Hi, I am a Singaporean citizen and fresh grad with my BSc in Accounting and Finance. My boyfriend is a German citizen currently doing his masters in Zurich and has been offered a full time job with a bank there. As the work-life balance in Europe seems to be much better than in Singapore, we have been thinking about having me move there to be with him.

I would not be applying for a concubine visa (read this on the forum, not sure if it applies to Zurich), and will instead apply for a work visa on my own. I am looking at fresh grad financial positions in pharmaceutical and medical companies (am currently interning at a British pharma co.) ideally, otherwise, I am also looking at reinsurance companies and am quite open to other industries. I have listed my main questions below and I hope I can get some answers here!

1) What is the general likelihood of me being granted the visa as a fresh grad?
2) Can I apply for jobs while I'm still in Singapore? I know it tends to be harder here if foreigners apply without having moved to Singapore already.
3) Are there any steps I can follow to better my chances?
4) Would it be easier if I applied to other EU countries? I only speak English and Mandarin, which is why we like Zurich.
5) What would the transition be like (visa-wise) if we wanted to get married in Switzerland?

Thank you!!

1) zero
2) Yes, but probability to get an offer is zero
3) Get married so u can get a dependent permit
4) Yes, for example, Germany is quite easy to get a work visa if you got a job offer
5) Easy, bring all Singapore certificates to Zurich and do all the marriage process

Not in Zurich/Switzerland, she would need to obtain a residence permit to get married here. I guess she could get married in Germany or Singapore, or go to Vegas like everyone else.

The marriage path is certainly the easiest one.

I sent this as a PM to the OP, but I'll post it here too.

1) As a Singapore national you don't need a visa to enter Switzerland either short or long term. However, for stays of over 90 days you do need a pre-approved permit from the Zurich canton migration office so you should get in touch with them about what you need to do.

"Nationals of the following states do not require a visa to enter Switzerland under any circumstances: Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

However, the competent Swiss authority will issue a prior authorisation of a residence permit in the following cases:

a) for a stay of more than 90 days, or

b) a stay involving gainful employment:

lasting more than eight days, or

from the first day of work in the primary or auxiliary construction sectors, the hospitality sector, industrial or private cleaning services, surveillance and security services, itinerant sales and services or erotic services.

This prior authorisation of a residence permit is issued directly to the foreign national, or to a third party (employer), by the cantonal migration authority. The Swiss diplomatic or consular mission is not involved in this procedure."

https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/n...n-eu-efta.html

Migrationsamt des Kantons Zürich
Berninastrasse 45
Postfach
8090 Zürich
Tel.: 043 259 88 00
Fax: 043 259 88 10
Internet

2, 3 & 4) there's no point in doing anything until you get your pre-approved permit. As a non-EU national you're last in the hiring queue otherwise and you don't have sufficient qualifications/experience to even be worth going through the non-EU hiring process for, sorry.

https://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home...zulassung.html

Once you have your permit though you can apply for jobs here without problems as you already have your permit.

5) Slow and time consuming. You'd need to prove the relationship is a long term, committed one that has already lasted several years. Expect to be asked a lot of very personal questions.