Live in a quiet village, get paid to move to Switzerland! It’s the story that keeps popping up in your feed: a Swiss village that will pay you thousands – up to €73,000, just to move there. Sounds too good to be true? In Albinen’s case, the answer is complicated, but still possible.

The Viral Headline

The story that Albinen, a tiny mountain village in the Canton of Valais, would pay families to move there broke in 2017. Since then, Albinen, is till making international headlines for offering up to CHF 70,000 (€73,000) to families willing to relocate. Yet, every year, new “breaking news” stories appear on lifestyle and travel sites — even though the scheme is old. Why? Because it drives traffic, sparks curiosity, and makes you click.

What Went Wrong

The initiative was designed for Swiss families under age 45 with a long-term commitment to settle. Instead, Albinen was inundated with inquiries from all over the world — up to 100 requests a day. Most applicants didn’t qualify, but the administrative burden drained the village’s resources.

• Few approvals. By 2023, only about 17 applications had been approved, adding ~50 residents.
• Strict criteria. Permanent Swiss residency (Permit C), a house worth at least CHF 200,000, and a 10-year stay are mandatory.
• Reality check. If you leave early, you must repay the grant.

Move to Switzerland: Life in Albinen

Albinen is breathtaking — perched 1,300 meters above sea level with sweeping views of the Rhône Valley. But life here is simple.

No school, no bank, no post office. Children commute by bus to neighboring towns.
One shop and one pub. That’s it.
Nearby Leukerbad. Famous for thermal baths just 15 minutes away.

Is the Program Still Open?

Yes — technically. Albinen’s incentive fund still exists, but only a handful of families will ever qualify. The majority of international hopefuls won’t get past the paperwork.

The bottom line? The viral story is real, but the fine print makes it far less accessible than the headlines suggest.

Should You Move There?

Beyond the financial incentive, Albinen offers an enviable lifestyle. Perched at 1,300 meters above sea level, the village overlooks the dramatic Rhône Valley and is surrounded by some of Switzerland’s most spectacular hiking trails. In winter, the famous Leukerbad thermal baths are just 15 minutes away, offering steaming outdoor pools against a snowy mountain backdrop.

Albinen itself is a postcard village, with traditional wooden chalets, winding cobblestone streets, and panoramic viewpoints that feel straight out of a storybook. It checks off all the boxes for a move to Switzerland. Residents enjoy the quiet charm of small-town life while being within easy reach of larger hubs such as Sion and Bern.

If you’re dreaming of trading in the city for an alpine idyll, Albinen has undeniable appeal. Picture crisp mountain air, wooden chalets with flower-filled balconies, and hiking trails that start right outside your front door. For those who value peace, nature, and a slower rhythm of life, Albinen can feel like paradise. Families with a sense of adventure may find joy in raising children where summers are spent outdoors and winters mean sledding down snow-dusted slopes.

That said, life here is not for everyone. The village is small and stripped back — no school, no post office, no bank. Children commute daily by bus to nearby towns, shopping is limited to a single local shop, and evenings out usually mean gathering with neighbors at the village pub rather than hopping between cafés or restaurants. The community is tight-knit, which is charming for some but may feel confining for others.

The incentive, while real, is more symbolic than life-changing. It’s designed for those who genuinely want to put down roots, not for people chasing a quick financial windfall. If you’re drawn only by the promise of a payout, you’re likely to be disappointed. But if you’re searching for simplicity, nature, and the chance to become part of a small Swiss mountain community, Albinen may just offer the kind of authentic lifestyle that money can’t buy.

Learn More

• Swissinfo: Albinen relocation plan creaks under foreign demand
• Swissinfo: Albinen cash incentives attract new residents
• Reddit: Is getting paid to move to Albinen real?
• Seven Seas Worldwide: Countries that pay you to move there
• News from Nov 2017: Albinen: The Swiss Village Paying Families to Move In