A moving to Switzerland checklist works best when it follows the order in which authorities and providers act. Some steps cannot start until others are done. A permit comes before a lease in practice, and a lease comes before the municipal registration.
This page gives your HR or mobility team the sequence in three phases. It does not replace the detailed guides. Each phase points to the page that covers the topic in depth.
How the three phases fit together
Phase 1: before departure
The preparation phase is where the employer carries most of the weight. Decisions made here set the cost and the speed of everything after.
- Confirm the permit route for your employee. EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals follow different rules. The permit finder gives an orientation.
- Agree the support model in your policy: lump sum or managed service. See relocation services in Switzerland.
- Plan the calendar backwards from the start date with the relocation calendar.
- Start the home search early. A rental file checker shows what landlords expect from an applicant abroad.
- Check which family members travel and when. Schools and childcare fill early, so use the school choice guide.
- Collect civil documents and certified copies in the home country.
For the full list, read the checklist before departure and the relocation timeline.
Phase 2: the first weeks after arrival
Arrival formalities are short in time but strict in order. Registration with the local commune is the first.
According to ch.ch, arrival must be reported to the commune within 14 days (ch.ch). The period can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it locally. On site, your transferee typically presents:
- an identity document;
- the residence or work permit;
- proof of health insurance.
Because the commune asks for proof of insurance, the insurance step cannot wait until the end of the quarter. Keep the documents together in one folder, travelling with your employee.
Other tasks in this phase include opening a bank account, taking over utilities and confirming the move-in handover. The settling-in service covers these arrival steps for teams that prefer managed support.
Phase 3: the first three months
This phase is about deadlines that run from the date of residence.
Health insurance
Basic health insurance is compulsory for anyone living in Switzerland. It has to be taken out no later than three months after taking up residence (FOPH). If the deadline is met, cover is backdated to the date of residence, and premiums are due from that date. If it is missed, cover starts at affiliation, a premium surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer (FOPH).
Driving licence
A foreign licence is valid for 12 months for a person living in Switzerland, provided there was no continuous stay abroad of more than three months (Canton of Zurich). After that, a Swiss licence is needed. The exchange application is due no later than one month before the 12 months end. Depending on the country of issue, the exchange is granted with or without an examination.
Everything else
Review the permit card, tax registration questions and school enrolment with the assignee. The personalised checklist generator builds a list around your transferee's profile. For common slips in this phase, see common mistakes when moving to Switzerland.
Which guide to read next
- General overview: moving to Switzerland.
- Arrival period in detail: checklist for the first three months.
- Immigration questions: immigration support.
- Accommodation: home search service.
- Families: onboarding assignee families.
If your team wants a specialist to look at a specific case, the request at the bottom of this page starts the matching process.
Frequently asked questions
When should HR start a moving to Switzerland checklist?
As soon as the assignment is approved. The permit route and the housing search both take time, and neither can be compressed at the last minute.
Who is responsible for each step?
It depends on your policy. Typically the employer handles the permit application and the transferee handles personal registrations. A managed service shifts more of the work to a provider.
How soon after arrival is registration needed?
Arrival is reported to the commune within 14 days, according to ch.ch. The exact period can differ by commune or canton, so check with the local office.
What is the deadline for basic health insurance?
Three months after taking up residence. Cover is backdated if the deadline is met. See the FOPH page in the sources below.
Can a transferee keep driving on a foreign licence?
For 12 months, under the conditions set out by the Canton of Zurich. An exchange application is due no later than one month before that period ends.
Does the checklist differ for EU and non-EU employees?
Yes, mainly for immigration. The permit stage differs, while registration, insurance and housing steps are similar. The permit finder shows the likely route.
Does the checklist change for a retiree or a student?
Yes. Read moving to Switzerland as a retiree or as a student for those profiles. A single professional has a lighter list than a family.