If you are working out how to choose a relocation agency in Switzerland, you are already doing the most useful thing: asking before you commit. This page walks through the decision in the order it usually unfolds. First you list what you actually need, then you check what an agency can and cannot do, then you compare offers on equal terms.
Relocation Swiss is a matching service. It does not carry out your move itself. Depending on your request, it puts you in touch with a relocation company that fits your situation. This page helps you judge any provider, including the one you may be matched with.
Step 1: Write down what you need before you talk to anyone
Agencies sell packages, but your move is made of separate tasks. A short list makes every later conversation easier.
Most people who arrive from abroad need some mix of these:
- A permit route, which depends on nationality and on whether there is a job offer. There are two regimes: EU/EFTA citizens and citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries (third states). The permit finder gives a first orientation.
- A home: a short stay first, then a lease. See temporary housing and home search.
- Schools or childcare, covered in school search.
- Arrival tasks: registering with the municipality, health insurance, a bank account, a mobile contract.
- Support for a partner, covered in partner support.
Example: a couple moving from Singapore with a toddler may only want help with housing and registration, while handling the rest themselves. A family of four from Texas with two teenagers may want schools, housing and permits all in one place. Same country of arrival, very different shopping lists.
Step 2: Know what is a task you can do yourself
Some Swiss formalities are simple once you know the order. Registration with the municipality of residence is a good example: it usually happens within 14 days of arrival, with an identity document, your residence or work permit and proof of health insurance. The exact timing can vary by municipality or canton, so check the local page (source: ch.ch).
Health insurance is another. Basic health insurance is compulsory for anyone who lives in Switzerland, and it has to be taken out within three months of taking up residence. When that deadline is met, cover applies retroactively from the date of arrival, and premiums are due for that period. When it is missed, cover starts at the date of affiliation, a surcharge may apply, and the canton can assign an insurer (source: Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH).
Neither task usually needs an agency. What they need is knowing the sequence, and the relocation calendar lays it out.
Permits are different. The rules differ between EU/EFTA citizens and third-state citizens, and the authorities decide each case (source: State Secretariat for Migration, SEM). If your route is not obvious, immigration support is the kind of service worth looking at.
Step 3: Compare the two ways of moving
| Question | With an agency | On your own |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the legwork? | The provider, within the agreed scope | You, from abroad |
| Local knowledge | Provider knows local practice | You learn as you go |
| Time on your side | Less, mostly decisions | More, many small tasks |
| Cost | A fee for the service | No fee, but your time |
| Control | Shared with the provider | Fully yours |
Neither column is better in general. A person with strong English-language paperwork habits and a flexible start date may do well alone. A family arriving for a fixed school start often values having someone else carry part of the load.
Step 4: Questions to ask any relocation provider
Good providers are comfortable with direct questions. Keep them in writing so you can compare answers.
About scope
- Which tasks exactly are included, and which are extra?
- Is the service for individuals and families, or mainly for companies? (See relocation services for people.)
- Does it cover only the first weeks, or follow up later? The settling-in help page shows what that stage can include.
About how they work
- Who is my single point of contact, and how quickly do they answer?
- Which parts are done by the provider and which by subcontractors?
- What do you need from me before I leave my country, and in what order?
- How do you handle a landlord or school that says no?
About money
- Is the price fixed, hourly or per task?
- What happens if I cancel, or if my plans change?
- Are third-party costs (deposits, school fees, permit fees) billed separately?
- Is anything paid before the service starts?
Ask for the answers to be written into the offer. Comparing two verbal quotes is nearly impossible.
About permits and legal topics
No provider can decide a permit. Authorities do. A trustworthy provider explains the route, prepares documents and tells you plainly when something depends on the cantonal office. Be careful with anyone who talks as if the outcome were already settled.
Step 5: Spot warning signs
- The offer cannot be broken down into tasks.
- Answers are vague about who actually does the work.
- Pressure to sign quickly.
- Promises about results that only an authority can give.
- No written scope, or a scope that changes after payment.
If a provider avoids a simple question, treat that as information.
Step 6: Compare offers fairly
Put each offer in a small table of your own: tasks covered, tasks excluded, fee structure, contact person, how updates are shared, what happens if a step fails. Then check each one against the list from step 1.
A useful trick is to ask every provider the same three questions about one real situation, such as: "How would you find housing for a family arriving without a Swiss employment history?" The differences in the answers show how they work.
You can also build your own to-do list with the personal checklist and share it when you ask for offers. And if you are weighing cities, the city comparator helps you narrow the area before a housing search begins.
