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Is Switzerland friendly to foreigners?

Switzerland is a very welcoming country, with 25% of its population being foreign individuals.



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There are no COVID-19-related entry restrictions for visitors to Switzerland. No proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required. Switzerland has open borders with its neighboring countries, so there are typically no barriers to entering the country.

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To travel to Switzerland U.S. citizens are required to hold a valid passport. Passengers may be checked twice upon entering Switzerland by land: once by the customs officers of the country they are leaving and another by the border police of Switzerland.

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In German-speaking Switzerland, rents range from CHF 1,100 to CHF 1,900, with an average of CHF 1,350. As a result, and on average, to ensure a good work-life balance, the recommended minimum gross annual salary would be CHF 48,600.

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If you wish to settle in Switzerland without taking up gainful employment, you must apply for a residence permit from the cantonal immigration and employment market authorities. Depending on your nationality, you must also obtain a visa from the Swiss representation abroad.

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There is no national minimum wage in Switzerland. However, some cantons do have a minimum wage that applies in that canton. Some collective agreements and companies also have one for a specific industry or company. In 2020 the average monthly salary in Switzerland was CHF 6538.

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The residents of Switzerland are paid very high wages compared to other countries, even bordering countries like France or Germany. This is somewhat as a result of the high quality of living. But due to the high wages, Swiss people have more money to spend, which naturally leads to higher prices.

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Lugano remains the safest city in Switzerland and has the lowest number of crimes recorded. In Ticino's main city, 24.7 crimes were recorded per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021 (+1.3 percent compared to 2020) versus 36.3 in St. Gallen and 36.8 in Winterthur.

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