This page answers the questions HR and mobility teams ask most often when an employee is moving to Switzerland from abroad. Each answer is short. Where a topic needs more depth, a link points to the guide that covers it.
Switzerland is a federation. Many rules depend on the canton (the Swiss state) or the commune (Gemeinde, the local municipality) where your employee will live. Treat every answer below as general information, not advice on a single case.
How the relocation fits together
Most relocations follow the same order. The permit comes first, then housing, then registration on arrival, then insurance and schooling. Your policy should assign an owner to each step before the departure date is fixed.
For a fuller sequence, read Moving to Switzerland: the complete guide and how to relocate staff to Switzerland. To see which steps apply to a given employee, use the personalised checklist generator.
Planning the move
Start with the permit route, because it sets the calendar for everything else. The route depends on the employee's nationality, the role and the canton. Employees from the EU or EFTA follow different rules from those of third states. The permit finder gives a first orientation.
Housing is the next constraint. Landlords and letting agents (régies) ask for a full file, and your transferee will usually search from abroad. The rental file checker helps to test a file before it is sent. See also renting in Switzerland.
Arriving and registering
Registration with the commune is the first legal step after arrival. Your employee should expect to bring an identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance. Allow for variation between communes.
Health insurance follows soon after. Do not leave it until the last week of the allowed period. Your policy should say who checks that the insurer has been chosen.
Where relocations go wrong
Late permit planning, an incomplete rental file and a missed insurance deadline cause most delays. Read common mistakes when moving to Switzerland and myths about moving to Switzerland before you finalise the plan.
If you want a specialist to examine a specific case, use the request at the bottom of the page.
Frequently asked questions
How long before departure should we start planning?
Start as soon as the assignment is agreed. The permit route, the housing search and the school decision all take time, and each depends on the others. Your employee should not book a one-way flight before the permit position is clear.
Which permit does my employee need?
It depends on nationality, the type of employment and the canton. Employees from the EU or EFTA are treated differently from nationals of third states, who face a stricter admission process. The cantonal migration office and the State Secretariat for Migration decide, not the employer or any intermediary. The permit finder gives a first orientation only.
What must my employee do on arrival?
Register with the commune of residence. The commonly cited period is 14 days from arrival, but it can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it locally. Your employee should bring an identity document, the permit and proof of health insurance.
Is health insurance compulsory?
Yes. Anyone who lives in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance no later than three months after taking up residence. If the period is respected, cover runs back to the date of arrival, and premiums are due from that date. If it is missed, cover starts on enrolment, a surcharge can apply, and the canton can assign an insurer.
Can the employee start the housing search from abroad?
Yes, and most do. The difficulty is the file, not the distance. Landlords expect a complete set of documents, and some ask for them before a viewing. Consider temporary housing for the first weeks, so that the search is not rushed. See corporate housing options for how a provider can help.
What about schools and children?
Public schools are run by the canton and commune, so rules differ by location. International schools exist in the main cities. The school choice guide and the page on moving with children explain the questions to ask early.
Does the answer change for senior transferees or other profiles?
Often it does. An executive, a founder and a single professional face different questions on permits, housing and family. See the pages on the executive transferee, the entrepreneur or founder and the single professional.
Can you give advice on tax, law or insurance for my employee?
No. This site explains general rules and connects you with relocation companies in Switzerland. A specialist can examine the case once you send a request. Use Request relocation support.