Hello Expats
Who we help · Families

Financial advice for expat families in Switzerland

Health insurance, allowances, schools, taxes, a future home - we walk you through every decision in the order it actually matters, in plain English.

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In short

Expat families arriving in Switzerland must arrange basic health insurance (KVG / LAMal) for every family member within 3 months, apply through an employer for cantonal family allowances (Familienzulagen, roughly CHF 200-250 per child per month), and plan early for tax deductions on childcare, insurance and pillar 3a. Protection cover and a clear home-purchase strategy quickly become the next priorities for families planning to stay.

Interactive · plan as you read

Your first 90 days, made simple

A practical, family-specific checklist for the moment you land - tap through each phase.

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Landing & registering

The non-negotiables for the first week in your new canton.

What you face

What expat families have to figure out

  1. 01

    Health insurance for the whole family

    Basic insurance (KVG / LAMal) is mandatory for every person in the household, each with their own premium. Choosing the right model and franchise per family member can save several thousand francs a year.

  2. 02

    Family & child allowances (Familienzulagen)

    Cantonal allowances are not paid automatically - you apply through your employer. Many expat families miss out for months because no one tells them where to start.

  3. 03

    Childcare costs & deductions

    Krippe and after-school care are expensive, but federal and cantonal tax law allows meaningful deductions on proven costs - if you document them correctly from day one.

  4. 04

    Saving for your children's education

    We help families compare flexible investment plans, pillar 3a alongside, and Swiss-friendly structures that still work if you move on later.

  5. 05

    Protecting the breadwinner(s)

    Swiss social insurance covers part of the risk - rarely enough for a family on one or two expat salaries. Independent life and disability cover is often the single most overlooked decision.

  6. 06

    Buying a family home

    Swiss mortgages need around 20% equity (at least 10% in cash, outside pillar 2) and affordability is tested at a notional 5% rate. We model what is realistic before you fall in love with a property.

Free first call

Not sure which decision to make first?

In one 30-minute call we map the three moves that matter most for your family right now - health-insurance choices, tax setup and protection - so the rest stops feeling overwhelming.

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How we help

How we help

Health insurance

Compare KVG / LAMal funds for every family member, choose models and franchises, add sensible supplementary cover.

Compare Swiss health insurance for your family

Taxes & pension

First-year filing, family deductions, pillar 3a strategy and withholding-tax recalculation when you cross the income threshold.

Plan Swiss taxes and pillar 3a as an expat family

Investments & savings

A long-term plan for education, retirement and global goals - independent, low-cost and portable if you leave Switzerland.

Plan long-term savings & investments

Finance & mortgage

Affordability check, equity planning (including pillar 2 / 3a use), and independent comparison across Swiss lenders.

Check mortgage affordability for your family
Why expat families work with us
10+ yrs
Specialised in Swiss expat finance
4 langs
Advice in EN, DE, IT and FR
100%
Independent - no in-house products
CHF 0
First consultation - no obligation
How we work

How we work with your family

A clear three-step process - no jargon, no sales pitch, no commitment until you decide.

1 · Free discovery call

30 minutes on the phone or video. We listen, sort what is urgent from what can wait, and tell you honestly whether we can add value.

2 · Your family roadmap

We map your situation across health, taxes, protection and savings - and hand you a written plan with concrete next steps and rough numbers.

3 · Implementation, together

Only if you want to continue. We help you execute - paperwork, comparisons, signatures - and check in once a year as your family changes.

Tools

Run the numbers yourself

Calculators are estimates for planning, not formal tax or investment advice.

Health insurance premium comparison

The #1 cost lever for families. Compare KVG / LAMal premiums side-by-side by canton, age, deductible and model - typical savings: CHF 1'000-3'000 per year per household.

Open calculator

Open the Swiss salary calculator

See your real net household income - by canton, permit and family situation.

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Mortgage check

Find out what a Swiss bank will realistically lend your family.

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Pension gap

Estimate the gap between your expected Swiss pension and the income your family will need.

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Ask us anything

Ask us a family-specific question

Type a question about your family's move or setup. A real Hello Expats advisor reads every message and replies personally - usually within one working day.

FAQ

Family questions we hear most often

Do my children need their own Swiss health insurance?
Yes. Basic insurance (KVG / LAMal) is mandatory for every person living in Switzerland, including new-born children, and must be arranged within 3 months of arrival or birth. Each family member has their own policy and premium, but you can pick the same fund and model for the whole household to simplify administration.
How much are family allowances (Familienzulagen) in Switzerland?
As a guideline, cantons pay around CHF 200-250 per child per month for children under 16, and roughly CHF 250-330 per month for older children still in education. Exact amounts and rules depend on your canton and on which parent is employed. Allowances are not paid automatically - you apply through your employer.
Can we deduct childcare costs from our Swiss taxes?
Yes, within limits. Federal tax allows a deduction per child for proven third-party childcare costs (Krippe, after-school care, registered child-minders), and most cantons add their own deduction on top. You need invoices and proof of payment, so it is worth setting this up correctly from your first year.
Should we be on withholding tax or file a normal tax return?
If you hold a B permit and your gross income exceeds CHF 120,000 in a year (in most cantons), you are automatically moved to an ordinary tax assessment and must file a return. Below that, you can request a recalculation to claim family deductions such as pillar 3a, childcare and additional pension buy-ins - often worth several thousand francs.
How much equity do we need to buy a family home in Switzerland?
Swiss mortgages require at least 20% equity on the purchase price, of which at least 10% must be 'hard' equity outside your pillar 2 pension. Banks also check affordability at a notional interest rate of around 5%, plus maintenance and amortisation - so household income matters as much as the down-payment.
What happens to our setup if we leave Switzerland later?
We deliberately build family plans that travel: portable investment accounts, pillar 3a that can be paid out or kept until retirement, and protection cover that is not tied to a single Swiss employer. We also coordinate the pension-fund (pillar 2) decision when you leave, which is often the biggest financial moment of the whole stay.
Related guides

Keep reading

Next step

Let's map out your family's Swiss setup

A 30-minute call with an independent Hello Expats advisor - no obligation, no fees. We look at what is mandatory, what is optional and what can wait.

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