Imagine a couple from Singapore with a six-year-old child. The flight lands, the boxes are on their way, and the apartment key is finally in hand. What comes next? A good Switzerland arrival checklist answers that question in order, so that nothing important is left to chance in the first weeks.
This guide walks through the steps that follow your arrival. It separates what the authorities set as a deadline from what is simply sensible to do early. For the longer picture, see your first 3 months. For what to prepare before leaving, see your checklist for the months before you leave.
The order of play at a glance
Three things anchor the early weeks: registering with your local commune, taking out basic health insurance, and getting everyday life working (bank, phone, school, transport). Only the first two come with clear deadlines in the facts below; the rest depends on your canton and situation.
Step 1: Prepare the papers while you are still abroad
Registration is much smoother when the documents are already in your bag. On arrival the commune typically asks for a valid identity document, your residence or work permit, and proof of health insurance. Requirements vary a little by commune and canton, so the local office has the final word.
A simple preparation list:
- Passports for everyone in the household
- Residence or work permit paperwork received from the cantonal migration office
- Rental contract or a confirmation from your landlord
- Proof of health insurance, or the application for it
- Birth and marriage certificates, if the commune asks for them
- Children's school records and vaccination booklets
If you are not sure which permit applies to you, the permit finder explains the general routes. A relocation calendar can also help you lay the dates out visually.
Step 2: Announce your arrival to the commune
Switzerland is organized in communes (Gemeinde in German, commune in French), and each one keeps a register of its residents. Within 14 days of arrival, your arrival is announced to the commune where you live. The exact procedure and the basis in cantonal or communal rules differ from place to place, so the local office tells you how it works in practice.
Many communes ask you to come in person with the documents listed above. Some offer an online step first. The family from our opening example would typically go together, since each household member is registered.
For the full walk-through, read registering with your commune within 14 days.
Step 3: Health insurance, a legal requirement
Basic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. It has to be taken out no later than three months after you take up residence. When the deadline is respected, cover is retroactive to the date residence began, and premiums are due from that date. When the deadline is missed, cover starts only at the moment of affiliation, a premium surcharge can apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may assign an insurer.
In plain terms, three months is a ceiling and not a target. Arranging the application early avoids paying for a gap you cannot use.
Two practical points for newcomers:
- Basic cover is standardized by law, so the main choices are the deductible and the model of care. Read more in health insurance for newcomers.
- Extra cover is optional and separate. See supplementary insurance for what it adds.
Step 4: Everyday life, in a sensible order
Once the two legal steps are moving, everyday setup follows. There is no single national deadline for these, so the sequence below is a suggestion for calm planning.
Housing and utilities
Check the inventory report (état des lieux) with your landlord, set up electricity and internet, and learn the building's rules on waste and quiet hours. If your permanent home is not ready, furnished and temporary housing can bridge the first weeks.
Bank account and phone
A Swiss bank account is helpful for rent, salary, and bills, and a local phone plan makes appointments easier. Banks ask for ID and, usually, a registration certificate from the commune, so the commune step often comes first.
Schools and childcare
Children of school age are placed through the commune or the canton, and the process differs by region. The school choice tool gives an overview of school types. Families with younger children often ask about daycare early, because places can be limited.
Transport and driving
Public transport is dense and usually the easiest start. If you drive, a foreign license can be used for 12 months after taking up residence. An application to exchange it is filed at the latest one month before those 12 months end. Depending on the country of origin and the validity of the license, the exchange is issued either without conditions or with an exam. Check the cantonal road traffic office for the exact route.
Step 5: Finding your feet
Once the paperwork is done, small things build a sense of home: learning the local language, meeting neighbors, and understanding customs around recycling and quiet hours. Our guide to common mistakes new arrivals make lists the traps that catch many newcomers.
If a move feels like too many moving parts, settling-in help is one way to have someone coordinate the steps. You can also build your own moving checklist or look at a typical relocation timeline.
How a request through this site works
This site connects you with relocation companies working in Switzerland. After you describe your move in the request at the bottom of the page, we pass it to the company that fits the need. A specialist then looks at your own situation; this page only explains the general rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to do after arriving in Switzerland?
Announcing your arrival to the commune where you live is the first formal step. It is due within 14 days of arrival, according to the information published for residents. The exact procedure depends on the commune.
How long is the registration deadline?
The deadline is 14 days from arrival. It can vary slightly by commune or canton, so the local office confirms the details.
Is the 14-day deadline the same everywhere?
It is the period reported for most communes, but the rule sits in cantonal and communal law and not in a single federal law. Confirm it with your own commune.
What documents does the commune ask for?
Typically a valid identity document, your residence or work permit, and proof of health insurance. Some communes add a rental contract or family certificates.
Can I register online?
Some communes offer an online first step, but many still ask for a visit in person. The commune's website explains which applies.
Is there a deadline of a month after arrival for everything?
No single deadline covers everything. The two clearest ones are the commune announcement within 14 days and health insurance within three months.
When must I have health insurance?
Basic health insurance is compulsory and is arranged at the latest three months after taking up residence. Cover can be retroactive to the residence date if the deadline is met.
What happens if the three-month deadline is missed?
Cover then starts only from the date of affiliation. A premium surcharge can apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may assign an insurer.
Do children need their own insurance?
Basic insurance covers everyone who lives in Switzerland, children included. Each household member has their own policy.
Does my insurance from home count?
Cover from another country does not replace Swiss basic insurance for residents. The cantonal authority can explain the few cases where an exemption exists.
Do I pick an insurer before I arrive?
You can start the comparison from abroad, but the policy runs from the residence date. The health insurance guide explains the choices.
What is a deductible?
It is the amount you pay yourself for care before the insurer pays its share. It is one of the main choices when taking out basic cover.
Is supplementary insurance compulsory?
No. It is optional and separate from basic insurance. See supplementary insurance.
Can I drive with my foreign license?
Yes, for a limited period. A foreign license can be used for 12 months after taking up residence, provided there is no continuous stay of more than three months abroad.
When is the license exchange requested?
The application is filed at the latest one month before the 12 months end. The cantonal road traffic office handles it.
Will I have to take a driving exam?
It depends on the origin and validity of the license. Some are exchanged without conditions, others with an exam.
Where do I open a bank account?
Any Swiss bank can be approached directly. They usually ask for ID and a registration certificate, so the commune step normally comes first.
Are schools organized by the commune?
Public schools are organized locally, within cantonal rules. The commune or the canton tells you how placement works. The school choice tool gives a first overview.
What if my home is not ready on arrival?
Furnished and temporary housing can fill the gap. The commune registration still follows your actual place of residence.
Can a relocation company handle these steps?
Companies can coordinate parts of the process, but the registrations and the insurance contract remain in your own name. The relocation services page explains what such help covers.
What if my move is only a short assignment?
Short stays follow different rules. Read about short assignments and ask a specialist to examine your case.
How do I get started on my own checklist?
Use the personal checklist tool, or send the request at the bottom of this page to be put in touch with a relocation company.