A short checklist before you decide
- I have listed the tasks I want help with.
- I know which tasks I am happy to do myself.
- I have written down my arrival date and any school start date.
- I have asked every provider the same questions.
- I have the scope and the fee structure in writing.
- I know who my contact person is.
- I understand that permit decisions belong to the authorities.
Where Relocation Swiss fits
If you would rather not shop around alone, you can describe your move in the request at the bottom of this page. Relocation Swiss then connects you with a relocation company that matches your needs. Nothing is decided for you, and you can still compare and ask the questions above.
For a broader picture of what a typical package contains, read what is a relocation package. To see how the months unfold, the sample timeline is a good companion. If you are coming from a specific country, pages such as from Japan or from South Korea cover what changes for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a relocation agency to move to Switzerland?
No. Many people move without one. An agency helps most when time is short, when several tasks pile up at once, or when you are moving with children and a fixed school start.
What does a relocation agency actually do?
It takes on defined tasks, such as housing search, school search, registration support and settling-in help. The exact list differs from one provider to another, so ask for it in writing.
How is a relocation agency different from a moving company?
A moving company transports belongings. A relocation provider helps with the administrative and practical side of settling in. Some offers include both, but they are separate services.
Is an agency only for people sent by an employer?
No. Some services are built for individuals and families who pay for themselves. Others are designed for companies. Ask which kind of client the provider usually serves.
Can an agency get me a residence permit?
No provider decides this. The authorities grant or refuse permits. An agency can explain the route and help prepare documents. The rules differ for EU/EFTA citizens and for citizens of other countries.
What is the difference between EU/EFTA and third-state rules?
There are two regimes: one for EU/EFTA citizens and one for citizens of other countries. Conditions inside each regime depend on the situation, so check with the State Secretariat for Migration or a specialist.
What should the written offer include?
Tasks covered, tasks excluded, the fee structure, the contact person, how long the service lasts and what happens on cancellation. If one of these is missing, ask.
How do I compare two offers that look different?
Break each into tasks and put them side by side. Then compare scope, fee structure, response times and who does the work. Prices alone say little.
What if I only need help with housing?
Many providers sell single services. Look at a home search offer rather than a full package, and check whether temporary housing is included.
Can I get help for my partner too?
Often yes. Support for a partner can cover settling in, registration and finding activities. See partner support and ask whether it is part of the main offer.
Is it worth visiting before the move?
For many families, yes. An orientation visit lets you see neighborhoods and schools before you commit to a lease.
How early should I contact a provider?
As early as your plans are firm enough to describe. Housing and school places can take time, so earlier contact gives more room to compare.
Which tasks can I do from my home country?
Gathering documents, shortlisting areas, researching schools and booking temporary housing can all start remotely. The relocation calendar shows a sensible order.
When do I register with the municipality?
Registration is generally expected within 14 days of arrival, though it can vary by municipality or canton. You usually bring an identity document, your permit and proof of health insurance.
When does health insurance have to start?
Basic health insurance is compulsory within three months of taking up residence. Meeting that deadline means cover applies from the date of arrival, with premiums due for that period.
What happens if the insurance deadline is missed?
Cover then starts at the date of affiliation, a surcharge may apply, and the canton can assign an insurer. A specialist can explain how this applies to a given situation.
Does an agency handle my insurance choice?
Some provide information on how the system works. Choosing a policy and its terms is a personal decision, and a provider should present options rather than decide for you.
Will an agency help with schools?
Many do. A school search service can shortlist options, and the school choice tool gives a first idea of the right type. See also international schools.
Can an agency help with a rental file?
Often yes, by explaining what landlords expect. You can test your own with the rental file check before talking to anyone.
What if the agency cannot find a home?
Ask beforehand what happens in that case: is there a fallback such as temporary housing, is the fee affected, and how long does the search continue?
Are there local differences between cities?
Yes. Practice varies between cantons and cities. Pages such as relocation help in Zurich and relocation help in Lucerne show what is specific to each.
Can I change provider midway?
Check the cancellation terms before signing. They tell you what is refundable and what is not.
Is a cheaper offer always worse?
Not necessarily. A narrow scope can cost less and still fit your needs. A broad scope that you do not use is the real waste.
How do I know if a provider is trustworthy?
Look for clear scope, written terms, direct answers and honesty about what depends on the authorities. Avoid anyone who pressures you or promises results that are not theirs to give.
What does Relocation Swiss do?
It connects you with a relocation company that matches your needs, based on the request you submit. It does not carry out the move itself.