Procedures

Moving house in Switzerland: every step

Leaving one municipality and registering in the next, insurance, post, vehicle, taxes: here is what to do when you move house in Switzerland, with the deadlines and the official links.

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The complete checklist

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

At your municipality

Report your departure to the municipality
Important
Tell the residents’ registration office of your current municipality that you are leaving
Deadline: Recommended: before you leave (rules depend on the municipality)
Official source
Register with your new municipality
Important
Register with the residents’ registration office of your new municipality
Deadline: Mandatory: usually within 8 to 14 days of arrival (depending on the canton)
Official source
Electoral register
In most cantons, you are registered automatically
Deadline: Automatic
Official source

Post

Mail forwarding (Swiss Post)
Important
Ask for your mail to be forwarded to your new address
Deadline: Recommended: before you move
Official source

Insurance

Tell your health insurer
Important
Tell your health insurer about your change of address and canton
Deadline: Recommended: before you move (the premium depends on where you live)
Template: Notice of move to your insurer Official source
Update your household insurance
Give your household contents and personal liability insurer your new address
Deadline: Recommended: as soon as possible (see your general terms and conditions)
Template: Notice of move to your insurer

Vehicle

Change your number plates
Depends on your situation
Register your arrival with the cantonal road traffic office to get your new number plates
Deadline: Mandatory if you change canton: within 14 days
Official source
Change the address on your driving licence
Depends on your situation
Have the address on your driving licence updated
Deadline: Recommended: within 14 days (depending on the canton)

Children

Enrol your children at school
Important
Depends on your situation
Enrol your children at the school of your new municipality
Deadline: Recommended: as soon as possible

Housing

Give notice on your lease
Important
Depends on your situation
Send your notice letter to your landlord
Deadline: Mandatory: received at least 3 months before the end date (art. 266c CO, end date according to the lease or local custom)
Template: Lease termination

Telecoms

Move your internet and phone
Ask for your telecom subscriptions to be transferred or cancelled
Deadline: Recommended: 2 to 4 weeks before (see the notice period in your contract)
Template: Subscription cancellation

Work

Tell your employer
Give your employer your new address
Deadline: Recommended: as soon as possible

Finances

Change your address at the bank
Update your address with your bank
Deadline: Recommended: as soon as possible

Taxes

Tell the tax authorities
Important
Depends on your situation
If you change canton, report your departure and arrival to the tax authorities
Deadline: Automatic in most cases
Template: Change of address notice to the tax office Official source

Change your address for OASI/DI (AVS/AI)
Give your OASI (AVS) compensation office your new address
Deadline: Recommended: as soon as possible
Official source

Other

Update your pet’s registration
Depends on your situation
Update your pet’s address in the AMICUS database
Deadline: For a dog: within 10 days
Official source

Deadline to register with your municipality, by canton

The deadline to register your arrival with the residents’ registration office is set by each canton’s law. If in doubt, ask your municipality.

Canton	Deadline	Legal basis
Zurich	14 days	§ 10 MERG
Bern	14 days	Art. 1 Abs. 1 NAG
Lucerne	14 days	§ 3 Abs. 1 NG
Uri	14 days	Art. 21 Abs. 1 KRG
Schwyz	14 days	§ 10 Abs. 1 lit. a EMG
Obwalden	14 days	Art. 11 Abs. 1 ERV
Nidwalden	14 days	Art. 5 Abs. 1 NAG
Glarus	14 days	Art. 4 Abs. 1 EG RHG
Zug	14 days	§ 57a Abs. 1 GG
Fribourg	14 days	art. 5 al. 1 LCH
Solothurn	14 days	§ 3 Abs. 1 GG
Basel-Stadt	14 days	§ 4 Abs. 1 NAG
Basel-Landschaft	14 days	§ 5 Abs. 1 ARG
Schaffhausen	14 days	Art. 89 Abs. 1 Gemeindegesetz
Appenzell Ausserrhoden	14 days	Art. 5 Abs. 2 Registergesetz
Appenzell Innerrhoden	Depends on the municipality: ask the residents’ registration office
St. Gallen	14 days	Art. 6 Abs. 1 NAG
Graubünden	14 days	Art. 13 Abs. 1 ERG
Aargau	14 days	§ 14 Abs. 1 RMG
Thurgau	14 days	§ 7 Abs. 1 ErG
Ticino	8 days	art. 12 cpv. 1 RL 144.110
Vaud	8 days	art. 3 al. 3 LCH
Valais	14 days	art. 7 al. 1 loi sur le contrôle de l’habitant
Neuchâtel	14 days	art. 40 LHRCH
Geneva	14 days	art. 5 al. 3 LaLHR
Jura	14 days	art. 6 loi concernant le contrôle des habitants

Your list, tailored to your situation

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