The Swiss community around the globe

Around 775,000 Swiss citizens live outside the country's borders, making up about 10% of the total population. Most expats reside in neighbouring European countries. There is also a considerable Swiss abroad community in North America.

Registered expatriates have had the right to take part in votes and elections since 1992. The introduction of e-voting and concerns about the network of embassies and consulates are among the key concerns of the Swiss Abroad.

News and Background

Swiss Abroad Council Language debate reveals expat generation gap

Urs Geiser

The possible introduction of English as additional language of the Swiss expatriate community was one of the highlights of Saturday’s session of ...

Swiss Abroad Most Swiss nationals emigrate to France

The Swiss abroad community has recorded an above-average increase of nearly 3% and reached just under 775,000 members at the end of last year.

Forum Let's discuss

The hundreds of thousands of Swiss citizens living abroad have voting rights, but should they?

Profiles

#WeAreSwissAbroad Pierre-Yves Donzé: from a ‘cosmopolitan nation’ to Japan

Akiko Uehara

Pierre-Yves Donzé comes from La Chaux-de-Fonds and became a professor of economic history in Osaka. His specialty: the watch industry.

#WeAreSwissAbroad Selina Thomas: Menu juggling in the Philippines

Christian Raaflaub

Fantastic weather, nice people and crazy traffic. 33-year-old Selina Thomas loves living in the Philippines.

#WeAreSwissAbroad Jonathan Royce Hostettler: Overcoming many hurdles

Christian Raaflaub

Can one feel Swiss without ever having stepped foot in the country? Yes, if we take the example of the young American, Jonathan Royce Hostettler. ...

Young Swiss Abroad

Opinion Should Switzerland have a parliament for young people?

Jonas Hirschi

Moves are afoot to create a new national youth parliament in Switzerland. The time has come to empower young people in politics, argues Jonas ...

Going back to your roots Learning how to be Swiss at summer camp

Jo Fahy with input from Christian Raaflaub

For young Swiss who live abroad, it can be hard to know what their citizenship really involves, or means.

Swiss Abroad youth camps Exploring the great outdoors

What’s it like visiting Switzerland as a young Swiss who lives abroad? Here are some impressions from youth at recent camps run by the ...

Swiss Abroad youth camps Engaging with asylum seekers

What’s it like visiting Switzerland as a young Swiss who lives abroad? Here are some impressions from youth at recent camps run by the ...

Najib Bourkhis (20), Tunisia ‘Democracy is developing little by little in Tunisia’

swissinfo.ch

Democracy will prevail over the threat of terrorism, says Najib Bourkhis, a young Swiss who has lived in Tunisia. The 20-year old from Djerba is ...

Ryan Cooper (19), Australia ‘Connect people in the Oceania region with those in Switzerland’

swissinfo.ch

Ryan Cooper says he wants to encourage Swiss clubs in Australia to be more open towards the younger generation. The 19-year old, who lives in ...

Davide Wüthrich (27), Italy ‘Italy should learn from Swiss direct democracy’

swissinfo.ch

Forcing a nationwide ballot is too easy: while appreciating Swiss direct democracy, Davide Wüthrich warns against a trivialisation of people’s rights.

Marie Lingl (17), France ‘It is easy to be critical when you have always known freedom’

swissinfo.ch

Direct democracy can be a way for young people to make their voices heard. High-school student Marie Lingl for one is convinced of this. The 17 ...

Wanja Kaufmann (19), Sweden ‘We have to stand firm, using our democratic societies’

swissinfo.ch

Governments should make an effort to reach out to the young generation which uses the internet and social media to play an active role in ...

Lis Zandberg (19), Netherlands ‘Everyone’s political ideas are considered’

swissinfo.ch

Lis Zandberg is concerned that Switzerland’s political system is undermined if citizens stay away from the polls and show no interest in votes and ...

Laura Derrer (19), Chile ‘New form of democracy in my country is a great thing’

swissinfo.ch

Laura Derrer says she is intrigued by a proposal to let citizens vote on constitutional amendments as part of a reform of direct democracy in Chile.

