ISWFAMILY GUIDE

Moving can be stressful, especially if you move to a country where everything is different and communication is challenging.

The ISW family guide is intended to help you with your transition and with getting around Winterthur and Switzerland.

We encourage you to talk to other parents or get in contact with our Parents Association if you are looking for something specific. Members of the ISW community have a wealth of knowledge and experience in getting around and finding what they need. There is a good chance that they have the answers to your questions.

Winterthur and the whole of Switzerland has a lot to offer. Enjoy exploring it.

Welcome!

Registration! ! ! ! ! ! ! 4Residence Permit!Accommodation

Personal Insurance!! ! ! ! ! 5Taxation!

Public Transportation! ! ! ! ! 6Travelling with Children

Driving in Switzerland! ! ! ! ! 7

Recycling and Garbage! ! ! ! ! 8

Post Offices! ! ! ! ! ! ! 9BanksDoctorsDentists

Emergency Numbers! ! ! ! ! 10PetsGerman ClassesEnglish Classes

Restaurants, Hotels, Events, ! ! ! ! 11 Activities and Culture in WinterthurRestaurants, Hotels, Events, " " " " Activities and Culture in ZürichCinemasShopping

Shopping! ! ! ! ! ! ! 12Expat Sites! ! ! ! ! ! !

Social Club

Social Etiquette! ! ! ! ! ! 13

Things to do with Kids! ! ! ! ! 14Swiss Customs and Festivals! ! ! ! 15

REGISTRATION

You have a period of eight days from the date when you officially cross the border with your personal

belongings in which to register with the Einwohnerkontrolle in the municipality (Gemeinde) where you will

reside. Your registration needs to be completed before your first day of work and you need to register even

if you are in temporary accommodation.

You similarly need to inform your Gemeinde when you permanently depart, either for another country or for

another Gemeinde in Switzerland, which in turn also needs to be notified of your arrival there.

Registering is usually a fast and easy process and can sometimes even be done online. (Please check with

the Gemeinde where you live).

In order to register you will require the following documents:

Valid passport or identification for each family member

1 passport-size photo for each family member

Marriage certificate

Birth certificate of the children

Employment contract

Apartment rental contract

A current certificate of your health insurance demonstrating that you have basic coverage must be turned in

within 3 months of entering the country.

RESIDENCE PERMIT

Anyone who works during his/her stay in Switzerland or who remains in Switzerland for longer than three

months requires a permit. Residence permits are issued by the Cantonal Migration Offices. A distinction is

made between short-term residence permits (less than 1 year), annual residence permits (limited) and

permanent residence permits (unlimited). A detailed description of the residence permits for EU/EFTA and

NonEU/EFTA nationals can be found at www.bfm.admin.ch.

The application for the residence permit is made with the registration at the Gemeinde. Holders of single

entry visas may not leave Switzerland before getting a permit; should you need to leave Switzerland before

a permit has been handed out, a multiple entry visa can be requested at the immigration office.

ACCOMMODATION

Specialist websites bring together a large number of offers, including those of management agencies for

both buying and renting, including: www.homegate.ch, www.immoscout24.ch, www.immovista.ch,

www.immostreet.ch or the highly detailed HomeFinder service offered by www.comparis.ch.

When the rental agreement is signed, it is normal for rental agencies to request a deposit of between one

and three month’s rent. This sum may be parked in an interest-bearing bank account. It is released and

returned to the tenant when he or she leaves the rented accommodation, provided no serious damage is

discovered. Some companies offer to cover this guarantee for you by means of a loan, thus preventing

several thousand Swiss francs being locked up.

Utilities (water, gas, electricity) are not generally included in the rent, and need to be paid separately by the

tenant.

It is useful to know that when renting a house or apartment light fittings are not generally included (not even

the attachment for a light bulb!); you will need to buy lights and get them installed yourself.

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PERSONAL INSURANCE

Health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland and must be purchased for all family members within the

first 3 months of your stay. There are countless companies and types of insurance, which can be

researched in English, at www.comparis.ch. The main differences relate to the way in which you can

arrange to see a doctor or a specialist, whether gym membership is paid or partially paid and the premium.

