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Moving to Switzerland: your checklist

Residence permit, registering with your municipality, health insurance, OASI, taxes, driving licence: here is what to do when you settle in Switzerland, with the deadlines and the official links.

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SwissDoc’s personalised checklist and documents are available in French, German and Italian.

Already arrived? Check that you have not missed anything

Already in Switzerland? Enter your arrival date: you tick off what is done, and we show you what is missing and what to do if a deadline has passed.

The complete checklist

12 steps, grouped by topic. Some only apply in certain situations.

Official sources open in English when the authority publishes an English page, otherwise in French.

Residence permit

  • Residence and work permit

    Important
    Depends on your situation

    To work in Switzerland, you need a permit. Your employer applies for it to the authority at the place of work (art. 11 FNIA/LEI). Depending on your nationality, you also need a visa.

    Deadline: Before you arrive

    Official source

  • EU/EFTA residence permit

    Important
    Depends on your situation

    The canton issues your residence permit (for example an EU/EFTA L or B permit) after you register with your municipality.

    Deadline: When you register with your municipality

    Official source

At your municipality

  • Register with your municipality

    Important

    Register your arrival at your municipality’s residents’ registration office, with your identity documents.

    Deadline: Mandatory: within 14 days of your arrival, and before you start working (art. 12 FNIA/LEI, art. 10 OASA)

    Official source

Insurance

  • Compulsory health insurance

    Important

    Choose a health insurer and insure every member of the family, children included: each person is insured individually.

    Deadline: Mandatory: within 3 months (art. 3 LAMal, art. 7 OAMal). Within this period, the cover is backdated, and so are the premiums.

    Official source

Social insurance

  • OASI (AHV/AVS) and social insurance

    If you are an employee, your employer registers you and deducts the OASI contributions from your salary. If you are not gainfully employed, register yourself with the compensation office of your canton.

    Deadline: Not gainfully employed: you must do it yourself

    Official source

Taxes

  • Tax at source

    Depends on your situation

    Without a C permit, the tax on your salary is generally deducted directly by your employer (art. 83 DFTA/LIFD). This is not the case if your spouse is Swiss or holds a C permit.

    Deadline: Automatic: check your payslip

    Official source

Vehicle

  • Exchange your driving licence

    Important
    Depends on your situation

    Apply for a Swiss licence at the road traffic office of your canton. Depending on the country that issued your licence, a control drive may be required (art. 44 OAC).

    Deadline: Mandatory: within 12 months of your arrival (art. 42 OAC)

    Official source

  • Clear your vehicle through customs

    Important
    Depends on your situation

    Present the vehicle at a staffed customs office with form 18.44. It enters free of customs duty as household effects if it was used for at least 6 months before import.

    Deadline: When you import it

    Official source

  • Swiss number plates

    Depends on your situation

    Have the vehicle registered at the road traffic office of your canton. An official inspection takes place before registration (art. 115 OAC).

    Deadline: Mandatory: at the latest one year after your arrival (art. 115 OAC)

    Official source

Children

  • Enrol your children at school

    Important
    Depends on your situation

    Enrol your children at school through your municipality. School is compulsory and free of charge in public schools (art. 62 of the Federal Constitution).

    Deadline: As soon as you arrive

    Official source

Finances

  • Bank account

    Open an account in Switzerland to receive your salary and pay your rent and premiums. The bank will check your identity.

    Deadline: In the first few weeks

  • Radio and television fee

    Every household pays a fee. Nothing to do: Serafe sends you the invoice based on the residents’ register.

    Deadline: Due from the 1st day of the month after you move in (art. 69 RTVA/LRTV)

    Official source

Your list, tailored to your situation

Answer a few questions: we keep the steps that apply to you, with your deadlines and reminders.

SwissDoc’s personalised checklist and documents are available in French, German and Italian.

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Legal abbreviations

  • FNIA/LEI: Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration
  • OASA: Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment
  • LAMal: Federal Act on Health Insurance; OAMal: its implementing ordinance
  • DFTA/LIFD: Federal Act on Direct Federal Taxation
  • OAC: Federal Ordinance on Admission to Road Traffic
  • RTVA/LRTV: Federal Act on Radio and Television
  • Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation

General information on Swiss law, not legal advice. Rules may vary depending on the canton and the municipality.