Your transferee will meet Swiss vocabulary on the first day of the process. Contracts, permit letters, tenancy forms and insurance offers arrive in German, French or Italian, depending on the canton. This glossary gives you the term, the original and what it means for your policy.
Use it as a reference for your own team and as a handout for your employee. For the full sequence of steps, see the moving to Switzerland guide.
How to read this glossary
Terms are grouped by stage of the move. The table below shows who normally acts and when each group of terms becomes relevant.
Permits and status
Aufenthaltsbewilligung / autorisation de séjour (residence permit). The document that allows a foreign national to live in Switzerland. The type depends on nationality, purpose and length of stay.
Arbeitsbewilligung / autorisation de travail (work permit). Permission to take up employment. In practice it is often combined with the residence permit.
UE/AELE (EU/EFTA). Nationals of EU and EFTA states are admitted under the free movement agreement (ALCP / FZA). Nationals of other states are admitted under a separate regime. Both regimes exist, and the detailed conditions differ. See hiring EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) sets out the two regimes on its website.
Drittstaaten / États tiers (third countries). Every state outside the EU and EFTA. Your transferee from the United States, India, China, Japan, the UAE, Canada or Australia falls here. A British national also counts as a third-country national.
Kontingent / contingent (quota). A cap on certain permits. Whether a quota applies depends on the permit type and nationality. See permit quotas.
Permit L / Permit B / Permit C. Short-term, residence and settlement permits. Letters indicate the status, not a ranking of employees. Read Permit L and the overview of Swiss work permits.
Migrationsamt / office cantonal de la population (migration office). The cantonal authority that handles permit files. Its process and speed vary by canton.
Familiennachzug / regroupement familial (family reunification). The route by which a spouse and children join the permit holder. Conditions apply and are set by the authorities.
Entsendung / détachement (posting). Sending an employee abroad for a limited period while the employment relationship stays with the home employer. The rules differ from a local hire.
Arrival formalities
Gemeinde / commune (municipality). The local authority where your employee registers. Each commune has its own counter, hours and checklist.
Anmeldung / annonce d'arrivée (arrival registration). The notice of arrival given to the commune. The deadline is generally 14 days after arrival, but it can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it locally (ch.ch). Bring an identity document, the permit or work authorisation, and proof of health insurance.
Wohnsitz / domicile (place of residence). The legal centre of a person's life. It triggers insurance duties and tax liability.
Einwohnerkontrolle / contrôle des habitants (residents' register). The commune office that keeps the register of residents. Most registrations happen here.
Ausländerausweis / titre de séjour (foreign national's card). The physical card issued after approval. Your employee uses it as proof of status.
Health insurance
KVG / LAMal (compulsory health insurance). The federal law that requires basic cover for everyone who lives in Switzerland. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) publishes the rules.
Grundversicherung / assurance de base (basic insurance). The cover that every resident must hold. Insurers must accept applicants for basic cover.
Versicherungspflicht / obligation d'assurance (insurance duty). The duty to take out basic cover no later than three months after taking up residence. If your employee meets that deadline, cover is backdated to the date of residence, and premiums are due from that date. If the deadline is missed, cover starts at affiliation, a premium surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer (FOPH).
Prämie / prime (premium). The regular payment to the insurer. It differs by insurer, canton and chosen options.
Franchise (deductible). The amount your employee pays before the insurer contributes. A higher deductible lowers the premium. Which option suits a person is a matter for a specialist.
Zusatzversicherung / assurance complémentaire (supplementary insurance). Optional cover on top of basic insurance. Your corporate policy may address it.
UVG / LAA (accident insurance). Accident cover, normally arranged through the employer. See accident insurance.
Housing
Mietvertrag / contrat de bail (tenancy agreement). The lease. Read the notice periods and handover terms carefully.
Mietzinsdepot / garantie de loyer (rent deposit). A security held in a blocked account. Landlords often ask for it before handing over keys.
Verwaltung / régie (property manager). The agent who manages a rental property for the owner. Most applications go through this office.
Betreibungsauszug / extrait du registre des poursuites (debt enforcement extract). An official statement about debt proceedings. Landlords usually request it. A person arriving from abroad has no Swiss record, so the file needs other supporting documents. See the apartment search guide.
Nebenkosten / charges (service charges). Costs on top of the base rent, such as heating and water. Check whether they are included.
Übergabeprotokoll / état des lieux (handover report). The inspection record at move-in and move-out. Your employee should keep a copy.
Möblierte Wohnung / appartement meublé (furnished flat). Often used for early weeks. See corporate housing.
Tax and social security
Quellensteuer / impôt à la source (withholding tax). Tax deducted directly from salary for many foreign nationals without a settlement permit. The exact rules depend on status and canton.
Steuererklärung / déclaration d'impôt (tax return). The annual filing. Whether it applies depends on the person's situation, so refer your employee to a tax specialist.
AHV / AVS (old-age and survivors' insurance). The first pillar of the Swiss pension system. Contributions are shared between employer and employee.
Pensionskasse / caisse de pension (occupational pension fund). The second pillar, linked to the employer. Plan rules vary by fund.
Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen / convention contre la double imposition (double tax treaty). An agreement between two states to avoid taxing the same income twice. Its effect depends on the home country.
Lohnausweis / certificat de salaire (salary statement). The employer's annual summary of pay, used for tax filing.
Schools and family
Kindergarten / école enfantine. The first stage of public schooling. Entry age and organisation vary by canton.
Volksschule / école publique (public school). Local schools run by the commune and canton. The language of instruction follows the region.
Internationale Schule / école internationale (international school). A private school teaching in English or another language. Places are limited, so start early. See childcare.
Kita / crèche (daycare). Care for young children. Availability and waiting times differ by commune.
Other terms you will meet
Lex Koller. The federal law that limits property purchases by foreign nationals. See buying property.
Lump sum / Pauschale. A fixed allowance instead of managed services. Your policy defines what it covers.
Relocation provider / Umzugsdienst. A company that supports the move. We connect you with one that matches the request. See relocation services.
Wohnsitznahme / prise de domicile. The act of taking up residence. It marks the start of several deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
Does the glossary cover all 100 terms in one place?
This page gives the core terms for a corporate move, grouped by stage. Each term links to a guide where one exists. Ask in the request at the bottom of the page if a term is missing for your case.
Why do my employee's documents use different words for the same thing?
Switzerland has several official languages. The same office or document has a German, French and Italian name. The canton decides which applies.
Which terms should HR learn first?
Start with the permit regime (EU/EFTA or third country), the commune registration, and the health insurance duty. These carry deadlines. Use the relocation calendar to place them in order.
What is the registration deadline on arrival?
Registration with the commune is generally due within 14 days of arrival. It can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it locally before your employee travels.
How long does my employee have to take out basic health insurance?
Basic cover must be in place no later than three months after taking up residence. Meeting the deadline means cover is backdated to the date of residence. Missing it brings a later start and possible surcharge.
Do EU and non-EU employees follow the same rules?
No. Switzerland applies one regime to EU/EFTA nationals and another to third-country nationals. The detailed conditions differ, and the authorities decide each case. A specialist can examine your situation through the request at the bottom of the page.
Where can I check which permit applies?
Use the permit finder for an orientation, then the immigration support service for the file itself. The authorities, not this site, grant permits.