Relocation to Aarau

Aarau and the canton of Aargau: geography and language

Aarau is the capital of the canton of Aargau, the fourth most populous canton in Switzerland, located on the Swiss Plateau between the Jura foothills and the river Aare. The canton is entirely German-speaking, and daily life in Aarau itself is conducted in Swiss German (Aargauer Mundart), with standard German used in writing, schools and administration.

For newcomers who do not yet speak German, this is an important adjustment to plan for. Larger employers and some administrative counters can generally handle enquiries in English, but shops, medical practices and many public services operate in German day to day. Investing early in German lessons, even at a basic level, makes settling in noticeably smoother.

The city itself has a compact, walkable core built around a well-preserved old town, with residential neighbourhoods and neighbouring communes extending along the Aare valley and into the surrounding hills.

Finding housing in and around Aarau

Relocating to Aarau means engaging with a rental market that follows the same rules as the rest of German-speaking Switzerland: a formal application file, a request for a recent extract from the debt collection register (Betreibungsregisterauszug), references from a previous landlord, and, for larger properties, a deposit held in a blocked bank account. Viewings are often scheduled in short windows with several candidates competing for the same apartment.

The housing stock spans the historic apartments of the old town, more spacious family homes in outlying neighbourhoods such as Rohr and Buchs, and riverside districts like Schachen and Telli. Neighbouring communes along the Aarau–Zurich or Aarau–Basel rail lines are also worth considering for buyers or tenants who want more space while keeping a short commute.

Because good properties can move quickly, having a locally prepared application file ready before viewings begin makes a meaningful difference. Our consultants identify suitable listings, arrange viewings and assemble the application dossier on your behalf.

Permits and the cantonal migration office

Non-Swiss nationals moving to Aarau must register their arrival with their commune of residence and, depending on nationality and the purpose of the stay, obtain the appropriate residence permit through the Aargau cantonal migration office (Amt für Migration und Integration). EU/EFTA nationals and non-EU nationals follow different procedures and timelines, and requirements can vary depending on whether the move is for employment, family reunification or another purpose.

Employers relocating staff to Aarau should plan the permit process alongside the employment start date, since cantonal quotas and processing steps can affect timing for non-EU hires. My Swiss Relocation's immigration specialists prepare the required documentation and liaise with the cantonal authorities throughout the process.

• •Commune registration on arrival (Anmeldung)
• •Residence permit application through the cantonal migration office
• •Different pathways for EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals
• •Family reunification procedures where applicable

Schools and childcare

Aargau's public schools teach in German and follow the cantonal curriculum aligned with Lehrplan 21, the harmonised study plan used across German-speaking Switzerland. Children who do not yet speak German are generally supported through dedicated German-as-a-second-language classes (Deutsch als Zweitsprache) to help them integrate into mainstream classes.

Families who prefer an international curriculum typically look to schools in Zurich or Basel, both reachable from Aarau by direct train, though this adds a daily commute for children. Preschool and daycare places (Kitas) exist locally, with subsidised rates in some communes depending on family income and circumstances; availability can be limited, so early enquiries are worthwhile.

Our consultants help families weigh the public-school route against a commute to an international school, and assist with enrolment paperwork and daycare applications.

Getting around and daily life

Aarau's railway station is a hub on the lines connecting Zurich, Basel, Bern and Lucerne, making the city practical for commuters and for occasional trips to either of Switzerland's main airports. Within the city and surrounding communes, local bus networks and the regional A-Welle transport association cover day-to-day journeys, and the compact centre is well suited to walking and cycling.

Daily life in Aarau centres on the old town's shops and markets, riverside paths along the Aare, and a range of sports and cultural facilities typical of a Swiss cantonal capital. The pace is noticeably quieter than in Zurich or Basel, which suits families and professionals looking for a more residential setting within easy reach of larger economic centres.