Over 835,000 Swiss nationals live abroad. That’s around 11% of people who hold a Swiss passport. And the number is growing. In terms of population, if the Swiss Abroad made up a canton, it would be the fourth-largest canton in Switzerland.
At SWI swissinfo.ch you will find everything that concerns the Swiss Abroad in one place.
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Melanie Eichenberger
Youth protests: What is the situation like in the country where you live?
Are young people taking to the streets where you are too? What issues are they concerned about? And how is the general public reacting?
Swiss government cuts Swissinfo funding by nearly half
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Swissinfo, the international service of the Swiss broadcasting corporation, will close the Portuguese and Japanese services after major funding cuts.
Is Europe’s wave of youth discontent spilling over into Switzerland?
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Echoing the protest movements in France and across Europe, demonstrations turned violent this weekend in Zurich and Basel. The Swiss press are, however, divided over the social implications.
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A lawyer representing several victims has called for the Crans-Montana government to be placed under partial administration and for its finances to be investigated.
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Several hundred people took part in protests in Zurich and Basel on Saturday night under the banner “On en a marre – en Suisse aussi” [We’ve had enough – in Switzerland too], echoing protests in France.
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A cyberattack has targeted the IT support platform used by post-compulsory education institutions in canton Vaud, resulting in the theft of personal data belonging to around 3,500 teachers and 38,000 students.
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At the global biodiversity summit, states agreed on measures designed to speed up the implementation of decisions taken in 2022.
Swiss vote: should Switzerland loosen its arms export rules?
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As Europe rearms at a pace not seen since the Cold War, Switzerland’s parliament and government want to relax the country’s arms export rules.
Swiss to vote on nuclear power, foie gras and naturalisation in February 2027
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Citizens will vote on February 28, 2027, whether new nuclear power stations can be built in Switzerland, ten years after the construction of plants was banned. Four other issues are on the agenda.
Swiss to vote on VAT hike to fund the 13th pension payment
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In 2024, Swiss voters approved an additional annual 13th pension payment for retirees. Now they are voting again – on how to fund it.
The votes on November 29 are fast approaching – are you ready?
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The first SBC poll ahead of the November 29 votes shows strong support for the fireworks initiative. Voters remain undecided on the other three proposals.
Why Switzerland is voting on individual taxation again
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Earlier this year, Swiss voters backed a model of individual taxation that would scrap the so-called “marriage penalty”. Now another initiative – and another model – is on the ballot.
November 29 votes: flying start for Swiss fireworks initiative
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The first SBC poll ahead of the November 29 votes shows strong support for the fireworks initiative, while the outcomes of several other proposals remain uncertain.
How should Switzerland regulate the use of fireworks?
Should the use of fireworks be restricted to better protect animals, people and the environment? Or does the initiative threaten a popular tradition deeply rooted in August 1 and New Year’s celebrations?
Why is Switzerland voting again on the ‘marriage tax penalty’?
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On November 29, the Swiss will vote for the second time this year on how to end the tax disadvantage faced by married couples.
The Swiss voted for a pension hike. Now they must decide how to pay for it
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On November 29, the Swiss will vote on funding a 13th monthly pension payment by increasing value-added tax (VAT) by 0.4 percentage points.
Nuisance or festive tradition? Swiss vote on fireworks ban
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Supporters want to reduce the noise pollution and environmental impact caused by fireworks while opponents argue for the preservation of a popular tradition.
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Anyone born abroad who fails to take the necessary steps in time may lose their Swiss citizenship. Here’s what you need to know.
Emigrating with family: what to do if a child doesn’t want to move
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New surroundings, new school, new friends – emigration can be a daunting prospect for children. Two experts share their tips.
Voting from abroad: How to register for Swiss elections
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Switzerland grants voting rights to its citizens living abroad. If you want to exercise your voting rights, you must first get on the electoral register.
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Moving abroad is an exciting but often challenging experience. Many emigrants experience different phases between culture shock and assimilation.
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The initiative to cap the Swiss population at 10 million is not just about how much growth a country can absorb – it also raises the question of who gets to count as being fully part.
Tax information when emigrating from Switzerland: what you need to know
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Tax liability in Switzerland does not always end at the country’s border – here’s what you should bear in mind when moving abroad.
Swiss honorary consul in Hawaii: ‘Helping others is deeply rewarding’
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Theres Ryf Desai is the first point of contact in Hawaii for Swiss citizens with problems – or interesting projects. What exactly does she do?
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Since the pandemic, cowbells have become instruments of protest – a problematic appropriation, according to an ethnologist.
The votes on November 29 are fast approaching – are you ready?
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The first SBC poll ahead of the November 29 votes shows strong support for the fireworks initiative. Voters remain undecided on the other three proposals.
The girl who fled Rhodesia but never let go of her African roots
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Marina Biber was eight when her family fled Rhodesia and came to Switzerland. Decades later, she stumbled across old television footage of herself as a child after reading a Swissinfo article.
