Moving to Switzerland: complete pre-arrival checklist
Three to four weeks before your move: confirm your work permit and family visas, secure temporary housing, register children for school, line up health-insurance quotes and request a Swiss bank-account pre-opening. The legal clock starts on arrival day - registration within 14 days, health insurance within 3 months.
Overview
A Swiss move is well-organised when you treat the admin as a project. The order below is the sequence we use with expats relocating from the EU, UK, US and Asia - it minimises double work and avoids the most expensive mistakes (uninsured weeks, wrong tariff code, lost shipping receipts for tax).
Pre-arrival timeline
- 1
8-12 weeks before: permit and contract
Sign the employment contract, confirm the permit type your employer will sponsor (L, B, G), apply for family-reunification visas in parallel for spouse and children.
- 2
6-8 weeks before: housing search
Use Homegate, ImmoScout24 and Comparis. Expect to provide an extract of debt enforcement (when on-site), employer letter, passport copy and a 3-month security deposit.
- 3
4-6 weeks before: schools and childcare
Public schools are free and excellent but place by commune of residence - this locks your housing decision. International schools have long waiting lists; apply early.
- 4
3-4 weeks before: shipping and customs
Get 2-3 international mover quotes. Keep all receipts - removal goods imported within 12 months of taking residency are usually duty-free under 'Übersiedlungsgut'.
- 5
2 weeks before: insurance shortlist
Prepare a shortlist of KVG insurers and franchise. Sign on or shortly after arrival - cover backdates to arrival day.
- 6
Arrival week: bank, address, mobile
Open a Swiss account, register an address, take out a mobile contract. Banks and operators need your registration confirmation - do the Gemeinde visit first.
- 7
First 14 days: Gemeinde registration
Bring passport, lease, employment contract, marriage/birth certificates. This triggers your permit and your tariff code.
Frequently asked questions
How long before moving to Switzerland should I start preparing?+
Allow 3-4 months from signed contract to landing date. Permit issuance, family visas and housing searches each take 4-8 weeks and overlap.
Can I move to Switzerland without a job?+
EU/EFTA citizens can come for up to 3 months job-searching (extendable to 6) without registering as employed. Non-EU/EFTA nationals need employer sponsorship to obtain a residence permit.
Do I need to inform my home country I'm leaving?+
Yes - de-register from your tax authority and municipal records where applicable. Many countries (UK, Germany, France) require formal departure notification to stop tax residency cleanly.
Can I bring my car to Switzerland?+
Yes, with the right paperwork: declared as Übersiedlungsgut for duty-free import (owned for at least 6 months), Swiss type approval within 12 months, swap registration and licence plates within 1 year.