Relocation expertise, by industry

Why the same relocation process does not fit every sector

A relocation plan is built around a few variables: how quickly the assignee needs to start work, whether the move is a single hire or part of a larger team transfer, the nationality mix of the workforce, and the canton of employment. These variables cluster differently by industry.

Financial services in Geneva or Zurich often move senior individuals or small teams on tight notice, with high expectations around housing quality and school placement for accompanying families. Life sciences and pharmaceutical employers in the Basel and Vaud life sciences hubs more frequently sponsor non-EU/EFTA specialists and researchers, where permit strategy and timing are the first constraint. Manufacturing and industrial employers across German-speaking Switzerland may need to relocate technicians or engineers in batches tied to a project start date, which puts a premium on coordinated, repeatable processes rather than bespoke handling of each case.

What changes from one sector to another

A few practical elements tend to differ most between industries, and are worth clarifying before a relocation plan is set.

• •Permit route: EU/EFTA free movement versus a non-EU/EFTA work permit subject to quotas and priority checks
• •Pace: a single confirmed start date versus a rolling programme of arrivals over several months
• •Family profile: single assignees, couples, or families needing school placement and dual-career support
• •Housing expectations: furnished short-term stays, family homes near international schools, or accommodation close to a specific industrial site
• •Confidentiality: some financial services and executive moves require discreet handling before an appointment is public

Sectors we support across Switzerland

We work with employers and HR teams across several sectors that each have a dedicated page with more operational detail. Financial services covers banks, asset managers and insurers concentrated in Geneva and Zurich, where speed and discretion for senior hires are frequently the priority. Life sciences and pharmaceuticals covers the Basel and Vaud life sciences corridor, where non-EU/EFTA sponsorship and longer assignment horizons are common. Technology and innovation covers software, hardware and research-driven employers, often combining EU/EFTA hires with a smaller number of specialist non-EU/EFTA profiles. Manufacturing and industry covers engineering, precision and production employers who may need to relocate several employees on a similar schedule tied to a plant or project timeline.

International organisations and NGOs, concentrated around Geneva, follow their own logistics with legitimation cards rather than standard work permits, and diplomatic or privileged status changes what documentation is required at each step.

Choosing the right level of support for your sector

The size and regularity of your relocation need matters as much as the sector itself. A single executive hire calls for a tailored, high-touch plan built around that person and their family. A recurring flow of hires into the same canton benefits from a standing process agreed once with HR and reused for each new arrival, which shortens lead times and reduces the number of questions HR has to field internally.

For non-EU/EFTA sponsorship in any sector, permit strategy needs to be confirmed with the cantonal migration office before a start date is promised to the assignee, since quota availability and processing times vary by canton and by profile.