Your First Month in Switzerland

Commune Registration: The Step Everything Else Depends On

Every person moving to Switzerland with the intention of staying must register with the commune (Gemeinde, commune, comune) of their new residence. This is usually done at the local population office (contrôle des habitants, Einwohnerkontrolle) and must happen within a set number of days of arrival, which varies by canton but is typically around two weeks.

Registration requires proof of address (a lease or confirmation from your landlord), a valid passport, and, depending on your situation, an employment contract or confirmation letter. Once registered, the commune issues confirmation that you will need for almost every subsequent step, including bank account opening and permit collection.

• •Bring passport-style photos, as some communes issue permit cards on the spot
• •Ask about the exact registration deadline for your specific commune
• •Keep several certified copies of your registration confirmation

Residence Permits: What Happens After You Register

For EU/EFTA nationals, the residence permit application is usually submitted at or shortly after commune registration. For non-EU nationals, the permit is normally tied to a work authorisation that your employer initiated before your arrival, and registration confirms your address for the permit to be issued or activated.

Processing times vary by canton and by permit category, so treat any timeline you receive as indicative rather than fixed. Until your physical permit card arrives, the confirmation slip from the commune or migration office generally serves as interim proof of your legal status.

Banking and Housing: The Practical Bottleneck

Opening a Swiss bank account is often the first point where newcomers get stuck, because most banks ask for commune registration confirmation and, in some cases, your permit or a confirmation letter from the migration office before opening a standard account. This creates a short but real gap between arriving and being able to receive a salary through a Swiss account.

Housing follows a similar logic. Many landlords and management agencies ask for proof of income, a copy of your permit or confirmation, and sometimes a Swiss guarantor or deposit guarantee before signing a lease, which can be difficult to provide as a new arrival. Temporary housing bridges this gap for many relocating employees and families while the permanent lease and account are finalised.

Health Insurance and Other Time-Sensitive Enrolments

Switzerland requires everyone residing in the country to hold basic health insurance, and new arrivals have a limited window after registration to enrol, with cover then applying retroactively to your arrival date if you enrol within that window. Comparing insurers and coverage options takes time, so starting this process early in your first month is worthwhile even if you do not finalise a choice on day one.

Depending on your household, you may also need to register children for school, notify your employer's pension fund of your arrival, or set up utility contracts for your new home. None of these are as time-critical as commune registration or health insurance, but they are easiest to handle while you are already gathering documents for the other steps.

• •Basic health insurance: enrol within the legal deadline after registration
• •School registration: contact the commune's school office if you have children
• •Utilities and internet: often require your registration confirmation as proof of address