Dear readers, we are pleased to invite you to celebrate our new partnership with Reka and take part in an exciting prize draw. which gives you the chance to win a week’s holiday in Switzerland.
Be a winner and experience an unforgettable holiday week. Details and terms and conditions of participation can be found at the end of the text. Happy holidays, may the competition begin!
Like many Swiss expats, it is likely that you, from time to time, plan a visit to Switzerland to meet family and friends or deal with some paperwork. Is there anything you should bear in mind? What paperwork is required for family members – whether Swiss or not? How long can the holidays last? And what if you might want to work for a few days?
Below you’ll find the key points briefly explained, so that nothing will stand in the way of your visit to Switzerland:
How long do you plan to stay?
The permitted length of stay depends on various factors, but nationality and the purpose of your stay are crucial. In principle, Swiss people living abroad can visit Switzerland for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days without having to register in Switzerland or subscribe to compulsory health insurance. However, if you intend to remain permanently, you usually have to register within ten days. The 90-day rule applies to many nationals, especially from EU/EFTA member states and some other countries. ‘Third-country’ nationals usually require a visa. The https://www.swiss-visa.ch/ online visa system provides information and the means to submit online applications for some countries. SEM, the State Secretariat for Migration, provides a very useful overview, e.g. with their valuable “Do I need a visa”, information sheets and an FAQ about entry. If an invitation from a Host is required, a fact sheet describes how to write the invitation formally and correctly.
Highly recommended is SEM’s overview on “ID and visa regulations by nationality”, where visa regulations and the necessary travel documents are set out in detail.
Safely insured
If you have health insurance in the EU or EFTA, your insurance covers urgent consultations and treatments in Switzerland via the European Insurance Card. However, you must pay for all treatments that can be planned, unless you benefit from a cost credit from your foreign health insurance. If you have local health insurance in your new home country outside the EU/EFTA or internationally, check the terms and conditions of your insurance to see which countries are included or excluded and the level of coverage. You can cover any gaps through additional travel insurance. Health insurance is often mandatory in order for a valid Schengen to be issued to people from third countries. With the help of our partner, we can offer you support in choosing suitable insurance.
At the same time, the protection provided by liability insurance must be clarified. Perhaps you scratch someone else’s property, and suddenly you could be facing costs of over 1,000 francs. It could get really expensive if, for example, someone is injured due to one’s own carelessness while skiing. To provide for cases such as this, there are insurance solutions that cover you during your stay in Switzerland, sometimes even including driving a foreign vehicle.
Why not work a few days during your stay?
As a Swiss citizen, you do not need a work permit if you want to work in Switzerland during your short stay, but your family members may. Nationals from EU/EFTA countries can work in Switzerland for up to 90 days without a work permit, but there is a reporting obligation.
If you generate income in Switzerland, this must be declared correctly for tax purposes. The tax regulations of both countries must be complied with. If you work for your foreign employer in Switzerland only for a few weeks and they do not have a permanent establishment in Switzerland, usually you are not subject to tax. If you work for a Swiss employer, they must deduct withholding tax for you.
If you work for a Swiss employer, in certain cases they will also have to pay social security contributions for you, and perhaps even enough to cover the annual AHV minimum. But beware: this only applies as a full contribution year if you have been affiliated with the AHV for at least 11 months in the year, for example as a member of the voluntary AHV.
Your chance to update all documents
Check the validity of your identity documents before organising your visit to Switzerland. Are these still valid for long enough or do you need to plan a visit to the passport office?
If you have a Swiss bank account and your new home is a long distance from Switzerland, schedule an appointment with your bank. Are all documents still up to date, is the bank in possession of a current passport copy? It’s always better if everything is up to date and you can use your time in a better way. Your visit to Switzerland can also be an opportunity to open a new bank account in Switzerland. Would you like to contact the available banks for Swiss abroad? Don’t hesitate to get in touch, we have direct contact persons ready for you.
Where to stay
In addition to visiting friends and family, you may also want to get to know new places in Switzerland or simply relax, whether alone or together with friends. Perhaps your employer is prepared to allow you to work in the Swiss mountains or in a secluded place on one of the Swiss lakes.
Reka’s holiday world offers great retreats; whether you are looking for a hotel or a holiday apartment, Reka provides you with practically furnished apartments suitable for any needs which are good value for money. Take advantage here.
Emergency
Writing down the emergency numbers of the police 117, ambulance 144, fire brigade 118 and European emergency number 112, as well as those of the embassy or consulate of your home country in Switzerland. A list of foreign representations in Switzerland can be found here.
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Have we awakened your desire for a trip to Switzerland? Enter the contest!
Together with Reka, we are giving away a holiday voucher worth CHF 1,000 to our members at a Reka accommodation of their choice. Your only commitment? Redeeming the voucher by the end of 2025 and telling us about your Reka holiday experience by means of a blog post and pictures. You can take part via e-mail (Re: Reka holiday prize draw) or by letter. Your membership number will enrol you in the raffle as your lottery number.
The deadline for entries is 29 February 2024, the terms and conditions of the prize draw can be found below. On 1 March, we will draw the winning ticket in front of the cameras. The winner will then be notified.
Competition terms and conditions:
Name/name of the organiser: Soliswiss with the kind support of Reka
Eligibility (if any restrictions): from 18 years of age, Soliswiss employees may not take part.
Start and end of the competition: 01.01.2024 – 29.02.2024
Exact description of the prize (including any additional costs): voucher worth CHF 1,000, with no travelling expenses, no meals
Prize draw date: Friday, 1 March 2024
Rules according to which the winners are determined (chance, jury): random draw
Type and modality of prize delivery (collection, shipping, etc.): online delivery
Data Protection Statement: Data protection & Legal. No addresses are collected/passed on to third parties.
Photo by Henrique Ferreira on Unsplash
Schlagworte:FerienMitgliedervorteilRekaswitzerland