About 700,000 Swiss nationals have decided for various reasons to live abroad.

Swiss nationals living abroad – sometimes referred to as the Fifth Switzerland – are dispersed over all the continents and comprise all age groups. In countries ranging from A for Afghanistan to Z for Zimbabwe, Swiss nationals have opted to live abroad temporarily or permanently. The largest Swiss community abroad is in France, where over 170,000 Swiss nationals are registered.

Before moving abroad and during their stay in the foreign country, Swiss emigrants often have to deal with questions such as obtaining passports, changes in marital status, attendance at Swiss schools abroad, etc. The first point of contact when such questions arise are the Swiss embassies and consulates general abroad, which provide support, including emergency support, for the Swiss abroad. In addition the Service for the Swiss Abroad of the FDFA also deals comprehensively with issues concerning the Swiss abroad. It is a point of contact for Swiss nationals abroad and advises the Federal Council on political issues concerning the Swiss Abroad. It also represents the Confederation in various Swiss Abroad bodies and manages federal subsidies to a number of organisations of the Swiss Abroad.

Information on living abroad will be found in various leaflets, in the "Tips for the Swiss Abroad" published by the Service for the Swiss Abroad and in the country dossiers of the Federal Office for Migration ("Swissemigration“). Current information and news from Switzerland is published on the Swissinfo website. Swiss nationals abroad who are registered with a Swiss representation also regularly receive the Swiss Review, which reports on issues of interest to Swiss nationals, in particular changes to laws that are relevant to the Swiss abroad.

Alongside the various Swiss associations abroad, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (ASO) promotes reciprocal relations between the Swiss Abroad as well as contacts with the home country. It represents their interests in Switzerland, publishes the Swiss Review and offers a wide range of services (e.g. youth exchange programmes).