A transfer to Switzerland is decided in the home country long before the first day on site. Your employee leaves one set of obligations and enters another. This page lists what is settled before departure, in the order that keeps the file coherent. For the steps after arrival, see the moving to Switzerland checklist.
Start with the permit route
The route depends on nationality. Switzerland applies two regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for nationals of third states. Which one applies to your transferee sets the documents, the employer's role and the timing.
The detail of each route is on the SEM page for non-EU/EFTA nationals. A specialist examines the individual case. The permit finder gives a first orientation, and the immigration support page explains how a case is handled. The authorities decide on any permit. Nothing about the outcome is assured.
Checklist by owner
The table shows who usually owns each task. Adapt it to your policy.
Documents and records
Start with the file that every later step relies on.
- Signed contract or assignment letter, kept as a copy for the transferee.
- Valid passports for every family member who travels.
- Civil status documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, if the family joins.
- School reports and a list of current school years for each child.
- Proof of previous insurance or medical history, where useful.
- A list of home-country contracts to end: lease, utilities, subscriptions, local bank products.
The authorities may ask for certified or translated copies. The authority concerned says which form it accepts. Ask before ordering copies.
Household goods and customs
Moving belongings is a task of its own. The Swiss customs authority allows duty-free import of household goods for people who settle in Switzerland. The declaration uses form 18.44, signed and filed in duplicate. See the household goods page and the form itself.
Two conditions matter for planning. Items have been used for six months abroad before the transfer of residence. The import is also linked in time to the move, and the customs authority treats an import within two years as unproblematic. A new purchase made just before departure may therefore not qualify. Your employee should keep receipts and a dated inventory. The FOCBS FAQ gives the official wording.
Health insurance before arrival
Basic health insurance is compulsory for anyone resident in Switzerland, and it is concluded no later than three months after taking up residence. If the time limit is respected, cover is retroactive to the date of residence and premiums are due retroactively. If it is exceeded, cover starts at affiliation, a premium surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may allocate an insurer. The FOPH page sets out the rule.
Before departure, decide what bridges the gap between the home-country policy and Swiss cover. Collect the family's insurance details so the choice is quick on arrival.
Housing and the rental file
Housing is rarely closed from abroad in one step. A rental file is prepared before departure so that the search starts without delay. Use the rental file checker to see what a Swiss landlord expects. The home search service covers viewings and applications. If temporary lodging bridges the gap, see the notes on relocation services in Switzerland.
What the commune asks for on arrival
Arrival is reported to the commune. A period of 14 days is the figure reported for this registration, and it can vary by commune or canton, so the local office confirms it. The visit usually needs an identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance. Prepare these originals in hand luggage, not in the shipment. The settling-in service covers the first administrative steps.
Common gaps
Most delays come from the same few causes. The common mistakes page lists them. Typical examples: goods shipped before the six-month use condition is met, an assignment letter that does not match the permit file, and health cover left until late.
Different transferees raise different questions. See the pages on the executive transferee, the single professional and a family with children. For a build-your-own list, use the personalised checklist and the relocation calendar. Employers sending staff from the Gulf may also read the page on transfers from the UAE.
To have a specialist review the file, use the request at the bottom of the page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first item on a checklist before moving to Switzerland?
The permit route comes first, because it depends on nationality and sets the documents and the timing for everything else. Two regimes exist: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for nationals of third states.
Who is responsible for each task, the employer or the employee?
That is a policy decision. In practice the employer confirms the contract and the permit file, while the transferee gathers personal documents. A provider can take over the home search or the customs paperwork.
Can household goods enter Switzerland duty-free?
Yes, for people who settle in Switzerland, with form 18.44 filed in duplicate. Items are used for six months abroad before the move. The import is linked in time to the move, and an import within two years is treated as unproblematic by the customs authority.
When is Swiss health insurance concluded?
Basic insurance is compulsory and is concluded no later than three months after taking up residence. If that time limit is respected, cover is retroactive to the date of residence.
Does the move need to be reported on arrival?
Yes. Arrival is reported to the commune. The figure given for this is 14 days, which can vary by commune or canton. The commune confirms the exact rule.
Can housing be fixed completely from abroad?
Sometimes, but not reliably. A rental file prepared before departure helps, and a provider can run viewings. Whether a landlord accepts an application remains the landlord's decision.
Does a checklist replace advice on a specific case?
No. It sets out general rules. A specialist examines the individual case, especially on permits, tax and insurance.
Sources
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), household goods FAQ
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), moving and relocation goods
- FOCBS, form 18.44
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), non-EU/EFTA nationals
- Swiss authorities portal (ch.ch)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), compulsory insurance