Buying Property in Switzerland as a Foreigner (Lex Koller 2026)
When foreigners can — and can't — buy Swiss property. Lex Koller explained, B vs C permit rules, holiday homes, and the lender's mortgage maths.
12 min read
The HowToSwiss Blog
Swiss life, decoded — one long-read at a time.
Plain-English deep dives on permits, naturalisation, pensions, healthcare, cost of living and moving to Switzerland from 8 different countries. Researched, reviewed and updated for 2026.
FeaturedMoney & pensions
Leaving Switzerland? Don't Make This Pension Mistake
Pillar 2, Pillar 3a and AHV when you leave Switzerland — what cashes out, what stays, where it's taxed, and the planning that saves CHF 10,000+.
10 min read
Editor's picks
Most useful right nowSwiss Pension System Explained: AHV, Pillar 2 and Pillar 3a in Plain English
The three-pillar system, decoded — what AHV, BVG and 3a actually pay out, how much you contribute, and the moves that compound for 30 years.
13 min read
G Permit & Cross-Border Commuting: Living in France or Germany, Working in CH
How 400,000 cross-border commuters do it — G permit rules, weekly return obligation, tax splits, healthcare and the real cost-of-life maths.
12 min read
Showing 34 of 34 posts
Money & pensions
Leaving Switzerland? Don't Make This Pension Mistake
Pillar 2, Pillar 3a and AHV when you leave Switzerland — what cashes out, what stays, where it's taxed, and the planning that saves CHF 10,000+.
10 min read
Leaving Switzerland
Leaving Switzerland: Deregistration, Pension Cash-Out and Final Tax Bill
How to leave Switzerland cleanly — Abmeldung deadline, Pillar 2 vested benefits, tax clearance, health insurance cancellation and the moving-out checklist.
12 min read
Education
Studying in Switzerland: Student Permit, Tuition and Working Hours
Application, tuition (yes, it's that cheap), proof of funds, the 15-hour work rule and turning your student permit into a B after graduation.
11 min read
Family & life events
Swiss Maternity & Paternity Leave for Expats: The 2026 Rules
How much leave, what gets paid, who's eligible — plus the cantonal top-ups, the 14-week minimum and what employers often quietly offer on top.
10 min read
Property
Buying Property in Switzerland as a Foreigner (Lex Koller 2026)
When foreigners can — and can't — buy Swiss property. Lex Koller explained, B vs C permit rules, holiday homes, and the lender's mortgage maths.
12 min read
Permits & residency
Quitting Your Swiss Job on a B Permit: What Happens to Your Status
Resigning, being laid off, or just changing employer on a B permit — what to tell the migration office, how long you can stay, and the RAV step.
10 min read
Money & pensions
Swiss Pension System Explained: AHV, Pillar 2 and Pillar 3a in Plain English
The three-pillar system, decoded — what AHV, BVG and 3a actually pay out, how much you contribute, and the moves that compound for 30 years.
13 min read
Family & life events
Family Reunification in Switzerland: Bringing Your Spouse and Kids
Timelines, documents and pitfalls when bringing your partner or children to Switzerland — for EU/EFTA and non-EU permit holders.
11 min read
Permits & residency
G Permit & Cross-Border Commuting: Living in France or Germany, Working in CH
How 400,000 cross-border commuters do it — G permit rules, weekly return obligation, tax splits, healthcare and the real cost-of-life maths.
12 min read
Permits & residency
L Permit Survival Guide: Short-Stay Work in Switzerland
Everything contractors, interns and seasonal workers need to know about the L permit — limits, extensions, family, housing and what comes next.
11 min read
Permits & residency
Swiss Naturalisation 2026: The 10-Year Road to the Red Passport
How ordinary and facilitated naturalisation actually work in 2026 — residency clock, language tests, civics, fees and the Gemeinde vote.
12 min read
Permits & residency
Swiss Permits Explained 2026: L, B, C, G and Every Letter In Between
The full 2026 expat guide to every Swiss residence permit — who needs what, validity, quotas, costs and the road to citizenship.
