Moving to Swiss from SA

StellenboschStudent · #1 04.12.2011, 10:15

I am currently busy with my PhD in electrical engineering in South Africa. My PhD focusses on nanotechnology.
I will be 27 when I finish my PhD hoping to work in Switzerland. I am unmarried, but hopefully by that time I will at least be engaged.
So that is a quick background.
I have looked at jobs, and there is a few jobs that require an electrical engineer with a phd in nanotechnology and I guess it is a rare skill and hence it won't easily be available in Switzerland. From what I understand, if the company cannot find the skills locally, then they can look abroad.
If I have a job, is it easy to get the necessary permits to move to switzerland?

Nelly_Da_Hefferlump · #2 04.12.2011, 10:21

Hoezit!! Welcome to the forum.

It's not that easy to get a work permit coming from SA. But it is doable. There's a good few Safas (like me) already here, so it is definitely possible. The company that want's to hire you has to pretty much prove that they can't find your skills not only in Switzerland but also in the whole of Europe. Sounds daunting but with what you do I think it should be too hard to prove. Also the big pharma and research places tend to have better agreements with the government and immigration people.

Good luck!!

StellenboschStudent · #3 04.12.2011, 10:23

	Quote:	Nelly_Da_Hefferlump
	Hoezit!! Welcome to the forum. It's not that easy to get a work permit coming from SA. But it is doable. There's a good few Safas (like me) already here, so it is definitely possible. The company that want's to hire you has to pretty much prove that they can't find your skills not only in Switzerland but also in the whole of Europe. Sounds daunting but with what you do I think it should be too hard to prove. Also the big pharma and research places tend to have better agreements with the government and immigration people. Good luck!!

Happy to hear it is doable! From what I can find out it is not going to be easy, but hopefully it would be worthwhile!