Daycare in Switzerland: finding a place and applying with confidence

Types of childcare available

Switzerland offers several forms of childcare, and most families combine more than one as children grow or as work schedules change. The right mix depends on your child's age, your working hours and how quickly you need a place.

Crèches (daycare centres) are the most requested option for children from a few months old up to kindergarten age, and exist as both municipal or subsidised structures and private, fee-based centres. Day mothers, known as accueil familial de jour or Tagesmutter depending on the region, are individuals approved and supervised by the commune who look after a small number of children in their own home, and they often have shorter waiting times and more flexible hours than a crèche. For school-age children, after-school care structures (UAPE, parascolaire or Hort) cover the hours before and after class and during some school holidays. Au pairs and private nannies are a further option for families who need care inside their own home rather than in an external structure.

• •Municipal or subsidised crèches
• •Private daycare centres
• •Day mothers (accueil familial de jour / Tagesmutter)
• •After-school care for school-age children (UAPE, parascolaire, Hort)
• •Au pairs and private nannies

Waiting lists and how to improve your chances

Waiting lists for subsidised and municipal crèche places are the main bottleneck. In practice, families who register only once they have moved to Switzerland are usually placed well behind those who registered as soon as their relocation date was confirmed, even provisionally. Registering with a due date or an approximate arrival month, rather than waiting for a fixed date, is generally accepted by communes and puts you in the queue sooner.

Because each structure keeps its own list, registering with a single provider narrows your options considerably. Families typically apply to several municipal and private structures at once, and treat the first offer they receive as a starting point rather than a final answer, since it remains possible to move to a preferred structure later if a place opens up. Some employers, particularly larger companies and international organisations, also hold reserved places in partner crèches, which is worth checking with your HR or global mobility contact before you register elsewhere.

Costs and subsidies

Childcare costs in Switzerland vary widely by canton, commune and type of structure, so there is no single national price to quote. Municipal and subsidised crèches generally apply a sliding scale based on household income and family size, which means two families in the same crèche can pay very different amounts for the same place. Private daycare centres typically charge a flat rate that does not depend on income, which can make them faster to access but more expensive for lower and middle incomes.

Subsidy applications are handled by the commune, not by the crèche itself, and usually require proof of income, your residence permit and your employment contract. The scales, income thresholds and application deadlines differ from one commune to another, so the process needs to be checked locally rather than assumed to be the same as a previous canton of residence. Our consultants help you understand which subsidy scheme applies to your commune and prepare the supporting documents, while for detailed tax questions linked to childcare deductions our consultants coordinate with qualified specialists.

Choosing between a crèche and a day mother

There is no universally better option between a crèche and a day mother; the right choice depends on your priorities. A crèche offers a structured group setting, a fixed educational programme and continuity even if a particular staff member is absent, which suits families who value routine and socialisation with a larger group of children.