Swiss Expat Life Hack: Get Your Physical Mail in Your Email—Wherever You Live
Stop waiting for parents to forward your letters. Here's how Swiss expatriates can digitise every piece of mail with ePost + Alfred.
The Expat Mail Problem
Swiss banks, insurers, tax offices still send paper letters. Expats risk missing deadlines.
Living abroad while maintaining ties to Switzerland creates unique challenges. Whether you're working in London, studying in New York, or enjoying retirement in Thailand, those official Swiss letters keep arriving at your registered address—and you're not there to receive them.
The traditional solutions are far from ideal:
- Asking family to forward mail (guilt, delays, forgotten letters)
- Expensive mail forwarding services (slow, unreliable)
- Missing important deadlines (tax filings, insurance claims, voting)
- Flying back to Switzerland just to check mail (really?)
The Modern Solution Stack
Here's how to receive every Swiss letter in your inbox, same day, anywhere in the world:
- 1ePost international scanning (works with any Swiss address)
Swiss Post scans all mail arriving at your registered address
- 2Alfred forwarding rule → Gmail/Outlook, Slack, Dropbox
Automatically route mail to your preferred platform
- 3Optional: Auto-translate German/French letters with built-in DeepL hook
Perfect for expats who've forgotten their school German
Cost Comparison
| Option | Monthly fee | Delivery speed |
|---|---|---|
| Parents forward | CHF 0 + guilt | 1-4 weeks |
| Classic virtual mailbox | CHF 15–25 | 3–10 days [source] |
| ePost + Alfred | CHF 7–9 | Same day |
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Step 1: Register for ePost
Requirements:
- • Valid Swiss address (parents, friend, or mail service)
- • SwissID or PostFinance account
- • Swiss mobile number (can use virtual number)
Step 2: Configure Alfred
- Sign up for Alfred Personal plan (CHF 9/month)
- Connect your ePost account in Settings
- Set up forwarding rules:
If sender = "*.admin.ch" → Forward to urgent@myemail.com
If contains "Steuererklärung" → Add to tax folder + notify
Default → Forward to mail@myemail.com
Step 3: Optional Enhancements
Translation Setup
Enable auto-translation for:
- • German → English
- • French → English
- • Italian → English
Powered by DeepL API
Smart Notifications
Get alerts for:
- • Tax documents
- • Insurance claims
- • Government notices
- • Banking statements
Via email, SMS, or Slack
Real Expat Success Stories
"I almost missed my tax deadline while working in Singapore. Now I get notifications the same day documents arrive. Game changer!"
— Sarah M., Software Engineer in Singapore
"My parents used to forget to forward important letters. With ePost + Alfred, I haven't missed a single document in 2 years."
— Marc L., Consultant in Dubai
"The auto-translation feature is brilliant. My German is rusty after 10 years in the US, but I understand every letter perfectly."
— Jennifer K., Researcher in Boston
Special Use Cases
Voting from Abroad
FAQ
Q: Can I scan my voting ballots?
A: Yes, but you must keep the physical envelope if you plan to vote by post.
Tax Season Management
- Receive tax forms instantly
- Auto-categorize all tax-related documents
- Export everything for your accountant
- Never miss canton-specific deadlines
Insurance & Healthcare
- Instant access to insurance policies
- Quick submission of claims from abroad
- Healthcare reimbursements tracking
- Annual statements archived automatically
Security & Privacy
Your data is protected:
- âś“ All mail stored in Swiss data centers
- âś“ End-to-end encryption
- âś“ FADP/GDPR compliant
- âś“ No third-party access
- âś“ Automatic deletion options
Common Questions
What if I move between countries frequently?
No problem! Your digital mail follows you everywhere. Just update your notification preferences in Alfred when you change time zones.
Can I still receive packages?
ePost only handles letters and documents. For packages, you'll need a separate forwarding service or pickup arrangement.
What about registered mail requiring signature?
Registered mail notifications appear in ePost. You can authorize someone at your Swiss address to sign, or use Swiss Post's digital signature option where available.
The Bottom Line
For less than the cost of a coffee in Zurich, you can have every piece of Swiss mail delivered to your inbox, anywhere in the world, on the same day it arrives. No more worried calls to parents, no more missed deadlines, no more expensive forwarding services.
Whether you're a digital nomad, an international student, or a Swiss professional working abroad, the ePost + Alfred combination gives you the peace of mind that comes from never missing important mail.
Start Your Digital Mailbox Today
Join thousands of Swiss expats who never miss a letter