Moving to Switzerland with family is a different project from moving a single employee. Your transferee's spouse and children need their own legal status, their own insurance and, in most cases, a school place. Each of these has a lead time that sits outside your control.
This guide gives the HR or mobility manager the sequence, the decision points and the questions to put to the authorities or to a specialist. It does not replace case-specific advice. For that, use the relocation support request.
Start with the regime that applies
Switzerland admits foreign nationals under two regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals (the free movement route, ALCP) and one for nationals of third states, meaning outside the EU/EFTA. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) describes both on its admission pages. Which regime applies to your employee decides almost everything that follows for the family.
Check three points before the offer is final:
- The nationality of the employee.
- The nationality of the spouse and of each child. These can differ within one family.
- The permit category your employee is likely to receive. The authorities decide this, not your company or ours.
Conditions that depend on qualification, labour-market priority or housing are set by the authorities. They are not set out here. A permit finder can orient you, and a specialist should confirm the outcome.
Family reunification for third-country nationals
For third-country nationals, the spouse and the unmarried children under 18 may be brought to Switzerland under the family reunification rules of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (LEI). The cantonal fact sheet and the SEM set out the conditions.
The point that depends on the permit is whether reunification is a right or a matter of discretion. Under art. 44 LEI, it is a matter of discretion for holders of a B permit. It is not a right. Under art. 42 and 43 LEI, it is a right for the spouse and children of Swiss citizens and of C permit holders.
For your transferee, this means the family file cannot be assumed to follow automatically. Treat it as a separate application.
Deadlines to put in the plan
Art. 47 LEI sets two deadlines. Reunification must be requested within 5 years. For children over 12, the request must be made within 12 months. A request filed late needs major family reasons.
Diary these dates at the start of the assignment. A missed date is one of the common mistakes when moving to Switzerland.
Housing and financial-means conditions also apply in practice. Ask the cantonal office what it requires before you promise anything to the employee. For more detail, see family reunification in Switzerland.
Registration on arrival
Each family member must register with the municipality of residence. The usual deadline is 14 days after arrival. It can vary by municipality and canton, so confirm it locally.
Documents normally asked for are a passport or identity card, the residence or work permit, and proof of health insurance. Prepare originals before departure, and ask whether translations or certified copies are needed for civil-status documents.
Ask the municipality in advance. Some require an appointment. The federal portal (ch.ch) lists the first steps on arrival.
Health insurance for every family member
Anyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance. The deadline is three months after taking up residence. If it is met, cover is retroactive to the date of residence, and premiums are owed from that date. If it is missed, cover starts on affiliation, with a premium surcharge for an unexcused delay. The canton may also assign an insurer.
Each child needs a policy of their own. Build the cost into your policy. Decide in advance whether you pay the premiums, reimburse them or cover them through a lump sum.
Schools and childcare
Schooling is organised by canton and commune, not federally. The choice between the local public school, a bilingual option and an international school depends on the destination, the child's age and the expected length of the assignment. If the family comes from the UK, the US or India, the school year, the language of instruction and the age cut-offs may differ from what the children know.
Start the school enquiry as soon as the destination is fixed. Use the school choice guide as a starting point. The destination also drives the housing search, so compare locations with the city comparator.
A working sequence for HR
5 years
Window to request reunification (third states)
Source: SEM, LEI art. 47
12 months
Window for children over 12
Source: SEM, LEI art. 47
14 days
Registration with the municipality
Source: ch.ch, varies by commune
three months
Basic health insurance after taking up residence
Source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)
Use this order:
- Confirm the nationality of every family member.
- Confirm which regime applies and who files the permit application.
- Open the reunification file in parallel with the employee's permit.
- Choose the destination, then enquire about schools.
- Brief the family on municipal registration and the documents to carry.
- Arrange basic health insurance for each person.
- Add the reunification deadlines to your assignment tracker.
For the full calendar, see the relocation calendar. To build one for a specific family, use the personalised checklist generator.
When to bring in support
Family cases involve several authorities and several people at once. You can ask a relocation company to handle immigration support, the home search and the settling-in service. We connect you with a company suited to the request. Describe the family in the request at the bottom of the page.
Frequently asked questions
Can the spouse and children join the employee at the same time?
It depends on the regime and on the permit. For third-country nationals, reunification is a separate application and, for B permit holders, a matter of discretion. Plan the file in parallel with the employee's own permit and confirm the timing with the cantonal office.
What is the age limit for children under family reunification?
For third-country nationals, the rules cover unmarried children under 18. The cantonal fact sheet and the SEM give the detail. Cases at the edge of the age limit should go to a specialist early.
Is there a deadline to request reunification?
Yes, for third-country nationals. The window is 5 years, and 12 months for children over 12 (art. 47 LEI). A late request requires major family reasons.
When must the family register on arrival?
Usually within 14 days with the municipality of residence. The exact deadline can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it with the local office before departure.
Do children need their own health insurance?
Yes. Every person living in Switzerland must have basic health insurance, within three months of taking up residence. Cover is retroactive if the deadline is met.
Who decides whether the family receives a permit?
The authorities decide. Neither your company nor a relocation provider can promise an outcome. A specialist can review the file and tell you what the authorities will look at.