I’m Angelika but I mostly use my nickname “Angi” like on my Instagram @angi_vanmany. I have been living the expat life in Switzerland working as a specialized translator and translation project manager for 4 years now. I translate English and German documents and texts into French.
As a translator, you normally always translate into your mother tongue. My case is a little special though: I have Lao-German roots but always went to a French school, so I grew up trilingual. I spoke Lao with my father, German with my mother, and French with my sisters and friends from school.
I spent most of my childhood in Laos (my father’s country) and then moved to Thailand and the Philippines. In my last year of school I moved to Germany. As I have always been to a French school, I studied in France too.
My Master’s degree, a trilingual specialized translation program, required me to do an internship abroad and amongst several offers I chose one in Switzerland. I didn’t know much about Switzerland but I fell in love with the country and the rest is history. I don’t plan on moving again anytime soon.
Securing Visas for Switzerland
I initially came to Switzerland for an internship so my employers had to declare that they were hiring me as an intern with the authorities. When I arrived, I just had to go to the migration services and fill out a form, bring a copy of my work contract, a copy of my lease, an ID and pay the fees.
I got an L-permit at first because the plan was to stay in Switzerland only for the duration of my internship which was 4 months long. But since I did another internship for one year after that, I directly got a B-permit. The difference between the two is that the L-permit only allows you to stay and work in the country for one year. The B-permit is valid for 5 years.
I received my permit immediately after filling out the forms at the local migration service, but it really depends on the canton. Some are quicker than others and you would most likely have to wait a few months in some.
My First Impressions of Switzerland
My first impression of Switzerland was: wow! I had no idea it was such a beautiful and diverse country, both in terms of landscape and population. I found the Swiss to be kind and polite, and I also noticed how clean everything was. I mean, you can drink from the fountains in the cities!
And you can swim in the rivers. I had never heard of any other place in the world where it was safe to swim in the river in the city. Then another kind of “wow”: the prices and cost of living. I quickly got used to it though, since the salaries are also higher, which compensates for the cost of living.
Choosing a City in Switzerland as an Expat
I did my internships in the canton of Bern and loved it there. It’s laidback and life there isn’t as hectic as in other cantons like Zurich or Geneva. It’s not too far from the mountains and right in the middle of Switzerland, so traveling to either side of the country and abroad is quick and easy.
I was pretty open about where I wanted to live in Switzerland, so I chose a place according to my workplace. But I have to admit that I personally wouldn’t have wanted to live in Geneva. It’s a little too near to France for my liking and the view from the lake isn’t as breathtaking as in Lausanne.
A typical day for me in Lausanne is like any other work day in any city. When I’m not doing home office work, I go to work by public transport (train, metro or bus). Fun fact: Lausanne is the only city in Switzerland with an underground system. Most of my friends here are Swiss or have lived in Switzerland their whole lives. I know very few other expats like myself.
Finding a Flat or House in Switzerland as an Expat
My first type of accommodation in Switzerland was a shared flat. Housing here is expensive so when you have an intern’s salary, you count your pennies. When I got my first job, I decided that flat sharing wasn’t for me anymore and so I secured my very own apartment.
Now I live with my boyfriend. It wasn’t hard to find a place, but many say that I was fortunate to have found something good that quickly and at a reasonable price. Flat hunting in Switzerland is somewhat of a sport.
My best tip to get the flat of your dreams is to have all the documents prepared and ready to go: a copy of your work contract with your salary indicated or your last 3 pay slips if you already work in Switzerland, copy of your ID or your work permit, proof of no ongoing legal procedures (you have to ask for this document in the commune or city you are registered in and it has to be less than 3 months old) and proof of liability insurance.
If you have contacts, that can also be helpful. They can vouch for you. Also, writing an application letter on why you want the apartment and why they should give it to you can help a lot. And then you just need a lot of luck.
Four Official Languages of Switzerland
The four official languages of Switzerland are: French, German, Italian and Reto-romansh. As I speak both German and French, I had no problem adapting. One thing I did have to get used to is Swiss German. Each German speaking canton has its own spoken dialect so it gets confusing.
It has some similarities with German but it’s also very different. There is no official grammar. Basically, it’s written the same way it’s spoken. The ear gets used to it, so I understand everything now, but I don’t speak it.
Enjoying the Diversity of Swiss Cuisine
Every canton has its own culinary specialties, but in general there is a lot of cheese and potatoes in Swiss cuisine. I really like the food in Ticino (the Italian speaking part of Switzerland), I think it has some Italian influences. I also enjoy eating typical cheese dishes like fondue or raclette from Wallis.
How Expensive is Switzerland Expat Life?
Since the salaries are also higher, you get by really well in Switzerland as an expat if you know how to manage your money properly. So I would say yes, as a matter of fact, living here is expensive but you should be able to afford it if you work hard and save. I don’t keep a tight budget, but as I have some financial goals, I live rather frugally with some exceptions here and there.
Tips for Living in Switzerland as an Expat
Do your research, have money saved up beforehand and I would advise you to get a job in Switzerland before moving here. It makes administrative things easier to deal with. Having some knowledge of the local languages helps with integration but most people here also speak English.