An additional insurance (Zusatzversicherung) can be taken with either the same or a different company; this

gives you access to alternative practitioners, such as reflexologists, homeopathic doctors, massage

therapists etc.

Public liability insurance covers claims brought against a person for any damage or injury that may be

caused by a person (or their pets) to other people. It also covers damage to rented apartments. Check

www.comparis.ch for a comparison of insurance premiums. Insurance companies offering such coverage

include: www.zurich.ch, www.axa-winterthur.ch, www.mobiliar.ch among others.

Household effects insurance covers losses through burglary, theft and damage to a person’s property by

fire, water or other external influences.

Travel insurance is often included in your household insurance, but you should check with your company.

The scope of benefits and the premiums vary from one insurance company to another, including health

insurers. Insurance premiums and costs can all be compared on the website www.comparis.ch.

TAXATION

Who is subject to tax?

As a general rule, anyone domiciled or resident in Switzerland is subject to tax. You are liable for tax in

Switzerland as soon as you satisfy one of the following conditions:

• You reside in Switzerland for at least 30 days and perform gainful employment.• You reside for at least 90 days in Switzerland, even without gainful employment

To avoid double taxation of foreign residents, Switzerland has signed bilateral tax agreements with several

states, including European Union countries, Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the

United States, Russia and others. A full list can be found on the homepage of the Swiss Federal Tax

Administration www.estv.admin.ch.

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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Public Transport in Switzerland is excellent – clean, efficient and punctual. Detailed information about travel

anywhere within the country can be found at http://www.sbb.ch/en.

Information about travel in Canton Zurich can be found at www.zvv.ch.

Both websites have apps, are easy to navigate and are in English.

TicketsVery conveniently, your travel ticket covers journeys made by train, bus, tram, boat and sometimes gondola

(cable car) Tickets can be bought at any ticket office next to the train stations, sometimes from the bus

driver and at ticket machines next to tram/train and bus stops. Be warned that some machines only take

coins.

Canton Zurich is split into many zones, be sure to purchase a ticket covering all the zones you will require

as ticket inspections are common and the inspectors are not sympathetic! A zone map can be found on

http://www.zvv.ch/de/linien-und-zonen/tarifzonenplan.html.

Types of ticket

Einzellbillet – single, one way, valid 1 - 2 hours.

Tageskarte – valid for 24 hours from time of purchase, for travel within the zones purchased.

Halbtax – essential if you plan to use public transport, but do not have a GA or a monthly/annual pass. This

card enables you to pay ! price for any journey within Switzerland.

GA – an annual ticket allowing the holder to travel anywhere within the designated area.

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN

Children under 6 travel free.

Children from 6 -16 travel for ! price.

There are good discounts for young people up to the age of 26.

A Junior-Karte can be purchased for 30CHF, allowing children to travel free, when travelling with their

parents, as long as the latter has a valid ticket.

A Ferienpass can be purchased for children from 6 -16, valid for 5 weeks of the cantons school holiday in

the summer. It costs only 24CHF and can be used throughout Canton Zurich to give children free

independent travel during the summer holiday; it also gives free entry to some popular attractions, including

swimming pools or to the Zurich Zoo.

More information on www.zvv.ch/ferienpass.

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DRIVING IN SWITZERLAND

A car registered outside of Switzerland may be driven freely for up to one year, provided that your foreign

insurance covers accidents in Switzerland. In addition, foreign driving licenses are valid in Switzerland for

one year. After this time, you must register your vehicle in Switzerland (a visit to the customs office at the

border will start this process) and request to change your driving license to a Swiss one. If this is not done

within the given deadline, you may have to pay the regular taxes and re-sit your driver’s license exam!

Official information on how to import and register a car can be found here:

http://www.ezv.admin.ch (covers buying a car, importing a car, obtaining a Swiss driving license and car

insurance), or contact the Cantonal Department for Motor Vehicles stva.ch. It may be easier to ask

someone who has imported their car!

Good to know:• Children below 150 cm or under 12 years old have to use a child seat series 3 or 4 of the EEC rules.

