School enrolment in Switzerland is a local procedure. There is no national register of pupils and no single application form. Each municipality (Gemeinde) places children in its own public schools, under rules set by the canton. For a mobility team, this means that the enrolment of a transferee's child cannot be completed from abroad in most cases. It follows the employee's arrival and registration.
This page covers the sequence, the documents and the decisions that belong to the employer or the transferee. It does not describe the school system itself. For that, see the Swiss school system and public schools in Switzerland.
The principle: residence first, school second
Public schooling is organised by the municipality of residence. The school authority can place a child only once the family has an address in that municipality. This is why the first step is not the school. It is the registration of the household.
Newcomers register with the municipality within 14 days of arrival. On site, the municipal office asks for an identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance (ch.ch). Local practice can vary by canton and by municipality, so your employee confirms the exact requirements with the office concerned.
Two consequences follow for your policy:
- A child cannot be placed in a public school before the family has a residential address.
- Health insurance is part of the registration file. Basic health insurance is compulsory within three months of taking up residence (FOPH), but the municipality may ask for proof at the counter. Arranging cover early removes a possible delay.
The registration step has its own page: registering with the municipality within 14 days.
Who is covered, and under which regime
Switzerland applies two admission regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for third-country nationals (SEM). The regime determines the permit of the employee. It does not change the principle that a child living in Switzerland is entitled to schooling in the municipality of residence.
In practice, the regime affects the timeline in three ways:
- The permit of the employee, and the accompanying family's permits, must be in place before registration.
- Family members of third-country nationals follow the rules of the permit holder. The authority decides, and nothing is assured in advance.
- Documents issued abroad may need to be provided in the form the municipality accepts. The office tells the family what it requires.
Your employee can check the permit position with the permit finder. For the work-permit process itself, see how to get a Swiss work permit.
The order of steps
The usual order is below. The exact timing depends on the canton and on the school calendar.
Before departure
Preparation abroad is the part the employer controls. The aim is a complete file, so that nothing blocks the school office once the family arrives.
- Ask the current school for a recent report, a statement of the year group and, where relevant, the curriculum followed.
- Gather the child's vaccination record and any medical or learning-support documentation.
- Obtain copies of passports and, when issued, residence permits.
- Decide early whether the family considers a public school, a bilingual school or an international school. This choice changes the whole procedure.
The relocation calendar and the personalised checklist help place these tasks in the right order.
On arrival
The household registers. The municipality then tells the family which school office or school administration handles enrolment. In some places this is the same counter. In others it is a separate department. Your employee asks at the registration desk, so that no second trip is needed.
After registration
The school authority places the child. In most cantons, placement follows the catchment area of the home address. A change of address inside the municipality can change the assigned school, so a housing decision made late may delay placement. See apartment search in Switzerland for the housing side.
Documents: what the school office usually asks for
Practice differs, and the municipality is the final authority. Typical requests are:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Child's passport or identity card | Identity and nationality |
| Residence or permit card of the family | Proof of the right to reside |
| Proof of address | Municipality and catchment area |
| Proof of health insurance | Part of the registration file |
| School reports and transfer certificate | Placement in the right year group |
| Vaccination record | Health requirements of the school |
Foreign-language documents may need a translation. The office specifies which translations it accepts, so asking before ordering one avoids duplicate cost.
Choosing the school type
Placement in a public school is the default for a child living in the municipality. Other options exist and have different procedures.
- Public school. Free of charge in principle, taught in the local language of the canton. The municipality assigns the place. See public schools in Switzerland.
- International or bilingual school. Admission is handled by the school itself, often with its own deadlines and waiting lists. See international and bilingual schools and what an international school costs.
- Mixed approach. Some families choose an international school for the first period and move to the public system later, or the reverse.
The school choice guide sets these options side by side. For families who need help with the search, there is also a school search service.
The language question
Public schools teach in the local language of the canton. A child who arrives without that language usually receives support, but the form of support depends on the school and the municipality. Employers can reduce friction by funding language preparation before departure and in the first months. See language courses for assignees.
