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Life Insurance for Expats: International protection for your family
Specialized solutions for Germans and international professionals in Switzerland – flexible when returning home.
Key Facts about Expat Life Insurance
Quick Answers
Do expats in Switzerland need life insurance?
Yes, especially expat families. Swiss social insurances provide basic cover only; returning home may open gaps that private life insurance closes.
Swiss or international policy?
International is more flexible for residence changes, often pricier. Swiss is cheaper but less flexible. Choice depends on stay duration.
What happens on return?
Swiss policies can often continue, but taxes change; international solutions are more portable. Plan early.
How are policies taxed?
Depends on residence, policy type and home country; check double taxation agreements.
Why expats need specialized solutions
- International mobility: flexibility for residence changes
- Gaps in social security: Swiss vs home country
- Currency risks: CHF vs home currency
- Tax complexity: different systems
- Family protection when returning or moving again
Swiss vs International – comparison
Swiss policy
- Lower cost
- Limited flexibility
- Currency: CHF
- Limited portability
International policy
- Higher cost
- High flexibility
- Multi‑currency
- Full portability
Expat profiles and suitable solutions
- Temporary expats (2–5 years): prefer international
- Long‑term expats (5+ years): Swiss may fit
- Cross‑border commuters: cross‑border products
- Expat families: comprehensive family cover
- Executives: premium solutions with global cover
- Returnees: portability and transferability key
Tax aspects for expats
- Residence status drives taxation
- Withholding tax handling of premiums
- Double taxation agreements matter
- Home‑country tax reporting
- Optimization strategies with examples
Plan your return home
- Portability: what can be transferred
- Tax implications when returning
- Social security integration
- Timing and documentation
- Common pitfalls to avoid
Providers for expat life insurance
Allianz Care · Cigna · Bupa · AXA · Zurich · Swiss Life (expat products)
Country‑specific notes
- Germany: special rules for returnees; 3b vs German tax treatment
- France: cross‑border commuter rules
- Italy: tax and reporting specifics
- USA: complex US tax obligations (PFIC/FATCA)
- UK: Brexit implications and portability
- Other EU: general EU principles
FAQ
- 20+ expat‑specific questions (tax, residence, portability, currencies).
Expat life insurance: professional and international
Multilingual advice (DE/EN/FR), experience with complex situations, global partner network.
Essential Takeaways
Expat life insurance: balance cost, portability and taxation. Swiss often more efficient for long stays; international provides portability when relocating. Ensure sufficient sum for mortgage and income replacement; check DTA rules and currency (CHF/EUR/USD).