A school search service in Switzerland is a defined piece of relocation support. A specialist finds suitable schools for your transferee's children, arranges visits where possible and helps with applications. It is usually one line in a wider relocation policy.
This page is for the HR or mobility manager who must decide whether to include it, and for which assignees.
What a school search service covers
The scope varies by provider. In general, expect the following.
- A needs assessment: the children's ages, current curriculum, languages and any learning support.
- A shortlist of public, private and international options within a realistic commute of the chosen home.
- Help with application forms, supporting documents and school contact.
- Visits, either in person or by video, arranged around the family's travel.
- Guidance on timing, so that school and housing decisions do not block each other.
The service does not decide admission. Each school, or the local authority for public schools, makes that decision.
Why Switzerland needs a specific approach
Education is organised by canton, and often by municipality. Rules on enrolment, school age, language of instruction and catchment areas differ from one place to the next. Your transferee may be used to a single national system. Switzerland does not offer one.
Public schools teach in the local language. A child who arrives mid-year without that language may need extra support or may be better placed in a private or international school. That is a family and policy decision, and it affects cost.
Housing and school are linked. In public schooling the home address generally determines the school. A transferee who signs a lease first may fix the school choice without realising it. For that reason, run the school search alongside the home search service, not after it.
What your employee can do alone
Some families manage without help. A school search is realistic as a self-service task when:
- the family is moving to one city with a clear international school offer;
- the children are young and language is not a barrier;
- the family has time before the move to contact schools directly.
Our school choice guide and the overview of schools in Switzerland for expatriate families help with this route.
When specialist help makes sense
Consider a managed school search when:
- the family has several children at different stages;
- the transferee has little time between assignment decision and start date;
- the children need a particular curriculum to stay on track for a return home or a later move;
- the move is to a smaller municipality with little international provision;
- your policy promises family support and you want a consistent standard across assignees.
Treat it as a duty-of-care item as much as a convenience. A family that is unsettled over schooling affects the assignment.
How the introduction works
Swiss Relocation Agency is a matching service. We do not search for schools ourselves. We work with leading relocation companies in Switzerland and, depending on your request, introduce you to the one that fits the need.
The request is made through the form at the bottom of the page. A specialist then examines the case. Nothing in the introduction commits your company.
Questions to ask a provider
Before you agree scope, ask the following.
- Which cantons and municipalities do you cover?
- Do you search public, private and international schools?
- Who submits applications, and who is the school's point of contact?
- What happens if the first-choice school has no place?
- How do you handle children who need learning support?
- What is included, and what is billed separately?
- How is the work reported to HR?
Ask for the answers in writing, and compare them with your policy.
Employer responsibilities
The employer remains responsible for the policy. Decide in advance:
- whether school search is mandatory, optional or capped;
- whether school fees are covered, partly covered or excluded;
- who signs school contracts, the employee or the company;
- how the school search is timed against the permit process.
Permits matter. Admission rules depend on the regime that applies to your transferee. Switzerland has two regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for third-country nationals (SEM). Family members' status follows the principal permit, so schools may ask for residence documents before they confirm a place. Our immigration support page explains how that step is handled.
Coordinating with other services
A school search rarely stands alone. It sits beside:
- temporary housing while the family waits for a lease;
- settling-in support after arrival;
- spouse and partner support, since a partner's job search often depends on school hours;
- the wider corporate relocation service.
For an overview of the full range, see relocation services in Switzerland.
Preparing the file
Ask your transferee to gather these before the search starts:
- recent school reports and any assessments;
- passports and, once issued, residence documents;
- vaccination records;
- details of the curriculum followed at home;
- a list of languages each child speaks.
A complete file shortens the exchange with schools. If you are ready, you can start with a relocation support request.
Frequently asked questions
What is a school search service in Switzerland?
It is a support service in which a specialist finds and shortlists schools for relocating children and helps with applications. It often includes visits and advice on timing.
Does the service guarantee a place at a school?
No. Schools and local authorities decide admission. The service improves preparation and timing, but it cannot promise a place.
Is it only for international schools?
No. A good search covers public, private and international options, because the best choice depends on the child's age, language and expected length of stay.
Who pays for it?
That depends on your relocation policy. Some employers fund it in full, some set a cap and some leave it to the employee. Agree the position before the assignment letter is issued.
How early should the search begin?
As soon as the destination is known. Schools may have waiting lists, and the home address often affects the public school. Start alongside the housing search.
Can the search be done remotely?
Often, yes. Providers can run calls and video visits. A short trip before the move still helps many families.
What if the children do not speak the local language?
Options include international schools, private schools with a bilingual stream or public schools with language support. The right answer depends on the child, and a specialist can review the case.
Does the permit type change anything?
It can. Admission rules depend on the regime that applies to the transferee, and family members follow the principal permit. Schools may ask for residence documents.
Can we use the service for only some employees?
Yes. Many policies reserve it for families with school-age children or for certain grades. Write the eligibility rule into the policy.
What does Swiss Relocation Agency do in this process?
We review your request and introduce you to a relocation company that suits the need. We do not run the school search ourselves, and we do not name providers on this page.
Do you give personal advice on which school to choose?
No. This page gives general information. A specialist examines your transferee's situation and discusses options with the family.
What happens after we submit the request?
We assess it, introduce you to a suitable company and you hold a first conversation to agree scope and timing. The form at the bottom of the page starts this.