Are you planning to retire abroad?

There are important points to pay attention to. Here are our tips for being perfectly prepared.

Make sure you are registered with the relevant local Swiss representation. You can also do this easily via our online desk.

In the event that you can no longer take certain decisions yourself, a contact person is needed.

Provide this person's contact details to the Swiss representation or use the online desk.

You can draw your Swiss OASI pension from wherever you are living. Contact the Swiss Compensation Office for information on how to do so.

It's best to clarify important health concerns well before you leave. What can the local healthcare system provide?

Getting older can be expensive, medically. You've got to have good insurance covering the costs of healthcare and any accidents.

Make sure you know in advance what your options are if the state of your health no longer allows you to live independently.

Advance decisions, i.e. living wills can be decisive if one day you are no longer able to express healthcare wishes yourself. Fill it out in advance.

With a will, you can designate who is to inherit your assets. A specialist in your country of residence can help you in this area.

Have you communicated your wishes regarding funeral arrangements? Draft a document or tell a family member or your doctor what your wishes are.

These steps will help you retire abroad carefree.

Now don't forget that while the FDFA does provide support for Swiss citizens abroad, it can only help with consular affairs.

This means that you also bear personal responsibility for your stay abroad.

For more information and our brochure "Ageing well abroad", see the FDFA website under "Retiring abroad".

If you want permanent residence in a new country, you must enter with a valid passport. Some countries may also require a visa. The official representation (embassy or consulate) responsible for your destination country in Switzerland is in charge of issuing residence permits. Most of them also have websites that can give you accurate information on the entry and residence requirements. Some countries have a special pensioner visa that is valid for several years and can be extended. In most cases, you will need to prove that you have a certain lifelong income security (confirmation of your entitlement to a pension, bank statements, bank guarantee). Some countries require you to deposit a certain amount of money in a bank (CHF 50,000 or more). Pensioners are also usually expected to have health insurance. As a foreign pensioner, you will probably need a residence permit – even if you do not live there all year round. This means that even if you do not plan to emigrate for good – only spending the winter abroad, for example – you will still have to follow your host country's residence requirements. Find out the latest information on entry, residence and customs requirements from the official representation responsible for your destination country.

The Swiss-EU bilateral agreements mean that Swiss nationals are treated like EU citizens. If you have retired, you are entitled to a residence permit that is valid for five years provided you have the following documents for yourself and your family:

• a valid identity card or passport
• a valid health and accident insurance policy
• confirmation of your entitlement to a pension (OASI/IV, OPA, private cover) as proof of sufficient financial means. Your financial resources must be more than the minimum welfare benefit provided by your destination country. When you apply, your residence permit will automatically be extended for at least five years provided you meet all the requirements. However, you will not be entitled to social security benefits.

Most countries require new arrivals to register with the immigration authorities, usually within a certain period of time. Make sure you know where and by when in advance.

If you are a Swiss national and have deregistered from your commune of residence, you must register with the Swiss representation abroad (embassy or consulate) which covers your destination country. Once you have deregistered in Switzerland, you have 90 days to register with the right Swiss representation abroad. You do not have to pay a fee for this, but it means you can be contacted more easily if there is an emergency. It also helps with administrative formalities – if you need an identification document or marriage, birth or death certificate issued – and to keep a connection with your home country. To register as a Swiss national living abroad, you need your passport (or ID card), deregistration certificate and, if available, your certificate of origin. You can also register directly via the online desk. Once you have done this, you will be able to vote in elections and referendums in Switzerland, although you will need to register separately to do so. You will also receive a free subscription to the Swiss Review.

Swiss representations abroad

If you are planning to move all your household effects, find out in advance from the official representation responsible for your destination country about the exact customs rules and whether you will have to pay any duties or fees. A number of countries allow people to move their household effects (i.e. removal goods) duty and tax free, but some collect customs duties and VAT. If you do not find out about importation regulations in your destination country, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you arrive (fees, confiscation, fines). There may also be certain rules and restrictions on food, alcohol, tobacco, medicines, electrical appliances and items in their original packaging. Expressly prohibited or restricted categories usually include plants and animals, weapons and ammunition, as well as drugs and pornographic material. Find out about the customs regulations of your destination country beforehand. It is a good idea to hire an international moving company to handle all transportation and importation issues. Find out more from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).

Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS)

There are special regulations for importing motor vehicles. You will also need to find out about authorisation requirements (number plate, insurance, certain technical issues) and whether your Swiss driving licence can be converted without having to take a test.

Remember that you have to deregister from your cantonal road traffic office before leaving Switzerland.

Cantonal vehicle licensing offices (de, fr, it)

If you want to take your pet with you, there will also be certain conditions (vaccinations, quarantine). Make sure you find out from the official representation responsible for your destination country before your move.

 It is important that you clear up any potential health risks posed by your destination country beforehand. Make sure you get vaccinated in Switzerland before travelling if need be.

Vaccinations

When it comes to medical treatment in your destination country, think about the following:

• What medical services are available?
• Will I be able to communicate with the doctors there? Do they do house calls? How can I contact a doctor in an emergency?
• Are there any good hospitals? Can I get surgery done there, or would I have to go back home for a major operation? 
• Do I have the right health cover? Or do I meet the requirements for comprehensive health and accident insurance (and can I afford this)?
• If you can, visit the hospital beforehand. 
• Who is my emergency contact?

Some Swiss representations abroad have a list of hospitals or can give you the contact details of their approved medical practitioner. This type of information can also be found on the websites of some European countries.

As you age, medical expenses rise, making comprehensive health and accident insurance essential.

• Do I have health and accident insurance?
• Does it provide adequate cover? If not, how can I cover my medical expenses?
• If I need to be transferred to Switzerland for medical reasons, do I have medical evacuation insurance?

If your health status changes and independent living becomes unmanageable, it is important to know your options.

• How is elderly care structured in my country of residence?
• Which local retirement homes are suitable? Can I visit these homes in person?
• Would I rather reside in a Swiss care home, and if so, which ones are feasible?
• How would I finance this type of care, either locally or back in Switzerland?

In a situation where you can‘t express your medical care preferences, advance decisions (living wills) can be essential. These documents allow you to specify in advance the medical procedures you consent to or refuse, make your wishes known to doctors, exercise greater self-determination and lessen the burden on your loved ones.

Several organisations provide templates, for example
Information portal of the Swiss authorities ch.ch

Fill out the document of your choice, date and sign it. Give it to someone you trust or your GP and inform your Swiss representation where you have stored it. You can draw up a living will at any age and change your mind at any time.

Drawing up a will is a way of expressing your wishes about how your assets should be distributed after your death.

• What are my assets - what property, possessions or financial resources do I own?
• Who should inherit them - what do I need to do?
• Am I familiarised with the inheritance laws in my country of residence, as these may affect the validity and enforcement of my will?

You can obtain this legal information from a lawyer or notary in your coun­try of residence. Draw up a document that complies with the relevant legal requirements and make sure to date and sign it. Give this document to a trusted relative or notary, and let your Swiss representation know where it is stored. Remember that a will can be drawn up at any stage in life and revised as often as you deem necessary.

Make sure that your benefits (old-age, survivors’ and invalidity insurance, pension plan and other insurances) are transferred correctly. If you change your place of residence, you must inform the OASI compensation office, your pension fund and insurance providers. The Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) sends a certificate of life and marital status each year to anyone receiving benefits. To make sure that your pension continues to be paid without any gaps, you must get the completed form endorsed by the right authority and returned within 90 days.

Standard pension benefits can be transferred to any place of residence. Payment is made directly by the SCO in the currency of the country of residence as a rule. You may also choose to have your benefits paid into a personal postal or bank account in Switzerland. Please note that helplessness allowances and supplementary benefits are only paid out if you are resident in Switzerland. Find out more from the Central Compensation Office (CCO).

Central Compensation Office (CCO)

As a rule, you can draw occupational pension benefits when abroad. Your pension fund can provide you with more information.

If you are a citizen of Switzerland or an EU/EFTA country and have not yet reached retirement age, are not covered by the compulsory insurance system, and have moved to a third country outside the EU/EFTA, you may be able to join the voluntary OASI/IV system in order to avoid gaps in your contributions. This is not possible if you move to an EU/EFTA country. Please note, however, that any contributions made after you are already entitled to claim old-age benefits will not be taken into account when calculating your pension. This also applies to old-age benefits drawn in advance. Check with your cantonal compensation office, particularly if you move abroad and have withdrawn your pension early, or if you did not have a paid job before drawing your pension.

