A partner support relocation service looks after the person who moves with your transferee, not the transferee. It covers three areas: career, network and language. Many assignments fail or end early because the accompanying partner struggles to settle. This page explains what the service includes, what your employee's partner can do alone, and how the introduction to a specialist works.
What a partner support service covers
The service is built around the partner's own situation. It does not replace the assignment package. It sits beside it.
- Career. Orientation on the Swiss job market, advice on how a CV is read in Switzerland, and help to understand whether the partner is allowed to work under their permit.
- Network. Introductions to expatriate and professional groups, social activities and community life in the destination.
- Language. Guidance on which national language matters in the canton, and on how to find courses before and after arrival.
- Practical orientation. A clear view of the first administrative steps the partner shares with your transferee.
The service does not give legal, tax or insurance advice on an individual case. A specialist examines the situation after you submit a request.
Why the permit comes first
The partner's right to live in Switzerland, and to work there, depends on the route that applies to your transferee. Two regimes exist: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for nationals of third countries (outside the EU and EFTA). The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) describes both on its admission pages. Check which regime applies before you promise anything to the partner.
For third-country nationals, family reunification covers the spouse and unmarried children under 18. Reunification must be requested within five years. For children over 12, the period is 12 months. A request filed after these periods needs major family reasons. The legal basis differs by permit: the authorities have discretion for holders of a B permit, while the spouse of a Swiss citizen or of a C permit holder has a right. Details for EU/EFTA nationals and the conditions on housing and financial means depend on the canton and the case. The cantonal migration office will confirm them.
Read more on family reunification in Switzerland and on immigration support.
What your employee's partner can do alone
Some tasks need no provider. The partner can:
- Register with the commune on arrival. The notice is due within 14 days in many places, but the rule varies by commune and canton. Expect to show an identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance.
- Arrange basic health insurance. Anyone who lives in Switzerland must take out cover within three months of taking up residence. If the deadline is met, cover is retroactive to the date of arrival and premiums are due from that date.
- Start language learning from the home country.
- Join public groups and online communities for newcomers.
These are administrative steps. They do not build a career or a network. That is where support adds value.
When specialist support makes sense
Consider the service when:
- the partner held a career in the home country and wants to continue it;
- the assignment is long or the partner is the main driver of the decision to move;
- your policy already includes a spouse allowance or a lump sum for partner support;
- the destination uses a language the partner does not speak;
- the family has children and the partner needs to organise school and daily life first. See the school search service.
For short assignments, a briefing and a language voucher may be enough.
Employer decisions to take first
Your HR or mobility team should settle four points before the request:
- Scope. Is partner support included in the policy, capped, or offered as a lump sum?
- Eligibility. Does it cover spouses only, or also unmarried partners?
- Timing. Does support start before departure or after arrival?
- Duration. Is it a fixed number of sessions or open until a result is reached?
Write the answers into the request. A specialist can then match the right provider faster. For wider context, see corporate relocation service and settling-in service.
How the introduction works
The site does not provide the service itself. It works with the best relocation companies in Switzerland and introduces you to the one that fits the need.
Submit the details through the request at the bottom of the page. The how it works page explains what happens next.
Questions to ask a provider
- Which permit situations do your consultants handle for partners?
- Is the support given in person, online or both?
- Does the service include career coaching, or only orientation?
- How is progress reported to the employer, and what data is shared?
- What happens if the partner returns home early?
- Can language courses be arranged in the canton's language?
Do not ask for a guarantee of employment. No provider can give one.
Checklist for the HR team
- Confirm the transferee's permit route (EU/EFTA or third country)
- Check what the policy offers to the partner
- Collect the partner's profile, language level and goals
- Plan registration with the commune and health insurance cover
- Send the request for partner support
You can also use the relocation calendar to place each step in order, or request relocation support directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a partner support relocation service?
It is a service that helps the person who accompanies a transferee to settle. It covers career orientation, social network and language learning. It is separate from the transferee's own support.
Does the service find the partner a job?
No. It orients, advises and introduces. Employment depends on the market, the partner's profile and the permit conditions. No result can be promised.
Can the partner work in Switzerland?
It depends on the permit route and the personal situation. The cantonal migration office confirms it. A specialist can explain the general rules and what depends on the case.
Are EU/EFTA partners treated differently?
Yes. Two regimes exist: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for third-country nationals. The SEM describes both. The conditions for each differ, so check the route first.
How long can the family wait to request reunification?
For third-country nationals, reunification of the spouse and children under 18 must be requested within five years. For children over 12 the period is 12 months. A late request needs major family reasons.
Who pays for partner support?
That is an employer decision. Some policies include it, some offer a lump sum, and some leave it out. Decide before you send the request.
When should the partner register with the commune?
Registration is generally due within 14 days of arrival, but communes and cantons differ. The commune will tell you what to bring. Usually it asks for an identity document, the permit and proof of health insurance.
How soon must the partner take out health insurance?
Within three months of taking up residence. If the deadline is respected, cover starts from the arrival date. After that, cover starts at affiliation and a surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay.
Do we need to name the partner in the request?
You need to describe the partner's situation, not give private documents. Use a first name or a role. A specialist asks for more detail later if needed.
Is language support included?
It usually is, in the form of guidance and course search. The national language to learn depends on the canton. Ask the provider which formats it offers.
Can the service start before departure?
Yes, in most cases. Starting early lets the partner prepare their CV, language skills and contacts before the move.
What happens after we send the request?
A specialist reviews it, the request goes to the company that fits, and that company contacts you for a first conversation.