Moving to Switzerland: Checklist for customs, registration and settling in
Find happiness in Switzerland. The people who live here are amongst the happiest in the world. This makes the country a very popular destination for people relocating abroad. There are many good reasons for this. And chocolate is only one of them. When moving to Switzerland, a checklist helps you plan customs, household effects, registration, insurance, pets and settling in from the start.
Switzerland’s citizens rank as some of the happiest in the world, only topped by Scandinavians. The taxes are low and the standard of living is high, as are the mountains! Add to that beautiful lakes and unspoiled nature and it really is the complete package! Switzerland regularly ranks highly in international quality-of-life and satisfaction studies. No wonder many people want to move to Switzerland for work, study or a new stage of life. Most people that relocate to Switzerland are more than happy with their new home, catapulting Switzerland into 2nd place in the list of best destination countries for immigrants.
Living and working in Switzerland: Plan your move early
Planning on relocating to Switzerland? The sooner the better? Stop, not so fast. Take time to finalise your own moving house checklist of things to remember and mentally prepare for relocating. Preparation is key. It begins when you start packing your boxes.
To import your personal belongings, household effects or car into Switzerland duty-free as removal goods, certain requirements must be met:
The items must generally have been used by you personally before the move.
- You must continue to use them after importing them into Switzerland.
- You must declare your household effects to customs using form 18.44 and prepare a list of the goods you are importing.
- Label or number your moving boxes and add the numbers to your inventory list. If customs checks your goods, this makes the relevant items easier to find.
Are you well prepared for relocating to Switzerland?
To avoid surprises at the border and make the move to your new home as easy as possible, you’ll need the following entry documents:
- valid passport or identity card
- proof of transfer of domicile, such as a rental agreement, employment contract or departure confirmation from your previous country of residence
- driving licence and vehicle documents, if you are importing your car
- form 18.44 for household effects
- list of goods to be imported
- other important documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, diplomas or insurance documents
Important: If you are crossing the border with household effects, customs clearance is generally only possible during the opening hours of customs offices responsible for commercial goods, usually from Monday to Friday. Some large customs offices are also open on Saturday mornings.
Relocating to Switzerland requires preparation
The mountains are calling. And so is Switzerland. Lots of people dream of relocating to Switzerland and sharing in the happiness of the country known as the Land of Milk and Honey. Some stay for a while, others for longer and many stay forever. All this is no problem, at least for EU citizens, thanks to the free movement of persons agreement between Switzerland and the EU. For EU and EFTA nationals, moving to Switzerland is usually easier thanks to the free movement of persons. However, depending on the length of your stay, employment situation and canton, you still need to register in good time and apply for the right residence permit.
Want to stay longer or live in Switzerland permanently? If you have a permanent employment contract (exceeding one year) or a permanent place of work, check with the relevant cantonal authority in good time to find out which registration steps, residence permit and documents you need. That then allows you to stay for another five years. What happens after that? You can apply to extend the residence permit again by presenting your passport and proof of work. Those who are self-employed need to provide proof that they have the means to support themselves in order to gain a residence permit. Also find out early about health insurance, pensions, social security, taxes and other insurance. If you take up residence in Switzerland, you generally need to arrange Swiss health insurance within three months.
Living in Switzerland: What you can and can't bring with you
Love the honey, salami and cheese from your region and want to take some with you? Who knows when you’ll next have chance to get some...forget it! Be careful: food, alcohol, plants, medication and animals are subject to specific import rules and allowances. Check the current Swiss customs regulations before your move to avoid surprises at the border. Looking for wine storage tips? You’ll find them here. The following are all subject to restrictions: exotic plants (danger of disease!), medication (solely for personal use for 30 days!) and pets.
Relocating to Switzerland with animals: Can Bella, Max and Smudge come with you?
Not relocating to Switzerland without your beloved dog or cat? Then put them on the relocation inventory list! Find out which vaccinations, permits, documents and entry requirements apply from the FSVO, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office. After arrival, check with your municipality and vet which registration steps are required.
Moving into a smaller or furnished apartment in Switzerland
4 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, city centre – that's the dream for many newcomers, until they see the rental prices in Switzerland. Then the flat turns out to be a lot smaller than planned. Some just stay for a few months to work and rent an apartment or furnished room during their stay. If you cannot fit all your furniture into your new apartment straight away, a storage unit is a practical temporary solution for storing furniture, moving boxes and household items safely.
When moving in it’s common to hear: “The rooms looked bigger when we looked round (or on the internet)!” People don’t need much, but they do need enough space! Space is like time – many just never have enough. You can't magic up a bigger apartment. But you can make it more spacious! Moving boxes, clothes, files, books or spare furniture: anything you do not need straight away can be stored in a storage unit, giving you more space to enjoy your new home. A happy ending.