Francisca Espinoza (17), Chile ‘Chile lacks Switzerland's democracy’

swissinfo.ch

For young Swiss living abroad, direct democracy offers citizens greater opportunities to integrate their ideas within a political agenda, says ...

Samuel Cremieux (16), New York ‘Are people willing to make the small sacrifice for their security?’

swissinfo.ch

For Samuel Cremieux individual freedom has to be restricted to protect Europe from terrorism. He says sacrifices are necessary for the good of the ...

Timothy Forman (17), Czech Republic ‘Other countries should follow the Swiss example’

swissinfo.ch

Timothy Forman says it is hard to motivate young people in the Czech Republic to participate in politics. Many of them want to be able to use ...

Michael Valente (17), Canada ‘Canada could benefit from a fairer voting system’

Canada should introduce a voting system similar to the Swiss method, says Michael Valente from Toronto. The 17-year old Canadian-Swiss is a ...

E-voting

Citizens' rights Swiss Post launches demo version for e-voting

Christian Raaflaub

Swiss citizens of some cantons who live abroad now have a choice of two systems with which to vote online in votes in their home country.

Electronic vote 154,000 to use e-voting from next year

Around 97,000 Swiss-based voters and 57,000 Swiss abroad will be able to use e-voting in the next nationwide vote on February 12, 2017.

Tax issues

Controversial deal French inheritance tax convention rejected

The House of Representatives has refused to ratify an agreement on inheritance tax between Switzerland and France, with many parliamentarians ...

#WeAreSwissAbroad Dear Swiss living abroad…

Philipp Meier

We’ve set up an Instagram account for you! Please share your pictures using the hashtag #WeAreSwissAbroad. People love to hear about emigrants, ...

See in other languages: 5

Emigration Where do the Swiss go, when they live abroad?

Kai Reusser and Luigi Jorio

More than one in ten Swiss lives abroad. The number has more than doubled since 1980. This graphic illustrates that the Swiss don’t like to stray ...

See in other languages: 7

Special reports

Escaping the golden cage

Portraits of Swiss living abroad

in depth Swiss story

We wondered: What would happen if we asked people to tell us their Swiss stories, on video?

Infographic

Far horizons Swiss citizens live in all corners of the world

One in ten Swiss lives abroad. More than half of them live in Europe, with France, Germany and Italy the most popular countries. Elsewhere, the ...

Totally Swiss

Christoph Balsiger

A visit to the Swiss Country Club in Johannesburg. The Swiss Society Helvetia Johannesburg was founded in 1890. A new clubhouse was built in ...

Focus

Resignation
Swiss Foreign Minister Burkhalter to step down

Explainer
What’s the big deal about big data?

Swiss mobile charges
Switzerland an island for roaming costs

in depth
Switzerland: How To

'Together'
Quiz app decodes daily life in Switzerland

in depth
Asylum in Switzerland - A safe haven

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The Swiss community around the globe

News and Background

Swiss Abroad Council Language debate reveals expat generation gap

Swiss Abroad Most Swiss nationals emigrate to France

Forum Let's discuss

Online voting Fribourg very satisfied with new e-voting system

50th anniversary A milestone for Swiss expat rights

Stay in touch Online desk opened for Swiss abroad

Swiss Abroad Congress What future for Switzerland in a globalised world?

Council of the Swiss Abroad Expats push for e-voting and electoral reform

OSA president Gysin What’s the future of the Swiss Abroad Organisation?

1 August, 2016 Presidential speech to the Swiss Abroad

OSA centenary ‘Switzerland can make better use of its diaspora’

Einsiedeln elsewhere On the trail of Swiss settlers in Kentucky

Banking and taxes Government rejects extra services for Swiss abroad

Council meeting Swiss expats discuss pensions and insurance

Swiss Abroad E-voting suffers setback in parliament

Vote February 28, 2016 Swiss expat voters clearly in favour of road tunnel

Networking Making the voices of Switzerland’s young expats heard

Voting with a click Hacking fears jeopardise e-voting rollout

OSA congress How to encourage citizens to participate in politics

Swiss abroad blow Government puts the brakes on e-voting

Radio TV licences Have the Swiss abroad votes made all the difference?