• You will need winter and summer tyres, which must be changed around October and April.

• You will have to obtain a yearly toll sticker (Vignette) if you want to use the motorways in Switzerland. They

cost CHF 40 and can be bought from post offices, service stations and border customs control. The

Vignette is valid until January 31 of the following year and must be placed on windscreen.

• It is against the law to use mobile phones while driving. Hands free phones (Bluetooth) are allowed.

• Driving licenses have to be carried at all times while driving a car, as do the car’s insurance documents

and its Fahrzeugausweis.

• Pedestrians have right of way at crossings.

• At level crossings & traffic lights you must wait until the light stops flashing before driving.

• Motorway signs in Switzerland are green and dual carriageways are blue.

• Safety belts must be worn in both front and back seats.

Speed limits:In town 30 - 50 km/h

Out of town 60 - 80 km/h

Motorways 80 - 120 km/h

Watch out for speed cameras - the fines are very expensive!

Parking:

In the blue zone (blue coloured lines) you can park with a

blue parking disk (available free from tourist offices, car rental

agencies, police stations and banks) for one hour or more

depending on when you arrive. Spin the wheel round to show

your time of arrival and leave it on your dashboard for

maximum 60 minutes of free parking anytime between 08:00

and 18:00. If you arrive after 18:00, you can leave your car

parked on the same spot until 09:00 of the next day. You are

not allowed to reset the disk.

Yellow spaces are strictly private parking and your car will be

towed away by the police. In order to have your car returned

you will have to pay a fine of minimum CHF 400. They are

usually reserved for loading and unloading only.

White Spaces have on-street parking meters and the hourly

costs, as well as the maximum parking time, are written on

the meters.

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RECYCLING AND GARBAGE

Garbage disposal and recycling efforts are quite organised in Switzerland, and the cost is based upon user

frequency. It is important to follow the proper instructions to avoid frustration later on. Each area has its

designated collection days and bags or stickers that have to be used to ensure the collection of your

garbage. Information can be looked up on your local Gemeinde website. Bags and stickers can be bought

at supermarkets and sometimes in the local Apotheke.

The following items are treated separately and have designated disposal locations:

• Pet - can be recycled at supermarkets (only clear drinking bottles)

• Glass - clear, green and brown glass containers are recycled at designated community bins.

• Aluminum -used cooking foil and aluminum food cans are recycled at designated community bins.

• Kitchen and garden waste -some towns offer an organic pick-up service; many apartments have weekly

collections.

• Paper -pickup is usually twice per month. Paper primarily includes newspapers and magazines.

• Cardboard -pickup is usually twice per month

• Electrical goods can be taken back to the shop or to your recycling plant.

• Oil -there are special containers for used cooking and engine oil at the recycling station.

• Batteries -can be recycled at designated community bins

Should you wish to fill your car and get rid of all your recycled material at once, visit the recycling plant in

Winterthur: www.maag-recycling.ch.

LANDLINE, MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET AND TV

www.swisscom.ch, www.sunrise.ch, www.orange.ch, www.upc-cablecom.ch are the leading providers.

To compare prices and packages visit www.comparis.ch.

A residence permit is needed before you can enter into a contract with any telecommunication provider. The

process of obtaining a new landline takes approximately one week. There are also prepaid cards available

for mobile phones, which can be purchased without a residence permit, but which still require a passport.

Good deals are available for mobile phone contracts for those under 26 of age.

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POST OFFICES !

Post offices around your area can be located at www.post.ch.

Opening hours are usually from 08:30 to 19:00; some close for lunch.

The Post also offers banking; this is cheaper than the banks. www.postfinance.ch.

BANKS

There are numerous banking options in Switzerland. The main banks are www.credit-suisse.com,

www.ubs.com. Local banks are www.raiffeisen.ch, www.kantonalbank.ch, www.migrosbank.ch,

www.bankcoop.ch.

To open a bank account, you are usually required to bring the following documents: passport, registration

document from Gemeinde and a employment contract. If a joint account is to be opened, both partners

need to

be present.

