For further tips click here (please open the English PDF)! Please amend tips from your experience to info@internationalclub.ch.
| 1 | Swiss Health Insurance is required for every
resident (General Versicherung). You should check whether your Company
provides this cover for you and your family. There are are a number of
health Insurance Companies in Switzerland. | |
| 2 | All members of the Family need to visit the local Council Office (Gemeinde Haus) personally to confirm residence etc, within three weeks of entry into Switzerland. | |
| 3 | Local shops, banks and Post Offices (not those in the center of town) close at lunch times between 12 noon and 2pm; and most shops close at 4pm on Saturdays. Shops
are closed on Sundays.The larger Co op and Migros Supermarkets are open
all day. However if you are caught without food on a Sunday, the
airport Shopping Plaza is open from 8am to 8pm, as well as the local Co
op or Migros at the main Train Stations. | |
| 4 |
Learning German will certainly make your stay more pleasurable and
meaningful and allow you to feel closer to the community. The local
language is Swiss German, however High German is
taught in the schools and Language centers. Most of the Swiss people
can speak English. Many companies transferring
employees abroad will provide help to learn the language. Some
important words are: Hello - Gruetzi Goodbye - Wiedersehen Thank you - Danke/Merci Please - Bitte | |
| 5 | Be aware of local traditions: Sundays,
holidays and lunchtimes are considered to be a "quiet time" (this means
no playing of loud music, cutting grass, washing cars or loud
children's games). | |
| 6 | Most car parking is in underground carparks and/or special parking areas with ticket machines. Pay for your car parking at the ticket machine before you leave the car or before you drive to the barriers. | |
| 7 |
Relocating with your pet? A Pet Passport is required for most anmimals, as are vaccinations against Rabies. Talk to your vet approximately 4 months before you intend to travel with your pet. More information click here! | |
| 8 | Once in Switzerland you must obtain a Swiss Driving Licence within 12 months. When applying an eye test and hearing test, with your valid driving Licence is required. See: www.integration.winterthur.ch/upload/file/Brosch_Willkommen.pdf(unfortunately this site is in German only). | |
| 9 | Swiss currency is divided into Swiss Francs and Rappen. CHF is the international symbol for Swiss Francs. | |
| 10 | Recycling
is important in Switzerland. Items, such as paper, bottles, glass,
garden vegetation and tins/cans should be separated in the Household.
Each community provides different recycling schedules for larger
articles. Local taxes for waste disposal are levied by the purchase of
pre-stamped rubbish bags (Abfallsack) or authorized stickers
(Abfallmarke) which are attached to the rubbish bag.These can be
purchased at most stores. |