14 min read
Banking & admin
Swiss Driving Licence Exchange: The 12-Month Rule for Expats
Which countries can swap without a test, what paperwork the Strassenverkehrsamt wants, and the deadline trap.
10 min read
Banking & admin
Opening a Swiss Bank Account as a Foreigner (2026)
UBS, PostFinance, Neon, Yuh, Zak and Revolut — fees, day-one onboarding, FATCA and which to pick when.
11 min read
Health & insurance
Swiss Health Insurance Compared: Picking Your Krankenkasse
Big insurers ranked, basic vs supplementary, model choice and the deductible maths that saves CHF 1,500/year.
12 min read
Health & insurance
The Swiss Healthcare System Explained (Without the Jargon)
Mandatory KVG, premiums, deductibles, models and the 'free healthcare' myth — what every new arrival should know.
12 min read
Cost & money
How Much Is Rent in Switzerland? A City-by-City Guide
Average 2026 rent by city and apartment size — plus the apartment-hunting playbook that actually wins offers.
11 min read
Cost & money
Average Salary in Switzerland 2026: What Expats Actually Earn
Real 2026 Swiss salaries by canton, industry and seniority — gross, net after Quellensteuer, and how to negotiate.
12 min read
Cost & money
Cost of Living in Switzerland vs USA: A 2026 Side-by-Side
Rent, groceries, healthcare, salary and tax compared — Zurich vs NYC, SF and a mid-tier US city.
12 min read
Cost & money
Why Is Switzerland So Expensive? An Expat's Honest Breakdown
Salaries, the strong franc, protected agriculture and Sunday closing — and the Swiss things that are quietly a bargain.
11 min read
Permits & residency
How to Move to Switzerland: The Complete 2026 Roadmap
Step-by-step from job offer to keys in hand — visas, permits, Anmeldung, housing, health insurance and the first 90 days.
14 min read
City guides
Best Neighbourhoods in Zug for Expats
Zug city, Baar, Cham and the lakeside villages — where to live in Switzerland's crypto/tax-friendly canton.
9 min read
City guides
Best Neighbourhoods in Lausanne for Expats
Ouchy, Pully, Chailly — picking the right Lausanne neighbourhood for the EPFL/CHUV crowd.
9 min read
City guides
Best Neighbourhoods in Basel for Expats
Where to live in Basel based on your job (Roche/Novartis), schools and quality of life.
9 min read
City guides
Best Neighbourhoods in Geneva for Expats
Champel, Eaux-Vives, Carouge and the cross-border suburbs — where expats actually live in Geneva.
10 min read
City guides
Best Neighbourhoods in Zurich for Expats
Kreis by kreis: where to live in Zurich based on commute, family life, nightlife and rent.
10 min read
Moving from…
Moving from Sri Lanka to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for Sri Lankan Expats
Permit routes, embassy steps in Colombo, shipping logistics and the first weeks in Switzerland.
11 min read
Moving from…
Moving from Turkey to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for Turkish Expats
Visa pathway from Istanbul/Ankara, document apostille, family reunification and settling into Swiss bureaucracy.
11 min read
Moving from…
Moving from China to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for Chinese Expats
Permit categories, banking under CRS, schools, shipping and the things Chinese expats consistently underestimate.
12 min read
Moving from…
Moving from India to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for Indian Expats
Quotas, visa stamping in Mumbai/Delhi, vegetarian life, schools and the first-month checklist.
12 min read
Moving from…
Moving from Canada to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for Canadian Expats
Permit options, Canadian tax residency, shipping containers, healthcare and 14-day registration.
12 min read
Moving from…
Moving from Germany to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for German Expats
Cross-border vs full move, salary delta, health insurance switch, taxes and apartment hunting from Germany.
11 min read
Moving from…
Moving from the UK to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for British Expats
Post-Brexit permits, NHS to Krankenkasse, pension, shipping, driving licence and first-90-days steps.
12 min read
Moving from…
Moving from the USA to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for American Expats
Visa route, IRS and FATCA, shipping from North America, housing and what to do in your first 90 days.
13 min read