DOCTORS

It is often difficult to both find a doctor who will take on new patients and to get a quick appointment. If you

have not yet registered with a doctor, but you would like to see somebody fast, we recommend the

following in Winterthur: Permanence www.permanence-winterthur.ch on the 2nd Floor of the Winterthur

Train Station building. They are open 365 days of the year from 07:00 to 22:00

and can be reached by telephone on 052 267 01 01. Information about 420 registered doctors in

Winterthur can be found at: http://yellow.local.ch/en/q/Winterthur*/Doctors.html.

The local hospital is also available for emergencies.

It is advisable to have your family inoculated against the diseases carried by ticks (Zecken), which are

prevalent in this area, it is a series of 3 injections. More information can be found on https://www.ch.ch/en/

ticks/.

DENTISTS

Dentistry is very expensive in Switzerland; you may wish to investigate dentists over the border in Germany.

Information about over 81 registered dentists can be found at:

http://yellow.local.ch/en/q?what=dentists&where=Winterthur*&rid=TR0A.

If you need to find an emergency dentist visit:

http://yellow.local.ch/en/q/Winterthur/Dentist%20emergency%20service.html.

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS

(English is understood on all these phone numbers)

117 Police

118 Fire Department

144 Ambulance

140 Automobile Road Assistance

145 Poison Control

1414 REGA for air rescue www.rega.ch, Rega comes to the aid of people in distress, both in Switzerland

and abroad. A family membership of only CHF 70.00 can provide you with a very valuable service,

especially if you ski or snowboard! www.rega.ch/en/support-rega/become-a-rega-patron.aspx.

PETS

Importing pets from an EU country

• Dogs and cats must have a passport, be micro-chipped and have a valid rabies vaccine, at least 30

days before entering Switzerland

• Dogs have to be registered twice -in the town where you live and by the vet on the ANIS database

www.anis.ch/en/home/.

• There is an annual dog tax which must be paid to your individual Gemeinde.

• Owners must clean up after their dog. Free plastic bags and green Robidog bins are provided in

streets and parks. Fines are given if caught not cleaning up after your pet.

• Third party insurance is highly recommended if you own a dog or cat.

More information can be found at www.bvet.admin.ch.

Veterinarians in Winterthur: Dr.med.vet. Andreas Peter http://www.vet-peter.ch, Dr.med.vet. Alexandra

Dittus http://www.tierarzt-dittus.ch, Kleintierpraxis Julius Caesar http://www.julius-caesar.ch.

Dog kennels near Winterthur: maps.google.com/maps?safe=active&client=safari&ie=UTF8&

q=hundepension+in+winterthur&fb=1&hq=hundepension&hnear=0x47900ca049c0eabd:0xf098049f41

Any Dog in Müllheim: www.anydog.ch/.

GERMAN CLASSES

To learn or improve your German, contact Christian Lagenegger from 'Marathon Sprachen'. He is offering

ISW parents a 4 week intensive (3 x 3 hours/week) course designed to give you a working foundation of the

German language. The motto is: ‘Start off right and learn quickly’.

Interested? Contact: christian@marathonsprachen.com, http://www.marathonsprachen.com,

www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen.

The list of language schools offering German is long. Other options are: www.klubschule.ch,

www.alemania.ch, www.benedict.ch, www.bellingua.ch, www.berlitz.ch.

ENGLISH CLASSES

For those parents interested in an upper intermediate/advanced English class, taught at ISW in the P.A.

room, please contact: Christian Lagenegger at: christian@marathonsprachen.com or look

at: http://www.marathonsprachen.com, www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen.

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RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND CULTURE IN WINTERTHUR

The website: www.winterthur-tourismus.ch/en/visitor/eat-drink/restaurant offers a wealth of information on

restaurants, nightlife, tours, culture & art and much more in Winterthur.

RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND CULTURE IN ZÜRICH

The website:www.zuerich.ch/content/zh/en/index.html offers a wealth of information on restaurants,

nightlife, tours, culture & art and much more in Zürich. www.kulturinfo.ch has information about cultur,

events, concerts and museums.

