A relocation agent is a service provider that handles the practical side of moving a person to a new country. In Switzerland, that usually means the transferee's arrival: finding a home, registering, opening accounts, choosing a school and settling in. For your HR or mobility team, the agent is an extension of your policy on the ground.
The agent is not the employer, not the authority and not a legal adviser. That boundary matters more than the list of services. Most disappointments in a Swiss assignment come from a task that was assumed to sit with the agent when it sat with the company, the employee or the authorities.
The short definition
A relocation agent carries out defined tasks, on request, within a scope your company has agreed. Typical tasks are practical and local. They need knowledge of Swiss communes, landlords, schools and administrative routines that a transferee abroad does not have.
The agent works for a brief set by you. If your policy covers a home search but not a school search, the agent does the first and stops. If the brief is silent, the agent will usually ask before acting.
What a relocation agent typically does
Services differ between providers. The following are the usual building blocks, and each can be bought separately or as a package.
- Orientation. A short visit or briefing so the employee and family understand the area before committing. See the orientation visit.
- Home search. Shortlisting, viewings, preparing the rental file and dealing with the landlord or property manager. See the home search service and the note on property managers.
- Temporary housing. A bridge between arrival and the start of the lease. See temporary housing.
- Settling in. Help with the first administrative steps, utilities, bank accounts and local routines. See the settling-in service.
- Schools. Identifying options and supporting applications. See the school search service.
- Moving goods. Coordinating the removal company and customs paperwork. See international moving.
- Immigration support. Preparing and submitting documents in the sequence the authorities expect. See immigration support.
A broader overview sits on the page about relocation services in Switzerland.
What a relocation agent does not do
This is the part HR teams most often need in writing. An agent does not:
- Grant a permit. Only the cantonal and federal authorities decide. An agent can prepare a file. It cannot predict or secure the outcome.
- Replace the employer's role in the permit. In most cases the employer is the applicant or the supporting party. Your company stays responsible for the contract, the job description and the declarations it signs.
- Give personal legal, tax or insurance advice. An agent explains the general rule. A qualified specialist reviews the individual case.
- Set your policy. The agent applies your allowances and approval rules. It does not decide who is eligible or what is reimbursed.
- Guarantee a home, a school place or a date. Markets and admissions depend on third parties. A good agent is clear about this from the start.
- Pay on the employee's behalf unless agreed. Deposits, rent and invoices follow the payment route set in your policy.
- Act as a recruiter or an employer of record. Hiring and payroll are different services.
Where the agent sits among the parties
Four parties are involved in a typical move. Confusion between them is the main source of delay.
| Party | Main role | Decides |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Sponsors the move, sets policy, bears compliance duties | Eligibility, budget, start date |
| Transferee | Provides documents, attends appointments | Personal choices |
| Authorities | Process permits and registrations | Admission and residence |
| Relocation agent | Carries out agreed practical tasks | How a task is carried out |
The agent's decisions are operational. The decisions with legal weight sit with the other three.
Why the permit regime still shapes the agent's work
Switzerland applies two regimes. One covers nationals of EU and EFTA states, under the free movement agreement. The other covers nationals of third states, which means those outside the EU and EFTA. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) publishes the framework for the second group, and the detailed conditions are set out on its page on the admission of workers (SEM).
For your planning, this means the same agent task can start at very different points. For an EU/EFTA transferee, the agent may begin at housing. For a third-state national, the permit usually has to progress first, and the agent's tasks follow its timing. See hiring or transferring EU/EFTA nationals, Swiss work permits and how to get a Swiss work permit.
Arrival duties that an agent supports but cannot take over
Two obligations are personal to the resident, and your employee remains responsible for them even when an agent helps.
Registration with the commune. The transferee must announce their arrival to the commune within 14 days. In practice the commune asks for an identity document, the residence or work permit and proof of health insurance. Rules can vary by commune and canton, so confirm the local requirement before arrival (ch.ch). An agent can book the appointment, check the documents and accompany the employee. The registration remains the employee's own act.
Basic health insurance. Anyone who becomes resident in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months of taking up residence. If the deadline is met, cover applies from the date of residence, and premiums are due from that date. If it is missed, cover starts at enrolment, a premium surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may assign an insurer (FOPH). An agent can explain the process and the steps. The choice of insurer and any supplementary cover is a personal decision. See supplementary health cover.
How an agent engagement usually runs
The flow below is typical. Your actual sequence depends on the brief.
Choosing between a managed service and a lump sum
Your policy type changes how an agent is used.
