This Swiss village will pay people £15,000 to move there – but there are strings attached (2024)

FAQs

How much does Switzerland pay for moving? ›

To help reduce its declining population, Albinen is offering 20,000 Swiss Francs (US$22,144.44*) to adults under 45 willing to make the move to Switzerland, often considered one of the best countries to work and live. Plus, an additional 10,000 Swiss Francs (US$11,072.22*) for each child!

To clarify: the village is far from uninhabitable. It's nestled on a mountain slope at 4,265 feet above sea level, making it beautiful, clean, and filled with unbeatable scenery. But, unfortunately, the job market is virtually nonexistent. To combat this issue, the Government is willing to pay people to move there!

① A Swiss Village Offering $100K to Those Who Move In

Now let's find out why Switzerland made such a promise and what kind of village it is. This astonishing village is called Albinen, a small village in Valais, Switzerland, with 240 people.

Switzerland (Albinen)

In an effort to combat population decline, the Swiss village of Albinen is offering attractive relocation incentives to entice families and workers to call this picturesque location home.

Initially, the scheme was only open to new residents aged under-45, with CHF200,000 to invest in real estate and at least a C permit, which allows them to live in Switzerland for five years. The cash inducements were later delayed until new residents had taken root in Albinen for five years.

Alaska has one of the longest running incentive programs in the country: the Permanent Dividend Fund. Started in 1976, it pays every resident an annual stipend as long as they lived in Alaska during the previous calendar year. The amount depends on the state's annual revenue, but averages around $1,600.

While there are numerous benefits to living in Switzerland, there are also some drawbacks to consider: High Cost of Living: As mentioned earlier, the cost of living in Switzerland is considerably high. This extends beyond just housing and includes groceries, dining, and general entertainment.

Can I move to Switzerland without a job? Yes, you can move to Switzerland temporarily without a job. However, in order to apply for long-term stays or even a Swiss residence permit, you'll need a job, school program, or naturalized family member—especially for stays for longer than 90 days.

If you are a family, you can expect to spend between 4000 and 8000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. If you are a single person, you can expect to pay between 2500 and 4000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. These costs can vary depending on your lifestyle and where you live in Switzerland.

A 20% minimum deposit is typically necessary to buy real estate in Switzerland. However, first-time buyers are the only ones who get help to purchase a Swiss home with a mortgage. You will need to be prepared to put up the 20% minimum contribution yourself.

Does Switzerland have 100 year mortgages? ›

In contrast with repayment periods of 20 to 30 years in many other countries, repayment periods are usually longer in Switzerland, with mortgages of between 50 and 100 years being fairly common.

Non-Swiss residents acquiring a home in Switzerland must apply for a foreign buyer's permit. This entitles the owner to reside in the country up to 180 days per annum, subject to a maximum stay of 3 months at a time. Non-Swiss residents, are not permitted to own more than one residential property.

The 21 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024 are Mauritius, Italy, Croatia, Japan, Austria, England, USA, Canada, Island of Sark, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Estonia, Iceland, Mauritius, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The towns of Locle and la Chaux-de-Fonds are two of the least expensive where one can become a property owner in Switzerland. The price is around CHF 3,250 per square metre. Whilst in Zurich, the average price per square metre rises to CHF 12,250.

If you are a family, you can expect to spend between 4000 and 8000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. If you are a single person, you can expect to pay between 2500 and 4000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. These costs can vary depending on your lifestyle and where you live in Switzerland.

The average cost of a move from the U.S. to Switzerland is $3,450.

Everyone, regardless of nationality, needs a residence permit if they want to stay and work in Switzerland for longer than three months. Apply for a permanent residence.