A corporate relocation service for Switzerland helps an employer move a transferee from another country into a Swiss role. It is bought by the company, not by the employee. This page shows what such a service covers, where it stops, and how a request reaches the right provider.
Swiss Relocation Agency does not carry out moves itself. It is a matching service. It works with relocation companies in Switzerland and, depending on your request, puts you in touch with the one that fits the assignment.
What a corporate relocation service can cover
Scope varies by provider and by your policy. Most services are built from modules. You choose the modules, not the whole package.
- Immigration support: preparing the permit application with the employer. See immigration support.
- Home search: viewings, rental file, lease review. See home search service.
- Temporary housing: a bridge before the lease starts. See temporary housing.
- Settling-in: registration, bank, insurance, school. See settling-in service.
- Family and spouse support: schools, networks, career questions for the partner. See spouse and partner support.
- Departure: the end of the assignment. See departure service.
For a wider view of the market, read relocation services in Switzerland.
What your HR team can do without a provider
Not every move needs a full service. A senior hire with no family, an experienced transferee and a simple permit route may need little. The employer remains responsible for several steps whatever you decide.
Your team can usually handle:
- the employment contract or assignment letter;
- the internal policy decision on benefits;
- the choice between a managed service and a lump-sum relocation;
- collecting documents from the transferee before departure.
Outside help is worth considering when the transferee brings a family, when the permit route is uncertain, or when the move has a tight start date. It also helps when you move several people at once.
How the matching works
The process is short and the same for every request. The flow below shows the order.
The site does not decide anything on your behalf. It does not grant permits, choose housing or set terms. The provider you are introduced to sends its own proposal, and you accept or decline it.
The demand form is at the bottom of this page. The page how it works gives the longer version.
What to prepare before you send a request
A complete request is matched faster and more accurately. Gather the following.
- Nationality of the transferee and the country of departure.
- Destination canton or city, and the planned start date.
- Household: single, couple, children, pets.
- Services wanted, from the module list above.
- Your policy type: managed service, capped budget or lump sum.
- Any constraints, such as a fixed arrival date or a language need.
The destination matters. A move to Zurich is not organised like a move to a smaller canton. See relocation services in Zürich for an example of local scope.
Where the employer's responsibility starts
Some obligations sit with the employer and the employee, whoever is hired to help.
Permits. Switzerland has two regimes: nationals of EU/EFTA states and nationals of other states (SEM). The conditions differ. The detail depends on the person, so a specialist reviews the case. Do not assume that the route known from your other countries applies here.
Arrival registration. After arrival, the new resident must register with the municipality within 14 days (ch.ch). Practice can vary by municipality or canton, so confirm the local rule. The office usually asks for an identity document, the residence or work permit, and proof of health insurance.
Health insurance. Anyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months of taking up residence (FOPH). If the deadline is met, cover is backdated to the date of arrival and premiums are due from then. If it is missed, cover starts at enrolment and a surcharge may apply.
A provider can organise these steps. It cannot remove the obligation, and the final decisions remain with the authorities.
How to compare providers once introduced
When a provider replies, ask the same questions each time. This keeps proposals comparable.
- Which modules are included and which are optional?
- Who is the single point of contact for the transferee?
- How are third-party costs, such as movers or agents, invoiced?
- What reporting does HR receive during the assignment?
- How is data about the transferee handled?
- What happens if the start date moves?
Ask for the answers in writing, then compare them with your policy. If you are still building the policy, employee relocation to Switzerland sets out the main decisions.
A fictional example
Take a software company in Toronto that sends one engineer and a partner to Switzerland. HR wants immigration support and home search, but handles the contract itself. It sends a request with those two modules, the start month and the household. The request is matched with a provider that covers the destination canton. The provider calls HR, confirms the scope and sends a written proposal. HR compares it with its policy.
Another company, in Osaka, moves ten people to the same canton at once. Its request is different: group scope, shared timetable, common reporting. The matching follows that shape instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is a corporate relocation service in Switzerland?
It is a service bought by an employer to move a transferee into Switzerland. It may cover immigration, housing, settling-in and family support, in whatever combination your policy requires.
Does Swiss Relocation Agency carry out the relocation?
No. It is a matching service. It introduces you to a relocation company in Switzerland that fits your request.
Who pays for the service?
The employer usually pays, according to its policy. Terms and invoicing are agreed between you and the provider you are introduced to.
Can we choose only some services?
Yes. Most providers work in modules, so you can ask for immigration support alone, or home search alone, or a combination.
How do we send a request?
Use the demand form at the bottom of the page. Describe the assignment, the household, the destination and the services wanted.
What happens after we send the request?
The request is reviewed and matched with a suitable provider. That provider then contacts you to confirm scope and timing.
Are we obliged to accept the provider's proposal?
No. You compare the proposal with your policy and decide freely. Declining carries no obligation.
Does the service obtain the work permit?
No service can grant a permit. The authorities decide. A provider can help prepare the application with the employer, and the route depends on the person's nationality and role.
Is the process different for EU/EFTA and other nationalities?
Yes. Switzerland applies one regime to EU/EFTA nationals and another to nationals of other states (SEM). A specialist reviews the specific case.
When should the transferee register on arrival?
Registration with the municipality is due within 14 days of arrival (ch.ch). Check the local rule in the destination municipality.
When must health insurance start?
Basic health insurance must be taken out within three months of taking up residence (FOPH). Meeting the deadline avoids a gap and a surcharge.
Is a lump sum cheaper than a managed service?
Not necessarily, and the answer depends on your policy and the assignment. Read about lump-sum relocation before you decide.
Which cities and cantons are covered?
Providers differ by region. State the destination in your request so it is matched with a provider that works there.
Can we use the service for a group move?
Yes. Describe the group size, the timetable and the reporting you need, and the request is matched on that basis.
What if the start date changes?
Tell the provider as early as possible. Ask in your first conversation how date changes affect scope and invoicing.