CINEMAS

A large number of cinemas in Zürich show films in English. Kino Corso shows everything in English and is

conveniently located near Stadelhofen railway station in Zürich.

A small selection of cinemas in Winterthur also show films in English.

Information about current and upcoming films can be found at: at: www.cineman.ch, www.kitag.com,

www.arena.ch, www.arthouse.ch & www.filmpodium.ch (not typical Hollywood movies, mostly played in

original language with German subtitles).

www.myswitzerland.com gives a great overview of events, outings and skiing in Switzerland.

www.ticketcorner.ch provides information about concerts etc. across Switzerland.

SHOPPING

Opening Hours Winterthur: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 19:00 or 20:00. Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00 to 19:00.

Zürich area: Monday to Friday from 08:00 or 09:00 to 18:00 or 19:00. Saturday until 17:00.

In the main towns and cities most shops now stay open all day; outside the centres shops may well close

for lunch.

Sunday Shopping: Apart from a few Sundays near Christmas, shops remain closed on Sundays. Exceptions are as follows:

Zürich Airport: from 09:00 to 21:00.

Shop Ville at Zurich main train station and Stadelhofen is open from 09:00 to 20:00.

Shops at Winterthur train station open from 09:00 to 19:00.

Some petrol stations have a good food selection and are open late, as well as on Sundays.

The website : www.winterthur-tourismus.ch/en/visitor/experience/activity/shopping offers information to

satisfy all your shopping needs!

Furniture stores: www.pfister.ch, www.schubiger.ch, www.kokon.com.

Budget furniture stores: www.interio.ch, www.ikea.com, www.micasa.ch, www.toptip.ch.

Grocery shopping: www.coop.ch, www.migros.ch are the two largest grocery stores chains.

Small grocery stores: www.volg.ch, www.spar.ch.

Discount grocery stores: www.denner.ch, www.aldi.ch, www.lidl.ch.

Speciality food stores for English and American food: www.globus.ch, www.britshop.ch.

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Asian Food: on Wartstrasse in Winterthur are a number of Asian and Indian food stores. A large Asian food

market in Zürich www.newasiamarket.ch.

Electrical Supply Store: www.saturn.ch, www.mediamarkt.ch, www.fust.ch, www.interdiscount.ch,

www.conrad.ch.

Department Stores: www.manor.ch, http://www.coop.ch, www.manor.ch, www.globus.ch,

www.jelmoli.ch.

Shopping Malls: www.glatt.ch, www.rosenberg.ch, www.archhoefe.ch.

Booksshops: English Bookstore in Zürich or ordering books online www.books.ch, www.amazon.com/de,

www.englishbooks.ch.

Opticians: www.klarsicht.ch, www.verdieri.ch, www.visilab.ch, www.bischofberger-optik.ch,

www.fielmann.ch.

Farmers’ Market: A weekly farmer’s market is held twice weekly in Winterthur, offering fresh produce on

Tuesday and Friday mornings from 06:00 to 11:00 on Steinberggasse, in the heart of the old town.

This webpage gives a complete overview of the markets offered in Winterthur (in German)

www.wintiguide.ch/markt-in-winterthur/.

Pharmacies: There are many easy to find pharmacies in Winterthur, Zürich and around. The Bahnhof

Apotheke Drogerie, located in the train station building in Winterthur is open 365 days a year, from 07:00

to 22:00.

EXPAT SITES

www.thelocal.ch (local news in English), www.englishforum.ch (forums, events, market),

www.newinzurich.com (events, expat community), www.xpatxchange.ch, www.zurich4you.ch,

www.mygirlfriendguide.com.

SOCIAL CLUB

The International Club Winterthur connects, supports and integrates single individuals and families who

have an international connection or interest. It is an English-speaking association that actively fosters

friendships and networks in Winterthur and its greater area www.internationalclub.ch.

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SOCIAL ETIQUETTE

The Swiss appreciate honesty and privacy. They are proud of their neutrality and promotion of worldwide

peace. In order to respect the things most important to them, you should learn about Swiss culture and

social etiquette. Being aware of what the Swiss consider to be polite behavior will help you feel more

comfortable. Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons, and what is acceptable in one area may not be

acceptable in another.

