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This is an information resource mainly written for trans US citizens considering emigrating to another country, although we hope it is useful beyond that.

Please treat this wiki as a starting point for your own research, not as an authoritative source of truth or as legal advice.

Many of the authors have gone through the process themselves and want to share what they have learned.

Switzerland

From Trans World Express

This article is a work in progress and should be considered a draft.

Switzerland is a comparatively LGBTQ+-friendly country located in Central Europe, with some legal protections for trans people.

Why Switzerland?

  • Very high living standards
  • Good protection for LGBTQ+ people

Why not Switzerland?

  • Very high integration requirements for citizenship (not just self-sufficiency)
  • High living cost (but offset by high salaries)
  • Switzerland runs its own customs zone independent of the EU (even though it's part of the Schengen Area), and mailing everyday items in and out of Switzerland will incur significant customs costs

Political Situation for Trans People

Access to Trans Healthcare

Healthcare without residency

  • If in country with a tourist visa, not residing, how can healthcare be accessed and are there any caveats?

Immigration Policy

  • Student Visa:
  • Family-Route:
  • Work Visa:

Medical Inadmissibility

...

Permanent Residency

The permanent residency permit in Switzerland is called a C-permit. You're normally eligible for a C-permit after 10 years residency, in some cases 5 years (bilateral settlement treaty or long-standing administrative practice).

Citizenship Pathway

The general requirement is to have permanent residency (C-permit) and to have lived for 10 years in Switzerland, which does not have to be continuous, but three of which has to be within the past five years.

Besides this, there are social integration requirements which vary from canton to canton. Each canton also sets their own citizenship tests. You will go through detailed citizenship interviews and checks at the communal and cantonal level.

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

What are potentially good places to live in?

  • City A
  • City B

Top Trans-Friendly Cities

  • please add

Community & Support Resources

  • What local communities and support structures are there?

National Organizations

  • please add

Cost of Living

  • The cost of living in COUNTRY is how comparable to the US/where in the US?
  • Rent is…
  • Public transport
  • Healthcare is free/expensive…
  • Grocery prices …
  • Education is

Housing Access & Cost

  • add details on discrimination in rentals if applicable
  • also how easy is it to rent/buy etc

Law Enforcement ("How bad are the cops?")

  • please add details, especially around safety for trans people

Censorship & Digital Privacy

  • please add details

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

  • What about neighboring countries, visas for those, airports to travel etc.

Animal Policies

  • Is COUNTRY is pet-friendly or not
  • What do you need to do to bring a pet?
  • Consider adding a section on the Traveling with pets page