Switzerland, here we go — ready or not ?

Meet Nadia, recently arrived in Switzerland with her two children

Brigitte: Hi Nadia! You arrived in Switzerland in 2020, is that right?

Nadia: Yes! I moved here with my two children, aged 3 and 6 at the time, for work. It felt like a fresh start — a brand new life for the three of us. I had always dreamed of living in Switzerland: the landscapes, the calm, the quality of life… We were super excited, the kids and I!

“I didn’t know where to start…”

Brigitte: What were the first days like?

Nadia: I was quickly faced with a long list of challenges: finding a daycare for my 3-year-old, and an after-school care solution for my 6-year-old. I thought school covered the whole day… spoiler alert: it doesn’t 😅. I didn’t speak the language (I’m still learning!) and everything felt confusing. As for public daycare, I was told I’d need to wait a year… maybe more!

I wasn't alone, after all”

Brigitte: Did you have any support around you?

Nadia: Yes, thankfully! My colleagues were wonderful. They helped me understand the system and not panic.I found a private daycare two days a week for my little one, and hired a nanny for the rest.Then came a new challenge: Swiss laws. Minimum wages? Insurance? I had no clue where to start!So I ended up contacting an agency to help me sort it all out. It made things so much smoother.

“I learned… often the hard way!”

Brigitte: Anything that surprised you in daily life here?

Nadia: Oh yes! Like the time I tried to get on the bus before people had gotten off… Where I come from, there are no set rules to go up in the bus — here, you must wait until everyone get down from the bus😅.Or the time I arrived at the local admin office with all my papers in a messy folder… They kindly asked me to go home, organise everything, and come back “Swiss style.”At the time I was a bit offended… now, I laugh about it!

“If I had one piece of advice…”

Brigitte: What advice would you give to a family moving here soon?

Nadia: Don’t show up empty-handed — even if winging it sounds tempting! In Switzerland, planning is everything, so it’s better to be prepared.

Before arriving, it helps to:

• research the required formalities (commune registration, health insurance, residence permits…)

• understand the childcare system (daycares, day mothers, after-school care…)

• prepare a solid housing application (payslips, employer letters, debt report, even a motivation letter!)

• browse expat groups for useful info and local contacts

• be open to local customs, even the small stuff (quiet Sundays, polite rules of conduct…)

  
  

In short: get informed, plan ahead, and ask for help if needed — there are plenty of resources and kind people out there!

“If I had a magic wand…”

Brigitte: If you could have delegated anything upon arrival?

Nadia: Without a doubt: finding childcare solutions for my kids. That’s what drained most of my energy.

In conclusion…

Nadia faced her challenges with humour, determination and a good dose of resourcefulness. Her story reminds us that behind every new beginning, there’s often an invisible — and exhausting — layer of logistics.And sometimes, a little extra help makes all the difference.