Meeting & Greeting When meeting people, shake hands with all present every time! Handshakes should be firm and eye

contact should be made. Swiss society is rather formal and as a sign of respect, most people in

Switzerland tend to address each other by their surname, this includes colleagues, neighbors and

acquaintances. Only when invited should one use first names.

When entering a store, especially a small store, it is advisable to greet people with a friendly and open

‘Gruezi’. Using a friendly please, thank you and goodbye is considered the most basic form of courtesy and

is appreciated; failing to do so could be considered rude and impolite.

Academic and professional titles are used frequently. Address the Swiss by title, eg ‘Dr’, or else ‘Herr’ or

‘Frau’.

Prost! Unlike in many countries ‘cheers’ is taken very seriously! Rather than just raising your glass and then

drinking, it is essential that you clink glasses with everyone, whilst making eye contact; in some cantons

saying the person’s name is also required!!

Communication The Swiss people place a high priority on their privacy and value it greatly, so questions about topics such

as someone’s private income or wealth are considered very rude. Try to avoid asking personal questions

until a friendship has been established. Personal topics are areas such as occupation, age, marital

status, religion, etc. The communication style can come across as quite sober, initially it is advisable to

avoid jokes and engaging in any banter as this may be misconstrued. Swiss respect their privacy and an

invitation to their house usually shows that they are taking the next step in a relationship. It is considered

rude to just turn up at someone’s house unannounced, although it is becoming more acceptable.

Punctuality The Swiss are known for their praiseworthy work ethic and punctuality. Being even a few minutes late for a

meeting is especially rude and inconsiderate. If you are invited to a party or dinner, it is acceptable to be 15

minutes late.

For more information visit www.vayama.com, www.ediplomat.com, www.globaledge.msu.edu.

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THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

SwimmingAlmost every village has its own community outdoor pool. Winterthur has three of them.

Schwimmbad Geiselweid has an indoor and outdoor pool. www.badi-info.ch/zh/winterthur-geiselweid.html.

Other very nice and smaller outdoor pools around Winterthur are:

Wiesendangen www.badi-info.ch/zh/wiesendangen-schwimmbad.html.

Seuzach www.badi-info.ch/zh/seuzach-schwimmbad.html.

Elsau www.badi-info.ch/zh/elsau-schwimmbad.html.

Oberwinterthur www.badi-oberwinterthur.ch/home.

Large WaterparksSäntis Park in St.Gallen is about 40 minutes east of Winterthur: www.saentispark-freizeit.ch/home.html

Alpamare in Pfäffikon is about 55 minutes of Winterthur: www.alpamare.ch/?lang=en.

There is much more to do in and around Winterthur. On the following websites you will be able to get all the

information about adventure parks, amusement parks, toboggan runs, animal parks and zoos, and much

more: Attractions in the region of Zürich: www.ausflugsziele.ch/schweiz/region_zuerich.asp?catid=110.

Science CentreSwitzerland’s largest and one of a kind science museum is located in Winterthur.

Visit Technorama: www.technorama.ch/en/.

Music SchoolsThere are several music schools in Winterthur. The two largest one are Musikschule Prova www.prova.ch

and the Konservatorium www.konservatorium.ch.

Sports ClubsOver 300 Sports clubs and privately run sports related organisations offer a wide range of activities. A

brochure offered by the city of Winterthur can be downloaded from http://sport.winterthur.ch/sport-

inwinterthur/.

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We hope you find this booklet helpful in settling down with your family. Should you not be able to find what

you are looking for, please do not hesitate to ask us in the office.

Published, May 2014

SWISS CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS

Are you ready to explore popular customs and festivals that are unique to Switzerland?

Visit:www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/themen/culture/popular-customs-and-festivals-in-switzerland.html.

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WINTERTHURZUM PARK 5

CH - 8404 WINTERTHURSWITZERLAND

TEL +41 (0)52 269 59 00FAX +41 (0)52 269 59 02

EMAIL: administration@iswinterthur.chwww.iswinterthur.ch