If you are planning a move to Switzerland from London, Chicago, Mumbai, Singapore or Sydney, you will soon meet the term "relocation agent". The idea is simple, but the details are not always clear. This page explains what a relocation agent is, which tasks they take on, which ones they cannot take on, and how to tell whether you need one at all.
What is a relocation agent, in plain words?
A relocation agent is a professional, or a small company, that organizes the practical side of moving to a new country on your behalf. Think of a guide who already knows the local maze: the offices, the forms, the vocabulary and the usual order of things. You stay the decision-maker. The agent does the legwork and explains what is going on.
In Switzerland this job is especially useful because so much is local. Rules and practice differ from one canton (state-like region) to the next, and even from one commune (Gemeinde, the local municipality) to the next. Many words are in German, French or Italian, even when you speak English at work.
Two things a relocation agent is not. They are not the authority that grants your permit: that is always the cantonal migration office and, in some cases, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). And they are not a legal, tax or insurance adviser. They organize and explain; specialists in those fields look at individual cases.
The two main kinds of help
Relocation help usually comes in two shapes.
- Moves paid by an employer. A company hires a provider for a new colleague. The package is often fixed in advance and covers a list of services.
- Moves paid by you. Families, couples and retirees who arrange things themselves can buy help for specific parts of the move, such as only the home search, or only the arrival paperwork.
Relocation Swiss works as a matching service. Rather than doing the tasks itself, it connects you with a relocation company in Switzerland that fits your situation. You can read how that works on the how we help page.
What a relocation agent typically does
Services vary, but most fall into a few blocks. Each block matches a stage of your move.
1. Immigration support
Switzerland has two broad regimes for admission. Citizens of EU and EFTA countries come under the free movement agreement with the EU. Citizens of other countries (the "third states", which covers the UK, the US, India, Canada, Australia, the Gulf, and most of Asia) come under a separate regime with stricter conditions. The SEM publishes the basic framework on its page for non-EU/EFTA nationals.
An agent helps you work out which regime applies, which documents the file needs, and who submits it. Often the employer files the work permit application, and the agent coordinates the paperwork around it. Whether a permit is granted is always the authorities' decision, and nobody can promise the outcome. For an overview of your options, try the permit finder or read about immigration support.
2. Home search
Finding a rental from abroad is often the hardest part. Landlords and property managers (régies in French-speaking Switzerland) ask for a full file, and good homes go fast. A home-search service shortlists places that fit your budget and commute, books viewings, helps you assemble the application and explains the lease. Our page on home search describes the steps, and the rental file check shows what a typical application contains.
3. School and childcare search
For families, school is often the deciding factor. Public schools, international schools and bilingual options all exist, and the right choice depends on language, age and where you will live. An agent explains the school types and helps with enrollment questions. See school search and the school choice tool.
4. Orientation visit
Many people visit once before committing. An orientation visit packs viewings, neighborhood tours and school visits into a short trip so that you return home with a clear picture. More on the orientation visit page.
5. Arrival and settling in
After landing, there is a chain of small tasks. One is registering with the commune. The commune usually asks for ID, your residence or work permit and proof of health insurance, and the usual announcement window is short; the exact deadline varies by canton and commune, so check locally. The portal ch.ch is the official starting point.
Another is health insurance. Anyone living in Switzerland has to take out basic health insurance within three months of taking up residence. If that deadline is met, cover runs back to the date you arrived; if it is missed, cover starts later and a surcharge can apply, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). A settling-in service usually walks you through these steps, along with the bank account, the phone contract, the utilities and the transport pass. Read more about settling-in help.
6. Practical extras
Some providers also arrange temporary housing, help with a pet's import papers, or coordinate the shipping company. These extras are optional and vary by provider.
What a relocation agent does not do
It is just as useful to know the limits.
- They do not grant, speed up or guarantee permits; the authorities decide.
- They do not give personal tax, legal or insurance advice. A specialist looks at your case for that.
