Before you rely on a guide, it helps to know who wrote it, what it is based on and what it leaves out. This page explains the method behind every article on Relocation Swiss, step by step.
What this site is, and what it is not
Relocation Swiss is a matching service. It works with relocation companies in Switzerland and, depending on your request, puts you in touch with the one that fits your situation. The site itself does not file permit applications, search for apartments or give personal advice.
The guides exist for the stage before that: you live abroad, perhaps in London, Mumbai, Toronto or Singapore, and you want to understand the Swiss system in plain English. Think of them as a map, not a guide who walks the route for you.
How a guide gets written
Every page follows the same path, so you know what to expect.
- Choose the question. We start from something real movers ask, such as which permit fits a family, how health insurance starts, or when to register in a new town.
- Gather official facts. Rules, dates and figures come from federal and cantonal authorities. For example, Switzerland has two admission regimes: one for EU/EFTA nationals and one for nationals of other countries, as described by the State Secretariat for Migration pages listed under Sources below.
- Explain in plain language. Swiss terms are explained the first time they appear, with the local word in brackets when it will help you later.
- Add the practical order. A rule alone is not enough. Each guide says what happens first, what you can prepare from home and what has to wait until you arrive.
- Check before publishing. Automated checks look for missing sources, unsupported figures and wording that sounds like a promise.
Where the numbers come from
Amounts, deadlines and percentages appear only when they can be traced to an official source, and the source is named on the page. When a figure changes every year, the guide gives its year and treats it as an order of magnitude, not a quote.
If a detail depends on the canton or the municipality, the guide says so instead of guessing. Cantons run many procedures differently, and a local office is the final word.
What we deliberately do not do
- No personal advice. Tax, residence law, tenancy and insurance depend on your exact situation. The guides explain the general rule and what it depends on. A specialist looks at your case once you send a request.
- No promises. Authorities grant permits, not websites. A guide can say what is usually possible, never that an outcome is certain.
- No reviews or invented stories. Examples such as a couple arriving from Sydney or a family with two school-age children are fictional and say so.
- No named companies. The site does not rank or recommend individual providers inside its guides.
How dates and updates work
Each page carries an update date in its header. Rules in Switzerland change, so a guide is revisited when a source changes, not only on a calendar. If you spot something that looks out of date, mention it in your request and it will be looked at.
Where to go next
Different guides suit different moments in your move:
- Not sure where to begin? Read Before you pack or the whole relocation journey.
- Need to know which permit route applies? Try the permit finder.
- Want a plan over time? See the sample timeline and the relocation calendar.
- Packing up and leaving? Use the checklist for before you move, then the lists for your first weeks and first three months.
- Curious about the service? Read how it works or relocation services.
When you are ready, you can describe your move in the request at the bottom of the page.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the guides?
The guides are written in plain English for people moving to Switzerland from abroad and checked against official sources before they go live. No individual author is presented as a consultant, and no page is a substitute for personal advice.
Are the guides legal, tax or insurance advice?
No. They explain general rules and what those rules depend on. Anything that turns on your own situation is better reviewed by a specialist who sees your case, which is what the request at the bottom of a page is for.
Why do some guides avoid giving exact figures?
A figure appears only when it comes from an official source and can be named. If a number varies by canton, year or household, the guide describes the factors instead of inventing a precise answer.
How can I tell when a page was last updated?
Each guide shows its update date near the top. If a rule changes, the guide is revised and the date moves with it.
Do you recommend specific companies?
No. The guides do not name or rank providers. The service matches your request with a relocation company that fits your needs.
What if the guide and the authority disagree?
The authority is right. Cantons and municipalities apply federal rules in their own way, so always confirm the final detail with the office that handles your file.
Can I use the guides if I live outside the countries you mention?
Yes. The examples lean toward the UK, the US, India, Canada, Australia, the Gulf and East Asia, but the Swiss rules explained are the same wherever you start from.