Your Switzerland relocation checklist: 7, 30 and 90 days
The steps to take before you leave and after you land, grouped by phase so you always know what comes next.
A move to Switzerland compresses a lot of administrative steps, practical arrangements and personal decisions into a short window of time. This Switzerland relocation checklist breaks the process into four phases: the weeks before departure, your first week in Switzerland, your first 30 days and your first 90 days. Treat it as a moving to Switzerland checklist you can adapt rather than a fixed script, since the exact order of tasks depends on your canton, your permit category and whether you are relocating alone or with a family. Each phase groups tasks that genuinely belong together, so you always know what needs attention now and what can reasonably wait until later in your arrival checklist for Switzerland.
1 Before departure: starting your Switzerland relocation checklist
- Confirm your employment contract or assignment letter, and check that your work permit application has been submitted, either by your employer or by you directly
- Start searching for temporary or permanent housing early, since demand is strong in the main urban cantons and well-located listings can be gone within days
- Have key documents translated and, where required, apostilled or legalised: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and professional qualifications you may need to present locally
- Request a criminal record extract from your home country if your permit application or your employer's onboarding process calls for one
- If you are moving with children, begin researching schooling options early, including application windows for international and private schools, which can fill up months in advance
- Review your current health, life and liability insurance policies to understand what does and does not carry over to Switzerland, and where you will need new cover
- Plan your international move: compare removal quotes, decide what to ship, store or sell, and ask your mover about the customs paperwork for your household goods
- Check the vaccination and travel documentation your pet will need before crossing the border, and start the process early since some steps take weeks
- Notify your current landlord, utility providers, bank and insurers of your departure, and cancel or transfer contracts so nothing keeps running after you leave
- If your destination is a smaller city such as Bern, St. Gallen or Neuchâtel rather than a major hub, expect the same administrative steps but plan for more limited appointment availability
2 Your first week in Switzerland
- Register at the residents' registration office of your commune of residence as soon as you can after arriving, and ask the commune directly for its exact deadline, since practice varies
- Bring your passport, permit documents, rental contract or confirmation of accommodation, and civil status documents to your registration appointment so it can be completed in one visit
- Keep your confirmation of registration in a safe place, since you will need it to open accounts, sign contracts and complete other formalities in the weeks ahead
- Open a Swiss bank account if you have not already arranged one before arrival, since many other steps depend on having a local account
- Take out basic health insurance (LAMal) without delay, and ask your insurer directly whether backdating cover to your date of arrival is possible in your situation
- Arrange a Swiss mobile phone plan, and check your home internet options if you already have permanent housing, since setup can take longer than expected
- Locate the nearest pharmacy, general practitioner and, if relevant, a paediatrician for your family, so you already know where to go if a need arises
- If you are moving with pets, confirm what your commune or canton expects in terms of local registration once you are settled
3 Your first 30 days: settling the essentials
- Collect your residence permit card, or complete any outstanding biometric appointment, if it was not issued at your registration
- Take out household contents and personal liability insurance, which landlords in Switzerland commonly expect you to hold before you move in
- Enrol your children in public school, an international school or daycare, and complete any commune-level enrolment steps alongside the school's own admission process
- Register your vehicle with the cantonal road traffic office if you are bringing or buying a car, and ask about the rules and timeframe for exchanging a foreign driving licence
- Buy a public transport pass suited to your commute, such as a half-fare card or a regional or national travelcard, once you know your regular routes
- Register for the Swiss radio and television fee (Serafe), which applies to every household regardless of how much television or radio you actually use
- Set up standing orders or direct debits for rent, insurance premiums and utilities from your Swiss bank account so recurring payments do not slip
- If you are still in temporary accommodation, start actively viewing permanent housing, factoring in commute times to work and to your children's school
4 Your first 90 days: putting down roots
- Move into permanent housing if you started in temporary accommodation, and register the new address with your commune once the move is confirmed
- Review your health insurance choice properly, comparing deductible levels and whether supplementary cover suits your situation, rather than keeping the first policy you signed under time pressure
- Ask your employer or a pension specialist whether voluntary pillar 3a contributions make sense for your circumstances, since the right answer depends on your income and tax situation
- Understand your payslip and, if you are a foreign employee without a permanent residence permit, how withholding tax at source applies to your income
- Confirm your children have settled into their school routine, and raise any language support needs with the school early rather than waiting for issues to build up
- Join local associations, expat networks or professional groups to build a social and professional circle beyond your immediate colleagues or neighbours
- Keep copies, physical or digital, of every registration confirmation, permit document and insurance policy in one place, since you will be asked for them again
- Once the essentials are in place, take stock of what worked well in your first month in Switzerland and what you would still like to sort out
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