Moving to Switzerland from Germany is often treated as a short hop. The distance is small. The administrative gap is not. Your transferee leaves one legal system and enters another, with its own permit rules, its own health insurance market and its own pension structure.
This page is written for the HR or mobility manager. It explains what changes, what the employer should decide early, and what your employee must prepare before leaving Germany. It gives general rules only. A specialist reviews each individual case through the request at the bottom of the page.
Start with nationality, not with the country of departure
Your employee's permit route depends on nationality, not on the fact that they live in Germany. Switzerland applies two regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals under the free movement agreement (ALCP), and one for nationals of third countries. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) publishes the framework on its page on the admission of workers.
This matters for German assignments because a German workforce is rarely uniform. A German national falls under the EU/EFTA route. A colleague who is based in Germany but holds, for example, an Indian or US passport may fall under the third-country route. The two files differ in who applies, what is examined and how long the process takes.
The detailed conditions for each route are confirmed by the cantonal authority. Do not assume that a German residence permit gives any advantage in Switzerland. It does not.
Our permit finder helps you sort a group of transferees by route. For the full process, see immigration support.
What to sequence before departure
Each step depends on the one before it. A late permit file delays the registration, and a late registration starts the insurance clock. Plan backwards from the start date in the employment contract.
You can map the dates with the relocation calendar and generate a task list with the personalised checklist.
Health insurance: the biggest change in daily terms
In Switzerland, health insurance is private but compulsory. Your employee does not join a state fund by default. They choose an insurer and a model themselves.
Anyone who takes up residence in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (LAMal in French, KVG in German) no later than three months after taking up residence. If the deadline is met, cover is retroactive to the date of residence, and premiums are due from that date. If the deadline is missed, cover starts only on enrolment. A surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer (Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), compulsory insurance).
For HR, the practical points are these:
- Tell your employee in the offer letter that the deadline exists.
- Decide whether your policy reimburses premiums, and say so in writing.
- Explain that the insurer and the model are chosen by the employee.
Whether a German insurance can continue in parallel, or whether an exemption applies, depends on the individual situation. Refer these questions to a specialist. For background, read deductibles and insurance models in Switzerland and Swiss health insurance for expatriate employees.
Pensions and social contributions
Switzerland has a three-pillar system. The first pillar is the state scheme (AHV/IV). The second is occupational pension provision (LPP, or BVG in German). The third is private savings.
For 2026, the first-pillar contributions are 8.70% for old-age insurance, 1.40% for disability insurance and 0.50% for income compensation. Together they make 10.60% of gross salary, split equally between employer and employee (rates summarised by the AHV/IV information centre and the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO)). The second-pillar entry threshold for 2026 is CHF 23,040 per year (FSIO).
Your payroll team should treat these as general parameters and confirm them before building a cost model. Rates are reviewed regularly, and the employee's total cost depends on the pension plan the employer has chosen.
How German pension periods interact with Swiss ones is a legal question for each individual. Do not promise your transferee a particular outcome.
Driving licences
Many transferees drive. A foreign licence can be used in Switzerland for 12 months after taking up residence, provided there was no continuous stay abroad of more than three months. After that, a Swiss licence is required. The exchange request must be filed no later than one month before the 12 months end. An exchange requested more than five years after entry may require a control drive. Depending on where the licence was issued and its validity, the licence is exchanged with or without an examination (Canton of Zurich, exchange of a foreign licence).
Add the date to your onboarding calendar. Employees forget it, and the deadline is strict.
What is not the same as in Germany
Four differences cause most of the avoidable problems:
- Registration. The employee registers with the municipality on arrival. The employer does not do this for them.
- Housing. Rental files, deposits and handover rules differ. See lease contracts in Switzerland before your transferee signs.
- Insurance. Health insurance is a personal contract, not a payroll deduction to a fund.
- Taxes. Rules for tax residence, withholding and cantonal differences need a specialist. We do not give tax advice.
If the employee later moves between Swiss cantons, a different set of rules applies. See when an assignee changes canton.
Choosing a service level
Some employers hand over only the permit file. Others buy a full managed service. We connect you with relocation companies in Switzerland and, depending on your request, with the one that matches your need. The relevant service pages are relocation services in Switzerland, home search and settling-in support.
For comparison with other origin countries, see France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Frequently asked questions
Does a German passport mean no permit is needed?
No. German nationals use the EU/EFTA route under the free movement agreement, but a permit procedure with the cantonal authority still applies. The authority confirms the conditions and the steps.
What if my employee is based in Germany but is not a German national?
Nationality decides the route. A non-EU/EFTA national is handled under the third-country regime, even if they live in Germany. Sort your group by passport first.
Who applies for the permit, the employer or the employee?
This depends on the route and on the canton. Your specialist will tell you who files and which documents are needed.
How soon must basic health insurance be taken out?
No later than three months after taking up residence in Switzerland. If the deadline is met, cover is retroactive to the date of residence.
What happens if the deadline is missed?
Cover starts only at enrolment. A surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer.
Can the employer choose the insurer?
The employee takes out the contract. Your policy can describe a reimbursement or give guidance, but the choice remains personal.
Does German health cover continue in Switzerland?
That depends on the individual situation and is not a general rule. Refer the case to a specialist before departure.
What are the Swiss pension contributions for 2026?
First-pillar contributions are 8.70% for old-age insurance, 1.40% for disability and 0.50% for income compensation, or 10.60% in total (AHV/IV information centre). The employer and the employee share this equally.
What is the second-pillar entry threshold in 2026?
It is CHF 23,040 per year (FSIO). The plan rules of the employer's pension fund apply above that threshold.
How long can my employee drive with a German licence?
For 12 months after taking up residence, if there was no continuous stay abroad of more than three months. After that a Swiss licence is required.
When must a licence exchange be requested?
No later than one month before the 12 months end. Late requests may lead to a control drive or an examination.
Can you give personal tax or legal advice?
No. We explain general rules. A specialist examines your transferee's case after your request for relocation support.
Sources
Related pages
- Transferring employees from the United Kingdom t
- Transferring US employees to Switzerland
- Transferring employees from India to Switzerland
- Transferring Canadian employees to Switzerland
- Transferring Australian employees to Switzerland
- Transferring employees from the UAE and the Gulf
- From France
- Transferring employees from China to Switzerland