Hi everyone, seems like a nice space you’ve got here on EF. I’m glad to have come across this so soon in my travel.

I’m 29, alternating living between Biel and Richterswil as my Swiss partner travels between the two locations for study. We met in Australia early 2019, lived together there for some time until corona separated us Mar 2020. We reunited early Dec 2020 when I was granted leave from Aus to travel to this beautiful country. I’m here on my tourist Visa only and spending my time soaking up the Swiss environment, eating my own weight in Raclette and searching for options to extend my stay / find work.

I’d be keen to meet up with some other English speakers in the area. I love a good adventure and this place is wild for sights and beauty. Just a shame the SBB costs me and arm and a leg and my Aussie dollars don’t convert too well to CHF.

Shout out to my partners mum for linking me here, she’s a gem.

Hello. Welcome!

Wow, I’m surprised they let you travel, I have friends who weren’t even allowed out to visit parents abroad, they must be getting more generous (maybe now the government aren’t funding quarantine when you return).

Enjoy your visit!

For the sbb: buy a halftaxcard and look out for the sparbillets.
Landing a joboffer is not easy usually in the wintertime , there are not many offers.
Will you marry to get a permit ?

Hi and welcome to Switzerland and the forum!

There are a heap of Australians in Switzerland, if you turn over a few rocks you're bound to find one or two.

Check out the Social Events section of the forum, but not so much is going on at the moment on that front ...

For a while there it wasn’t worth applying to exit, but as things eased up internally within Aus in Oct / Nov they relaxed the border given you could prove you weren’t a liability if you got stranded internationally. I think now it’s even easier again as time has moved on. Which is great news for your friends, if they haven’t already tried again to apply I’d recommend giving it a shot

Thank you, I shall!

Cheers for the heads up on the halftaxcard. I’ll suss this out!

We’re considering the marriage thing honestly. To us it holds little ceremonial obligations or anything like this so if it’s a means to an end then for sure. Would you happen to know if the permit is granted directly once our married state is confirmed, or is there some waiting period in proving its merit?

Appreciate the warm welcome in the coldest place I’ve ever been!

Yeah the social thing definitely isn’t booming. I’ll keep my eyes and ears peeled for these Aussies.

Cheers

There's no "waiting time" to apply, but takes a while to go through the approval process. Also it is important that your spouse earns enough to support you, or it won't be approved.

Does he not want to move to Oz?.... I'd definitely be choosing Oz (I'm in love with Oz.... & Roos )

Do you have an EU nationality in addition to Australian? If not we gotta be brutally honest with you: your options are gonna be very limited.

I met my Swiss ex-wife back 20 years ago and did pretty much what you've done. Unfortunately the reality was (and still is) marriage was the only option to stay, and all the paperwork for this had to be completed from Oz. It took us around a year to get things sorted, although that was before a lot of online applications became available.

Jobs weren't easy to come by before COVID so unless you're specially qualified in some niche area, finding employment will be near impossible.

As Australia has just reduced the inbound quotas, you may even struggle to get back.

If you are really keen on staying, then invest your time researching the many resources and posts on the topic to get informed. PM me if you want some links to some aussie FB groups as well.

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So sayeth the 'Speed
* I do look like my avatar

Ok sweet, appreciate the help!

‘She’ certainly loves Aus yes I do as well of course, but she studies for the next few years so I guess it’s CH until that’s over and done with. And I’m loving it here!

Brutal honesty is encouraged my friend, cheers! I kind of figured my options would be slim as I’m born and bred down under and this is actually my first time ever leaving, I’m really not a worldly guy.

Thanks for the DM offer, I’ll find you there...

That’s a problem on the permit front then I’m afraid .... because even if you get married, if she is a student, she probably won’t be able to financially support you in order to get the dependants permit.

Maybe her family can provide that, worked for us years ago things might have changed though...