit, or get the permit first and only then look for an apartment?2.While you hold the B permit, are you allowed ...
Usually, you'll need the rental agreement to obtain the B permit and landlords should be aware of such a situation. As long as you can show that you'll eligible for the permit, it won't be a serious issue. With the rental contract, your passport and ... Read More
Following your life partner in Switzerland by Loïc
Hi everyone, If love can move mountains, it also makes people move abroad, in countries such as Switzerland. Following your life partner in a country with different customs and rules is an act of absolute trust and may require a period of ...
I have never regretted moving to Switzerland because of my partner. Nevertheless, it uses preparation. First of all on the "bureaucratic" front. You need to have a permission to stay in Switzerland and/or a visa. This may require that you ... Read More
Homeschooling in Switzerland by Bhavna
Hello everyone, Homeschooling your children as an expat in Switzerland will definitely come with its load of challenges. Here is a special call to parents who are already homeschooling their children or who plan on doing so to share any ...
I have no personal experience with homeschooling in Switzerland. In general: it is possible, but - the canton (as being the responsible authority for education) has to allow it (you have to ask explicitly for permission); - the canton can set ... Read More
Sending and receiving packages in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello, As an expat, there are inevitably certain items you might want or need from back home, and around the holiday period, many people like to send gift packages. How easy is it to send and receive packages in Switzerland? Is the public ...
Sending and receiving packages is easy in Switzerland. The postal system is highly efficient and the prices are moderate - for Swiss standards, of course. If you register with Swiss Post, at their website, you'll be able to steer the ways in ... Read More
Family fun in Switzerland during school holidays by Priscilla
Hello, School holidays are fun for the kids, but parents often struggle to find ways to entertain them when they have just moved to a new country. Share with us some information about keeping the family busy during that time of the year. What ...
Family activities can include going to one of the lakes, or hiking in the mountains (there are routes of very many different levels, also for kids). Many museums are nice for kids - good to know for those rainy days. Many villages and cities have a ... Read More
Free and low-cost leisure activities in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding leisure activities that are free or low-cost in Switzerland. This information will give future expats (or even current expats) an idea regarding some of leisure activities that they might ...
Switzerland has a great mountain scenery and there is an immense walking and hiking network that is perfectly signposted. Walking and hiking is - of course - free. Read More
Dress for interview &salary: research position by sidwani1990
Dear all, My brother has an interview for a research position at PSI, Villigen,Swiitzerland. What shall be the standard dress code. And how much salary is good enough to survive with basics in ZURICH.
Congratulations! Read More
Dress for interview &salary: research position by sidwani1990
Dear all, My brother has an interview for a research position at PSI, Villigen,Swiitzerland. What shall be the standard dress code. And how much salary is good enough to survive with basics in ZURICH.
Better overdressed than underdressed - so: suit and tie. For salaries: look at www.lohnrechner.ch to find salaries for similar positions. It is usual that the future employer asks at the first job interview, what salary you expect, so prepare for ... Read More
Raising kids in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello everyone, How is raising kids in Switzerland different from raising kids in your home country? What are the activities that your kids seem to enjoy the most in Switzerland? Do you feel that the country is "family-friendly"? Do you ...
Switzerland has great outdoor possibilities: woods, mountains, lakes. Outdoor camping and making open fire is generally allowed and an outdoor holiday is something most kids will definitively love. Scouting and other clubs, as well as schools, will ... Read More
Traffic in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Which city or area do you live in in Switzerland, and how do you find the traffic? How long does it take to commute to work or run errands? Is there a rush hour in your city? What times of the day would you recommend people ...
Switzerland has a good road and railway infrastructure and even though there are traffic jams and trains and buses can be crowded at rush hours, delays and overcrowding is limited when compared to many other countries. Apart from the classical ... Read More
Paying bills in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello everyone, What bills do you pay? If you are renting, are bills included in the price of rent, and is this common practice in Switzerland? How can you pay your bills (e.g. online, at provider's store, at the post office)? Which is the ...
Hello everyone, What bills do you pay? If you are renting, are bills included in the price of rent, and is this common practice in Switzerland? How can you pay your bills (e.g. online, at provider's store, at the post office)? Which is the ... Read More
Switzerland's most expensive cities by Priscilla
Hello everyone, What are the most expensive cities to live in Switzerland? What are the costs of things such as rent, utilities, weekly groceries, dining out, etc.? What is the lifestyle like in these cities, for expats and locals? What are ...
I probably will not have the "golden tip" for you. Finding a good place to live at an affordable price may take quite some time - and you may have to accept a suboptimal place at first, just "to have some place to live" - and ... Read More
Switzerland's most expensive cities by Priscilla
Hello everyone, What are the most expensive cities to live in Switzerland? What are the costs of things such as rent, utilities, weekly groceries, dining out, etc.? What is the lifestyle like in these cities, for expats and locals? What are ...
Zürich, Geneva and Basel are the most expensive cities. Particularly housing is very expensive in this cities - it can be very tedious to find affordable accomodation here. Housing can be expensive in any other part of Switzerland with low ... Read More
Registering a birth in Switzerland by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Have you had to or are you going to register a birth in Switzerland? What was the experience like? Who is required to register the birth, and where? Can it be either the mother or father? What documents are usually required ...
Birth registration is usually made by the hospital. The hospital can inform you in advance on the documents that need to be brought. Non-married couples beware: take care that the father officially acknowledges being the father of the child. This ... Read More
Swiss Residency (via marriage) without living in CH; is it possible? by saebi
Hello Everyone! I am American and my husband is Swiss and we currently live in South Africa (soon to be Kenya!). Needless to say, we are experiencing many of the complexities (and frustrations) of visas. We have been married for one year, and ...
Swiss citizenship while living abroad can be obtained only after having been married to a Swiss for at least 6 years. Additionally, you have to have a "close connection" to Switzerland. This will also hold after the Swiss citizenship law ... Read More