Moving between cantons in Switzerland with a permit is something many newcomers think about after the first few months. Maybe the first home was chosen in a hurry, a job changed, or the children need a different school setup. The good news is that the process is not a mystery. It follows a clear order, and most of the preparation can be done calmly before any boxes are packed.
This page is for people who already live in Switzerland on a residence permit and are weighing a move to another canton. If you are still abroad and choosing where to land, the cantons guide is the better place to start.
Why a canton move is not just a change of address
Switzerland is a federation. Residence permits are issued under federal law, but the cantons run the day-to-day work: the cantonal migration office handles your file, and the municipality (Gemeinde, or commune in French-speaking areas) registers where you live. That is why a move across a cantonal border touches more than the post office.
In practice, three things come into play:
- Your permit. It is tied to the canton that issued it. A new canton has to be informed, and its migration office takes over your file.
- Your registration. The old municipality records your departure and the new one records your arrival.
- Local rules. Taxes, school organization, some insurance details and even administrative fees can differ from one canton to the next.
None of this is a reason to worry. It simply explains why the order of steps matters.
What the permit regime changes
Switzerland has two regimes for foreign nationals: citizens of EU/EFTA countries, who come under the free movement agreement, and citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries, who come under the national rules. The detailed conditions of each regime are set by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and applied by the cantons.
For a canton move, the practical difference is often one of formality and of how much the new canton looks at. For EU/EFTA citizens the move is usually described as simpler. For citizens of other countries, the cantonal office may look at the file more closely. Exact requirements vary, so the migration office of the destination canton is the right source for the current list of documents.
If you hold an EU/EFTA passport, the page on moving as an EU or EFTA citizen explains the framework. For permit types, see the B permit, the L permit and the C permit.
A picture of the timeline
The visual below shows the moments that carry a legal deadline, so you can see how they fit together.
Step by step: the usual order
1. Settle the housing first
A canton move almost always starts with a new home. Municipalities and cantonal offices look at where you actually live, so a signed lease or purchase contract is the document everything else hangs on. Our rental file check helps you see whether your paperwork is complete before you apply for a flat.
2. Ask about the permit before the move
Before the removal day, ask the migration office of the destination canton what it expects. Typical questions:
- Does the permit stay valid as it is, or is it re-issued?
- Which documents does the office want to see?
- Is there a fee, and how is it paid?
- How long does processing take, and can you stay in the meantime?
The answers differ by canton, so it is worth getting them in writing or by an official channel. Be careful with forum posts and old blog articles: practice changes.
3. Tell the old municipality you are leaving
The municipality you leave records your departure and usually issues a certificate of departure (Abmeldebestätigung). Many municipalities ask for this in advance, and some allow it online. The certificate is often requested again by the new commune.
4. Announce your arrival in the new municipality
On arrival, the announcement to the commune is normally made within 14 days. The fact sheet we work from notes that the exact rule can vary by commune or canton, so confirm it with the municipality itself. At the counter, people usually bring an ID document, their residence or work permit and proof of health insurance.
5. Keep the insurance in order
Anyone living in Switzerland has to take out basic health insurance no later than three months after taking up residence. When the deadline is met, cover runs back to the date of residence. Moving to another canton does not reset that, but the insurer needs your new address, and premiums are set by region, so the amount can change. Insurers' premium regions are their own matter; the FOPH explains the principle of compulsory insurance.
6. Update the rest
Once the registration is done, the list is mostly administrative: bank, employer payroll, mobile contract, car registration and driving license address, pet registration. The personal checklist tool lets you build a list that fits your own move, and the relocation calendar puts the dates in order.
What can differ from one canton to another
Without going into figures, these are the areas where a cantonal border can matter:
- Taxes. Income and wealth tax are set at cantonal and communal level. Rules and procedures differ, and the tax authority of the new canton explains how it treats new arrivals. For details about a specific situation, a professional or the tax authority is the right contact.
- Schools. Each canton organizes its schools, languages of instruction and school calendar. Our school choice tool can help a family compare school types.
- Language. A move from a German-speaking to a French- or Italian-speaking canton changes the language of everyday administration.
- Administration. Counters, online portals and opening hours are local.
To get a feel for places side by side, try the city comparator.
Example: a family moving across the lake
A couple from India arrived with two children and chose a flat close to the husband's workplace. After a year, a new job opens in another canton. They keep the first lease running until the notice period ends, ask the new migration office which documents it wants, request the departure certificate from their old commune, and announce themselves to the new one when they arrive. The children start at the local school at the start of the next school year. This is a fictional example, and the details of every case depend on the canton and the permit.
