Have you ever thought about living in Switzerland? While it shares some similarities to New York City, like its wintry train rides and delicious hot chocolate, this one-of-a-kind country can be your new home, with a twist!
Albinen, a small village in Switzerland, is facing depopulation with residents moving away in great numbers over the last few years. And with only 240 residents left the town’s economic success is in question.
The village is far from uninhabitable—it’s beautiful, clean, and has unbeatable scenery—but unfortunately, the job market is virtually nonexistent.
To combat this issue, the Government is willing to pay people to move there. Families of four can expect to be paid 25,000 francs ($26,818.35 USD) per adult and 10,000 francs ($10,727.34 USD) per child.
There are some requirements that must be met, however. Those willing to relocate must be under the age of 45 years old as well as a Swiss citizen or have a permit C residence (permanent residence) to apply for the program. If you’re a member of the EU you can get that in five years, but for other foreigners, it can take up to 10.
The property chosen must have a minimum value of 200,000 francs ($214,593.79 USD), must be your permanent home (not a second residence), and a commitment to live there for at least 10 years must be made otherwise the money will have to be paid back. So if you have dual citizenship or family in Switzerland, it may be worth looking into!
You can find more info about the scheme here.
Would you be able to leave the hustle and bustle of a big city for a small, quaint town? If you don’t meet the requirements at least let this serve as some travel inspo for some very non-touristy parts of Switzerland. Or, make it something to look forward to as a retirement plan off the beaten path!