- Managed service. The company engages the agent, defines the scope and receives the reporting. This suits complex or high-volume moves.
- Lump sum. The employee receives an allowance and organises the move alone. An agent can still be offered as an optional service, but the policy should say who pays and who chooses.
- Hybrid. Core steps, such as immigration, are managed, and housing and schooling are left to the employee with support available.
Write the decision into the policy. An unclear split is the usual reason an employee believes a cost or task is covered when it is not.
What to ask before you instruct an agent
- What exactly is included, and what is excluded?
- Who is the single contact on the agent's side?
- How are third-party costs handled, and who approves them?
- What does the agent need from the employee, and by when?
- How is progress reported to HR?
- What happens if a permit, a lease or a school place is delayed?
- How is the employee's personal data handled?
Documents to prepare from abroad
- Signed contract or confirmed offer
- Valid passports for every family member
- Civil status documents, if family members will join
- Employee's written consent for the agent to handle data
- The relocation policy, or the relevant extract
- Preferred arrival window and any fixed dates
- Details of children's current schooling
The personalised checklist generator and the relocation calendar can help structure these steps.
How to request an agent through this site
This site connects your request with relocation companies in Switzerland and, depending on the need, puts you in touch with the one that fits. It does not carry out the services itself. Describe the transferee's situation, the services you want and the timing in the relocation support request. A specialist then examines your case.
Frequently asked questions
What is a relocation agent?
A relocation agent is a provider that carries out practical tasks for a person moving to another country. In Switzerland these include home search, registration support, schools and settling in. The agent works to a brief set by the employer or the employee.
Is a relocation agent the same as a real estate agent?
No. A real estate agent acts in a property transaction, usually for a landlord or seller. A relocation agent acts for the transferee or employer and covers a wider range, of which housing is one part.
Does a relocation agent get the work permit?
No. Only the authorities grant permits. An agent may prepare documents and track the file, but the decision is not theirs.
Is the employer still responsible for the permit?
Yes, in most cases the employer is the applicant or the supporting party. The agent assists with the process. Your company stays accountable for what it declares.
Do EU and third-state nationals use an agent differently?
Often, yes. Switzerland applies two regimes, one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for third-state nationals. The agent's tasks follow the timing of the applicable regime.
Can an agent register my employee with the commune?
The employee must make the registration personally, within 14 days of arrival under the usual rule. An agent can book the appointment, check the documents and attend.
Does the agent choose the health insurer?
No. The choice is personal. Basic cover must be taken out within three months of taking up residence. An agent can explain the process and what to compare.
Can an agent give tax advice?
No. An agent explains the general rules and refers individual questions to a qualified tax specialist. The same applies to legal and insurance questions.
Will the agent find a home before arrival?
It depends on the market, the timing and the brief. An agent can start the search, prepare the rental file and arrange viewings, but cannot promise a result. Temporary housing is a common bridge.
Who signs the lease?
Usually the employee, unless your policy or the landlord allows another arrangement. Check this before the search begins. See the rental file checker.
Can an agent help with school places?
Yes, by identifying options, explaining the system and supporting applications. Admission is decided by the school or the local authority. The school choice guide is a good first step.
Does the agent manage the removal?
Many do, by coordinating the removal company and the paperwork. Confirm in writing whether this is included or priced separately.
Is an agent useful for a short stay?
Sometimes. For a short assignment, light services such as temporary housing and registration help may be enough. See permit L.
What does a relocation agent not do?
An agent does not grant permits, give personal legal or tax advice, set your policy, or promise outcomes that depend on third parties. They also do not replace the employee's own obligations.
Does an agent replace HR?
No. HR keeps ownership of policy, budget, compliance and the relationship with the employee. The agent carries out agreed tasks and reports back.
Can a group move use one agent?
Yes. Group moves often work with a single point of contact and a standard scope. Volume, timing and the mix of nationalities should be explained in the request.
How do I compare cities before choosing a location?
Use the city comparator for a first view, then ask the agent about local detail. Location often follows the employer's site and the family's needs.
What should a good brief contain?
The services required, the transferee's household, the arrival window, the policy limits, the approval route and the reporting you expect. A complete brief shortens the start-up phase.
How do I know which permit applies?
It depends on nationality, the job and the contract. The permit finder gives a first orientation. A specialist confirms the exact route.
Can an agent pay invoices for my employee?
Only if the payment route is agreed. Many policies keep payments with the employer or the employee, and the agent supplies documents and reminders.
How do I request an agent?
Send the agent matching request with the details of the move. The request is passed to a relocation company that fits the need.