Where employers lose time
The same few problems recur.
- The family signs a lease late. No address means no registration and no placement.
- Health insurance is left open. The registration desk may ask for proof, and a missing document turns one visit into two.
- Documents are not ready. Reports, vaccination records and translations obtained after arrival slow placement.
- The school type is undecided. International school applications run on their own timeline, separate from the municipal procedure.
- Expectations are not set. The family assumes a fixed school date. The authority sets it.
What the employer decides
A mobility policy can cover this stage in several ways. It can fund a school search, language preparation, translations and settling-in support. It can also leave the family to arrange everything. The choice belongs to the employer. A specialist can examine the transferee's situation through the request at the bottom of the page.
For related services, see relocation services in Switzerland, settling-in service and home search service. To compare destinations on school and housing questions, use the city comparator.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child be enrolled in a Swiss school before the family arrives?
In most cases, no. Public schools are assigned by the municipality of residence, so the family needs an address there first. International schools often accept applications earlier.
Who handles school enrolment?
The municipality of residence, under cantonal rules. The school administration or school office of the municipality places the child.
Is there a national application portal for schools?
No. Switzerland has no central pupil register or portal. Each municipality or canton runs its own procedure.
What is the first step after arrival?
Registration with the municipality. This is required within 14 days of arrival (ch.ch), although the exact period can vary by municipality or canton.
What does the municipality ask for at registration?
An identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance (ch.ch). The office may add its own requirements.
Do children need health insurance?
Yes. Basic health insurance is compulsory for every person resident in Switzerland, within three months of taking up residence (FOPH). Cover is backdated to the date of residence if the period is respected.
Does the permit regime change school access?
The regime (EU/EFTA or third country) determines the employee's permit. A child living in the municipality is placed through the same local procedure (SEM).
Which documents should be prepared abroad?
School reports, a transfer certificate, vaccination records, passport copies and any learning-support documentation. The municipality confirms what it accepts.
Are translations of school reports required?
It depends on the municipality and the school. Asking the office first avoids paying for translations that are not needed.
Is public school free?
Public schooling is free of charge in principle. Some activities and materials may carry small contributions that vary by municipality.
In which language do public schools teach?
In the local language of the canton: German, French or Italian. Some schools offer support for children who do not speak it.
Can the family choose the public school?
Placement usually follows the catchment area of the home address. The rules differ by canton and municipality.
Does the housing choice affect the school?
Yes. Because placement follows the address, the choice of neighbourhood can change the assigned school. Housing and school questions are best considered together.
Can a child start school immediately after registration?
Not necessarily. The school authority first assigns a school and class. The start date is set by the authority and the school calendar.
Is an assessment required?
Some schools conduct an interview or an assessment to place a child in the right class. This varies, and the school informs the family.
What if the child does not speak the local language?
Most public schools have a way to support new arrivals, but its form varies. Language preparation before departure helps.
Do international schools follow the same procedure?
No. They handle admission themselves, with their own forms, deadlines and waiting lists. See international and bilingual schools.
Is childcare handled in the same way?
No. Childcare and after-school care follow different rules and providers. See childcare in Switzerland.
What about an accompanying partner's own plans?
Partner integration affects the success of an assignment. See supporting the accompanying partner.
What about older students and higher education?
Higher education follows other routes and admission rules. See universities and higher education.
Can the employer arrange this support?
Yes. Employers often include school search and settling-in support in the policy. The request at the bottom of the page connects you with a relocation company suited to the need.
Who decides if the permit of the family is granted?
The authorities. A mobility team cannot treat a permit as assured before the decision. See immigration support.
Is a bank account relevant to enrolment?
Not directly, but families often need one for fees and school payments soon after arrival. See opening a bank account.
Sources
Related pages
- Schools in Switzerland for expatriate families
- The Swiss school system
- Public schools in Switzerland
- International and bilingual schools in Switzerla
- What an international school costs
- Childcare and after-school care in Switzerland
- Universities and higher education institutions f
- Supporting the accompanying partner