Moving to Switzerland from Japan

Work and residence permits for Japanese nationals

As a Japanese national, you are a third-country citizen under Swiss immigration law, which means you do not benefit from the free movement rules that apply to EU/EFTA citizens. To work in Switzerland, you generally need a Swiss employer willing to sponsor your permit application, demonstrate that no equally qualified candidate from Switzerland or the EU/EFTA area was available, and request a permit within the annual quota set by the Federal Council for third-country nationals.

The two main categories are the short-term L permit, typically issued for assignments or contracts under a year, and the longer B permit for employees with a contract of a year or more. Quotas are limited and allocated per canton, so timing and the canton where the position is based both affect the outcome. Highly qualified specialists, managers and researchers are typically prioritised, in line with the qualification requirements set out in the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act.

Intra-company transfers, executive assignments and specialist roles are the profiles most commonly approved. If your move is not tied to a specific job offer, for example an accompanying family member or someone planning to work independently, the pathway is different and considerably more restrictive for non-EU nationals.

Family members and accompanying dependants

A spouse or registered partner and minor children can generally apply for a residence permit to join a Japanese national who holds a valid Swiss work permit, once that permit has been granted. Family reunification applications are submitted to the cantonal migration office and require proof of the relationship, adequate housing, and sufficient financial means.

Processing times for family reunification vary by canton and by permit type, so it is worth building this step into your timeline rather than assuming it runs in parallel with your own application from day one. A spouse who wishes to work will usually need a separate authorisation, though B permit holders' spouses generally gain access to the labour market once residence is granted.

Customs and shipping household goods from Japan

Household goods and personal effects shipped from Japan as part of a genuine change of residence can generally enter Switzerland free of customs duty and import VAT, provided the items have been used for a reasonable period and are declared correctly. Swiss customs requires a completed inventory list, known as Form 18.44, listing every item with an approximate value, alongside proof that you are transferring your residence to Switzerland.

Sea freight from Japan takes considerably longer than air freight, so many relocating families plan a smaller air shipment of essentials for the first weeks and a larger sea shipment for the rest of the household. New items, items purchased shortly before the move, and vehicles are subject to separate rules and should be checked individually before shipping.

Pets travelling from Japan need an EU-format pet passport or equivalent veterinary certification, a valid rabies vaccination, and microchip identification consistent with EU/Swiss requirements; airline-specific rules for cabin or cargo transport add a further layer of planning.

• •Complete the household goods inventory (Form 18.44) before the shipment leaves Japan
• •Keep proof of prior residence in Japan and the date you are establishing residence in Switzerland
• •Check vehicle import rules separately if you plan to bring a car
• •Confirm your pet's vaccination and microchip timeline well ahead of travel

Exchanging a Japanese driving licence

Switzerland allows holders of a valid Japanese driving licence to exchange it for a Swiss licence without a driving test, provided the exchange is requested within the period set by the road traffic authorities after taking up residence, and the licence categories match. After that window, a Japanese licence is no longer valid for driving in Switzerland and a full Swiss licensing process, including theory and practical tests, applies.

The exchange is handled by the cantonal road traffic office (Service des automobiles or Strassenverkehrsamt, depending on the canton) and typically requires a certified translation of the Japanese licence, an eye test, and proof of residence.

Health insurance, healthcare and banking

Switzerland requires every resident, regardless of nationality, to take out basic health insurance (assurance maladie de base / obligatorische Krankenpflegeversicherung) within three months of establishing residence, with cover applied retroactively to the date of arrival. Basic insurance is provided by private insurers under a system regulated by the federal health insurance law, and premiums vary by canton, insurer and the deductible (franchise) you choose.

Your Japanese national health insurance does not extend to Switzerland, and Japan's social security agreements do not cover healthcare cost obligations under the Swiss system, so this is a step to plan for rather than assume is already handled. Because deductible levels, premium subsidies and supplementary cover interact in ways specific to your household, our consultants coordinate with qualified insurance specialists rather than recommending a specific insurer.

Opening a Swiss bank account is usually straightforward once you have a residence permit or confirmation of one pending, proof of address, and identification; some banks accept applications before your permit is finalised, others require it first, so confirm requirements with the bank you choose.

Schooling options for children moving from Japan

Families relocating from Japan typically choose between the local public school, taught in the canton's official language (French, German or Italian depending on where you settle), and a private or international school offering English-medium or Japanese-supported curricula. Public schools are tuition-free for residents and are generally well regarded, but they represent a language and curriculum shift that suits some children better than others depending on age and prior schooling.

International schools offering continuity with a Japanese, British, American or International Baccalaureate curriculum are concentrated around Geneva, Zurich and Zug, reflecting demand from internationally mobile families, and places at the more established schools often need to be secured well ahead of the school year.

Tax considerations when moving from Japan

Switzerland and Japan have a bilateral tax treaty intended to prevent double taxation, but how your income, investments and any Japanese-sourced earnings are treated once you become a Swiss tax resident depends on your specific situation, including your permit type, canton of residence and whether you are taxed at source or by ordinary assessment. This is not something to work out from general guidance.

Many foreign employees on a B or L permit are taxed at source (impôt à la source / Quellensteuer) directly through payroll, with the possibility of an ordinary tax return in some circumstances. Because rules on residency-based taxation, wealth tax and reporting of foreign assets vary by canton and by your personal circumstances, we recommend speaking with a tax consultant before your move rather than after; our consultants coordinate with qualified specialists on this.

Cultural and practical adjustments

Switzerland's administrative culture rewards precision and paperwork completed in advance, which many relocating Japanese nationals find familiar, though the multilingual cantonal structure, where French, German and Italian regions each run their own procedures and timelines, is a genuine adjustment. Registering your address at the commune (Gemeinde/commune) within the required period after arrival is a foundational step that unlocks most other administrative processes, including health insurance and, in some cases, the driving licence exchange.

Day-to-day practicalities, such as opening hours, apartment rental deposits and waste disposal rules, are governed at commune level, so what applies in Geneva may differ from Zurich or Zug. Building a realistic first-month checklist, rather than relying on assumptions carried over from Japan or from other countries, avoids most of the friction new arrivals report.