Council of the Swiss Abroad Expat community launches election manifesto

Coming home Returning Swiss find re-integrating an uphill battle

New law Mandatory registration upheld for Swiss expatriates

Swiss Abroad Congress E-voting wins ground despite risks and setbacks

Expat woes Swiss banks slammed for expat business policy

Long-distance communication Changing how we keep in touch

Swiss abroad law Parliament disagrees over expat registration

Tale of two expats Swiss men get cold beer and hot springs to flow

Immigration curbs Swiss expats wary of quota vote backlash

Swiss education values Reform of Swiss schools abroad passes test

Worldwide Swiss abroad community ‘as large as canton Vaud’

Swiss Abroad 'Without a network you quickly run aground'

Embassy closures Parliament snubs expatriate concerns

Expat data E-mails to ease election to expatriate assembly

Quality, stability and integrity Minister rejects criticism of French tax deal

Swiss abroad assembly Expats reject voluntary registration system

Swiss perspectives Weighing up working in a globalised world

Swiss National Day 2013 President's address to the Swiss Abroad

India rape verdict Swiss tourist’s attackers sentenced to life in prison

Education law Schools abroad urged to adapt to competition

Diplomatic network Guatemala embassy saved, Chicago consulate shut

Embassy closures Parliament opposes diplomatic cutbacks

More violence Foreign ministry ‘shocked’ by India rape

Kidnapping Swiss hostage released in Yemen

Vital health care A Swiss doctor who brought hope to Cambodia

Swiss Abroad Council Dismay from Swiss expats at consulate closures

Emigration "Swiss history has also been made elsewhere"

Teaching model Swiss schools abroad face testing times

Coming together Fossuk focuses on communication to unite clubs

Political profile Expats veer left and vote for change

Profiles

#WeAreSwissAbroad Pierre-Yves Donzé: from a ‘cosmopolitan nation’ to Japan

#WeAreSwissAbroad Selina Thomas: Menu juggling in the Philippines

#WeAreSwissAbroad Jonathan Royce Hostettler: Overcoming many hurdles

#WeAreSwissAbroad Martina Fuchs: a cultural diplomat at Chinese state TV

#WeAreSwissAbroad Soontorn Leoni: from troubled childhood to successful businessman

#WeAreSwissAbroad: Nino Niederreiter Chur's hockey talent at home in Minnesota

#WeAreSwissAbroad In Vienna, Samuel Heger found his dream job – and love

#Weareswissabroad: Silvia Spross Being Swiss-born is 'like winning the lottery'

#WeAreSwissAbroad How a Swiss artist found her vocation in London

#WeAreSwissAbroad ‘My future is in Switzerland’

#WeAreSwissAbroad Nina Caprez: ‘I knew I had to leave’

You tell us Meet the people who read swissinfo.ch

Folk music Wisconsin’s Swiss voice goes off the air

Tim Guldimann The man hoping to be the voice of the Swiss abroad

Northern soul The Swiss expats who are mad for Manchester

The anarchist artist Making a life work of playing with reality

Marine biologist Battling to preserve the Great Barrier Reef

China’s Swiss superstar The fabulous destiny of a cross-cultural adventurer

Hollywood dream Special effects maestro in the LA fast lane

Microengineering in Moscow Learning to do science differently

Young Swiss Abroad

Opinion Should Switzerland have a parliament for young people?

Going back to your roots Learning how to be Swiss at summer camp

Swiss Abroad youth camps Exploring the great outdoors

Swiss Abroad youth camps Engaging with asylum seekers

Najib Bourkhis (20), Tunisia ‘Democracy is developing little by little in Tunisia’