Example: a single person on a short assignment
A young professional from Singapore is on a limited assignment and moves from one canton to another after a few months. Because the assignment is short, the question is whether the move affects the permit's validity. The cantonal office decides that, which is why asking before moving matters more than anything. Short stays are covered on the page about short assignments.
Documents worth having ready
- Valid passport or ID
- Current residence or work permit
- Departure certificate from the old municipality
- New lease or purchase contract
- Employment contract or proof of activity
- Proof of basic health insurance
- Passport photos, in case the office asks for them
- Family documents such as marriage or birth certificates, if the office wants them
A tick-list helps:
- Confirm requirements with the destination canton's migration office
- Give notice on the current lease according to its terms
- Request the departure certificate
- Book the removal
- Announce arrival to the new municipality
- Inform the health insurer of the new address
- Update bank, employer and other providers
Timing and renewals
If your permit is close to renewal, the order of events can matter. Some people prefer to renew first and move afterwards; others ask the new canton to handle it. Which approach is available depends on the offices involved. Our page on permit renewal goes through the basics.
Where a relocation company can help
Relocation companies handle the paperwork, appointments and local knowledge that a canton move involves. We do not carry out the steps ourselves: we connect you with a company that fits your move, depending on your request. You can send the details in the request at the bottom of the page, and a company reviews your situation. For background, see relocation services and immigration support. If you are not sure which permit applies to you at all, the permit finder asks four questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to another canton with my current permit?
In general, yes, residents of Switzerland can choose where to live. What changes is the paperwork: the new canton's migration office needs to be informed. The detailed conditions depend on the permit and the nationality, so ask the destination office first.
Does my permit stay valid after I change canton?
That is decided by the cantonal authorities. In many situations the permit continues, but the file moves to the new canton. Ask the migration office whether any new card is issued.
Who should I tell first, the old or the new commune?
The usual order is the old commune for the departure, then the new commune for the arrival. Some municipalities want the departure certificate before they register you.
How soon do I register in the new municipality?
On arrival, the announcement is normally made within 14 days. The exact rule can vary by commune, so check with the municipality itself.
What documents does the commune ask for?
Typically an ID document, your residence or work permit and proof of health insurance. Some also ask for the lease or the departure certificate.
Is the process different for EU and EFTA citizens?
Two regimes exist: EU/EFTA citizens under the free movement agreement, and non-EU/EFTA citizens under national rules. The canton move is often described as simpler under the first one, but local practice still applies.
Is the process different for non-EU citizens?
Often there is more attention to the file, because the national rules apply. The destination canton can say which documents it needs and what it checks.
Can I move before the new canton confirms anything?
It is possible to sign a lease first, but many people prefer to ask the migration office what it expects before they move. That avoids surprises.
What if my permit expires soon?
Renewal and a canton move can overlap. The offices involved decide which one handles the renewal, so raise the question early. See the page on permit renewal.
What happens to my health insurance?
Basic health insurance is compulsory within three months of taking up residence in Switzerland. When you change canton, you stay insured, but your insurer needs the new address and the premium region may change.
Do health insurance premiums change by canton?
Premiums are set by region, so they can differ. The insurer can tell you what applies at the new address.
Will my taxes change?
Taxes are set at cantonal and communal level, so the rules and rates can differ. The tax authority of the destination canton explains its own rules, and a professional can look at a specific situation.
Do my children have to change school?
Usually yes, because schools are organized locally. Dates, languages and school types vary by canton. The school choice tool is a starting point.
What about a short assignment?
For a limited stay, the question is how a move affects the permit. The cantonal office is the authority to ask. Read the page about short assignments.
Can I change canton as a student?
Students hold a specific permit linked to their studies. The conditions are set by the offices involved, so ask them before moving. See the student permit page.
Can self-employed people change canton?
The activity and the permit are looked at together, so the destination office is the one to ask. See self-employed in Switzerland.
Does a canton move affect a C permit?
The C permit is a settled-resident permit, and the page on the C permit explains its general logic. For a move, the cantonal offices apply their own procedure.
Is there a fee?
Fees can exist at cantonal or communal level and differ between places. The office can tell you what applies and how it is paid.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on the canton, the permit and how complete the file is. Starting with the questions in step two above usually gives the clearest picture.
Can a relocation company handle the move for me?
A company can support the paperwork and appointments. We connect you with the one that fits your move; send the details through the request at the bottom of the page.