The Swiss banker who sought the freedom of Patagonia
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From Switzerland’s financial centre to the Patagonian Steppe: how Christoph Schär left banking to build a new life as a sheep farmer in Argentina.
September 27 votes: Swiss Abroad less dismissive of food security initiative
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On the issue of neutrality, Swiss citizens living abroad voted in a remarkably similar way to the rest of the country. The food security initiative, meanwhile, received slightly more support from expats.
Are the Swiss Abroad a drain or a gain for Switzerland?
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The value of the Swiss diaspora to Switzerland is a regular topic of debate. But its supporters have no shortage of arguments to counter the criticism.
Twenty-five years after 9/11: ‘I’ve never spoken about it until now’
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On the morning of September 11, 2001, Swiss citizen Beat Reinhart was working directly opposite the Twin Towers. He witnessed the attacks first-hand. A testimony.
From grey skies to heatwaves: climate drives Swiss abroad
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Swiss people have long moved abroad to escape grey winters. Now, increasingly severe heatwaves are giving some a new reason to leave.
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Robert Thayer from Texas lived most of his life thinking he knew who his relatives were, until his DNA test results placed him on another family tree. His curiosity led him to the hills of canton Bern.
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Efforts are afoot to make it easier for Swiss schools abroad to find and recruit Swiss-trained staff. A parliamentary initiative proposes standardising employment conditions, to make working abroad more attractive for Swiss teachers.
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Swiss citizens living abroad could be excluded from the new 13th state pension payment under a proposal from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party.
Expats struggle to explain Swiss neutrality abroad
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Switzerland’s neutrality is not always easy to explain, especially abroad. Many Swiss expats have to grapple with preconceived notions.
Did you acquire Swiss citizenship while living abroad? What challenges did you face – and what does the red passport mean to you?
Were you born abroad and did you acquire Swiss citizenship through your parents? Was the process of obtaining a Swiss passport straightforward – or did you face any challenges along the way?
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Anyone born abroad who fails to take the necessary steps in time may lose their Swiss citizenship. Here’s what you need to know.
In water-loving Switzerland, about 50 people drown every year
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Summer activities on Switzerland’s lakes and rivers are hugely popular, but their dangers are sometimes underestimated. Every year, about 50 drownings are recorded.
From Lucerne to La Catedral glory: the global rise of a Swiss wrestling icon
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Claudio Castagnoli built a global career in a sport that barely registers in Switzerland. He tells Swissinfo how a trip to Mexico sparked his passion for the ring.
The Swiss woman who brought river swimming to Boston
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Renata von Tscharner brought river swimming from Bern to the United States. Over 25 years ago she founded the Charles River Conservancy and campaigned to make the Charles River accessible again.
Owning her own shop in the US was a dream come true until Trump’s tariffs came along
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Jacqueline Judd owns and runs a shop selling Swiss products in New Glarus, Wisconsin. US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have taken a toll on her inventory.
The Alphorn Festival: where Swiss tradition brings people together
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In Nendaz, canton Valais, a traditional festival attracts thousands of visitors every year, including from the Swiss Abroad.
Swiss president emphasises enduring values in annual address to the Swiss Abroad
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In his address to Swiss citizens living abroad on Swiss National Day president Guy Parmelin states that the values and trust that sustain the Swiss in times of crisis unite them across borders.
Inside the Society of Saint Pius X’s latest traditionalist revolt
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The Society of Saint Pius X recently reignited a long-running dispute with the Vatican by illicitly consecrating several bishops in Switzerland.
How Swiss schools abroad teach democracy in autocratic countries
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The 17 Swiss schools abroad strive to instil Swiss democratic values in their pupils. This can be a delicate challenge in some countries.
Thailand tightens visa policy, much to the dismay of Swiss seasonal retirees
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Thailand, a favourite destination for Swiss pensioners seeking to escape the Swiss winter, is tightening its visa exemption rules, causing uncertainty and additional administrative procedures.
Did you leave Switzerland for warmer climes and now regretting your decision?
Every year, many Swiss leave their homeland in the quest for warmer weather. But temperatures are rising everywhere prompting expats to rethink their plans.
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Many Swiss nationals abroad believe that, in an emergency, they will be picked up by the Swiss Air-Rescue (Rega). But the reality is more complicated.
Why is neutral and peaceful Switzerland a nation with a strong shooting tradition?
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Die Schweiz blickt auf eine jahrhundertealte Schützentradition zurück, die auch von Auslandschweizerinnen und Auslandschweizern gepflegt wird.
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The 2026 Federal Shooting Festival in Chur also united Swiss living abroad, for whom shooting is more than a sport – it’s a way to stay connected to their homeland.
World Cup 2026: Vancouver match a ‘jackpot’ for Switzerland
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Swiss consul Thomas Schneider calls the Canada clash in Vancouver a stroke of luck, as months of preparations fuel hopes for more Swiss matches on the west coast.