Voluntary OASI/IV scheme

Pension or lump-sum withdrawal at retirement age in line with pension fund rules

Although your 2nd pillar benefits will depend on the regulations of your current pension fund, all pension schemes must provide the statutory minimum benefits for the mandatory part of OPA. Most benefits regulations provide for early retirement. The earliest possible age (by law) for drawing retirement benefits as a pension or lump sum is 58. The regulations of your current pension fund will determine whether you can withdraw your pension as a lump sum (see also section on claiming your pension). If you stop earning money after 59/60 years of age, i.e. before the statutory retirement age, your 2nd pillar assets will be transferred to a vested benefits institution and can then be withdrawn as a lump sum at any time.

Cash payment options before retirement age (in line with pension fund rules)

Cash payments may be possible if you leave Switzerland on a permanent basis before 59/60 years of age. If you move to an EU/EFTA country however, you can only withdraw the non-mandatory part under certain conditions; the mandatory part will remain parked in a vested benefits account or policy until you reach 59/60 years of age. Before finding out about your occupational pension assets, it is worthwhile contacting your current pension fund and the central office for the 2nd pillar before emigrating as they will be able to tell you if you have any other 2nd pillar assets.

You can draw benefits from your 3a pillar from 59/60 years of age regardless of where you reside. Find out about the different pay-out options from your pension provider.

If you are a pensioner with residence in an EU/EFTA country, there are special provisions. You will generally remain under the compulsory health insurance system in Switzerland if the only pension you receive is a Swiss one. Some EU countries allow you to choose which national insurance scheme takes precedence in your individual case. For more details, visit the websites of the Federal Office of Public Health (information on persons with residence in an EU/EFTA state and applicability of health insurance cover) and the HIA Collective Institution. Hospital costs and doctors' fees can be expensive abroad, so make sure you have good health insurance cover. You should discuss this with your insurance provider before reaching retirement age.

If you move to a third country (outside the EU/EFTA), you can no longer take out statutory health insurance (LAMal basic insurance) in Switzerland. Please note the distinction between basic and private insurance. Good insurance cover is important, so make sure you approach this issue as thoroughly as possible and get the right cover e.g. through private insurance. Specialised insurance providers can advise you on non-mandatory insurance. International insurance options can be very expensive after you reach a certain age, so expect there to be some reservations (depending on your state of health). Make sure you compare the different offers and find out from the authorities in your destination country whether health insurance is compulsory there. Please also note the following:

• Depending on what country you are in, a public (usually cheaper) hospital can be a problem if you do not have the right language skills.
• At the other end of the scale, it is also important to know what services are actually covered, particularly in a private clinic. 
• If you want to get a residence permit, you will usually have to provide proof of the right insurance cover.

Health insurance: Persons resident abroad, FOPH

Health insurance: Recipients of a Swiss pension living abroad, FOPH

HIA Collective Institution (de, fr, it)

Under the Accident Insurance Act (AIA), only paid workers in Switzerland have to be covered by the compulsory accident insurance scheme; everyone else is covered by the LAMal. If you are a pensioner, you should therefore first find out whether continuing your LAMal insurance is possible in Switzerland (e.g. if you have residence in an EU/EFTA country). If this is the case, you will remain insured against accidents under the compulsory health insurance system. If you leave the basic compulsory insurance scheme however, you must arrange your own accident cover. Private health insurance usually also covers accidents. You should also find out if there is an obligation to take out accident insurance in your country of residence. You can take out a private global accident and life insurance policy but these are rather expensive.

Because of stricter regulations and international tax requirements, Swiss banks are doing less business with customers living abroad, or have tightened their conditions and scales of charges for managing accounts. The relationship between a bank and its client is governed by private law. If you are affected, it is a good idea to talk to your bank while you are preparing to go abroad so that you can find a solution that both meets your needs and complies with the bank's regulations. This is an area that is changing all the time. The Consular Directorate and Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) are following developments closely. You can also follow the discussion on the OSA's website and the SwissCommunity.org forum.

Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA)