The view of the international community

Read the PDF edition (1 page)

Surveys of expatriates in Switzerland give an indication of how the international community sees the language question. They show a high level of satisfaction with the quality of life, the security and the economic conditions. They also show that many expatriates find it difficult to make local friends and to feel at home.¹ Zug is not singled out in these surveys, but the pattern applies to the canton as well.

The international community's view is not uniform. Long-term residents who have learned German and built local networks describe a different experience from short-term expatriates who live mainly in English. Parents whose children attend local schools are more integrated than those whose children attend international schools. The experience of the international community depends on individual choices as much as on the structures of the canton, which can influence those choices only to a limited extent.

Notes

IamExpat, "What expat life in Switzerland is really like in 2026: beautiful but unfriendly", 27 July 2026, iamexpat.ch, on the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey: Switzerland 22nd overall, 8th of 31 for quality of life, 91 per cent feel safe, 89 per cent rate the economic and financial situation positively; bottom six for ease of settling in, 26th for local friendliness and 28th for making local friends. The article does not report language as a reason. ↩

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.

English

Contact

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.

Get in touch →

The view of the international community

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?