Practitioner's note: advising an expatriate moving to Zug

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An adviser who assists an expatriate executive moving to Zug should address the language question as part of the relocation. The executive's employment contract, the lease and the relations with the bank can usually be handled in English. The registration with the municipality, the application for a permit, the tax return, the health insurance and the schooling of the children involve German-language procedures and documents, even if some information is available in English. The adviser should explain which documents are authoritative and which are only translations, and should arrange for support in German where needed.

The adviser should also discuss the executive's longer-term plans. An executive who plans to stay for several years, to acquire property or to apply for a permanent permit or naturalisation should be encouraged to learn German early, since the integration criteria for permanent permits and naturalisation include language skills. An executive who plans a short stay may rely on English, but should understand the limits of doing so, particularly in dealings with the authorities and in the event of a dispute. For families with children, the choice between an international school and the local public school has long-term consequences for the children's languages and for the family's integration.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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