Checklist for moving to Switzerland

The most common route to a residence permit is an employment contract, although there are others depending on your nationality and situation (studies, family reunification or sufficient means of your own). If you come from outside the EU/EFTA, annual quotas also apply and the employer must show they couldn’t find a suitable candidate in Switzerland or the EU.

It depends on your nationality. EU/EFTA citizens generally apply for their residence permit when registering with their municipality. If you come from elsewhere, your employer usually applies for authorisation before you enter Switzerland.

Passport or ID, employment contract, rental contract or address, and birth or marriage certificates if you’re moving with family. Depending on the country, some may need a translation or an apostille.

Landlords usually ask for an extract from the debt collection register (Betreibungsauszug), your latest payslips or employment contract, and sometimes your personal liability insurance certificate. If you’ve only just arrived and can’t get the extract yet, explain this and provide an equivalent document from your home country if you have one. While you search, temporary furnished accommodation gives you some breathing space.

It’s usually paid before you get the keys. By law it can’t exceed three months’ rent and goes into a blocked account in your name. It can also be replaced by rent deposit insurance: you don’t tie up the money, but it has an annual cost and you’re still liable for any damage you cause.

Get quotes early and check which documents the removal company needs for customs. For moves and transport within Switzerland, Baipor Group is a company I trust.

If you’re bringing your furniture and belongings, you need a removal goods declaration (form 18.44). They’re free of duty and VAT if you’ve used them for at least 6 months and will keep using them. Attach a detailed list and check customs opening hours: many offices don’t handle removals at weekends.

It’s mandatory. The usual deadline is 14 days from arrival, although it’s shorter in some cantons. Bring your passport, rental contract, employment contract and a passport photo. This is where your residence permit process starts, and you’ll get a registration certificate that banks will ask for.

School attendance is compulsory. Enrol them as soon as possible through your municipality, and claim family allowances through your employer.

It’ll be very useful for receiving your salary, paying rent and setting up direct debits. Banks usually ask for your passport, your residence permit or your municipal registration certificate, and sometimes your employment contract.

Your bank, your employer and many authorities will ask for one. For a contract you’ll usually need your residence permit; in the meantime, a prepaid SIM can be activated with your passport.

The Half Fare Travelcard (Halbtax) gives you up to 50% off most train, bus and boat tickets, and it soon pays for itself. If you commute daily, also compare your local zone pass and the GA travelcard. You can manage everything in the SBB app.

It’s compulsory for residents of Switzerland, with some exceptions. You have 3 months from arrival; cover is backdated to that day, but so are the premiums. Comparing insurers, insurance models and deductibles can make a significant difference to your monthly premium.

If you work at least 8 hours a week for the same employer, they also insure you against accidents outside work. In that case you can exclude accident cover from your health insurance and pay less.

Premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung) depend on your income and canton, and each canton sets its own deadlines. It’s worth checking early.

It isn’t required by law, but it’s highly recommended: it covers damage you cause to other people or their property, and many landlords require it.

Home contents insurance covers your belongings against theft, fire and water damage. Some cantons make it compulsory to insure certain risks, such as fire.

It’s mandatory per household: the Serafe bill arrives automatically, whether or not you have a TV.

If you drive, your foreign licence is valid for 12 months after you take up residence in Switzerland. Within that time you need to exchange it at your cantonal road traffic office. EU/EFTA licences are usually exchanged directly; with others, a practical test may be required.

It’s duty-free if it’s yours and you’ve used it for at least 6 months; at the border you’ll receive form 13.20A. You have one year to pass the technical inspection and get Swiss plates, and motor liability insurance is compulsory to register it.

If you have earned income subject to AHV/AVS, you can pay into pillar 3a and deduct it from your taxes, up to the legal maximum for the year. To count for that year, the contribution must be made before 31 December.

If you pay tax at source, you can usually request a subsequent ordinary assessment by 31 March of the following year, for example to deduct pillar 3a. With higher incomes it may be compulsory; it depends on your situation and canton.

New premiums are published at the end of September. To switch basic insurance for January, your insurer must receive your cancellation by 30 November.

If you have a pillar 3a, only contributions received by that date count towards that year’s deduction.

If you’re taxed under the ordinary procedure, the deadline is usually in spring and depends on the canton; you can normally ask for an extension.