- They do not live your move for you. You still sign the lease, choose the school and attend appointments that need you in person.
- They do not replace your own research. A good agent expects you to ask questions.
Agent or do it yourself? A side-by-side view
The table below compares the two routes. It shows trade-offs, not prices.
Who benefits most from an agent?
Some situations make help especially worthwhile.
- Families with school-age children, who must match a home, a school and a commute at the same time. Example: a couple moving from Toronto with two children, aged six and ten, who want a bilingual school and a short train ride to work.
- People moving at short notice, for instance after a job offer with a fixed start date.
- Third-state nationals, whose paperwork is more involved than for EU and EFTA citizens.
- People who have never lived in a German- or French-speaking country and are not sure where to begin.
Others do fine alone. A single person from Germany with a flexible start date and a short list of cities might handle most steps unaided, perhaps with one targeted service such as the home search.
How to compare providers
Before you commit, it helps to ask a few plain questions. Our guide on how to choose a relocation agency goes into more detail. In short:
- Which services are included, and which are optional extras?
- Who is your contact person, and how do you reach them during the process?
- Which regions does the provider know well?
- How are fees structured and when are they due?
- What happens if a permit or a home search takes longer than planned?
Written answers to these questions make comparison much easier. If a provider promises a result nobody can control, treat that as a warning sign.
How the process works with Relocation Swiss
- You describe your move in the request form: where you are coming from, who is moving, and what help you want.
- The request is read and matched to a relocation company that fits.
- That company contacts you to discuss your situation and what they can arrange.
- You decide whether to go ahead. Nothing is committed by sending a request.
If you are still at the planning stage, the relocation guide, the timeline and the calendar tool show the order of things. For local examples, see relocation help in Zurich and in Lucerne, or compare places with the city comparator.
What you can prepare from home
Even before talking to an agent, you can make the process smoother.
- Check which admission regime applies to your nationality.
- Collect passports, civil status documents and, if relevant, school records for the children.
- Ask your current employer or the new one what relocation support is already included.
- Write down your budget range, preferred areas and commute limits.
- Note any special needs: a pet, a car, a medical condition, a partner who also wants to work.
- Start a personal list with the checklist builder.
The checklist for before you move goes deeper, and Before you pack is a good first read. If your employer is paying, our page on relocation services explains what packages tend to include.
Frequently asked questions
What is a relocation agent?
A relocation agent is a professional who organizes parts of your move for you, such as permits paperwork, home search, school search and arrival tasks. They guide you through local steps you may not know.
Is a relocation agent the same as a real estate agent?
No. A real estate agent deals with buying, selling or renting property. A relocation agent covers the whole move, and home search is only one service among several.
Does a relocation agent get me a permit?
No. Permits are granted by the authorities. An agent helps prepare the file and explains the process, but the decision is not theirs.
Is it different for EU and non-EU citizens?
Yes. There are two regimes: one for EU and EFTA nationals and another for third-state nationals, according to the SEM. Third-state cases usually involve more conditions, which is where guidance helps most.
Do I have to use a relocation agent to move to Switzerland?
No. Many people manage alone. An agent is optional and mainly saves time and stress.
Can an agent find me an apartment from abroad?
They can shortlist options, arrange viewings and help with the application file. The landlord or property manager makes the final choice.
Can they help with schools?
Yes. They explain school types, language options and enrollment steps, and may arrange visits. The decision about the school stays with you.
Do they help with health insurance?
They can explain how basic health insurance works and point you to the steps. Basic cover is compulsory within three months of taking up residence, per the FOPH. For advice on a specific plan, an insurance specialist looks at your case.
Will they register me with the commune?
Registration is normally done by you in person or through the commune's process. An agent can prepare the papers and explain what the commune asks for. Deadlines vary by canton and commune.
Who pays for the agent?
It depends. An employer may cover a package, or you may pay for the services you choose. Ask for the fee structure in writing.
Can I buy just one service?
Often yes. Many providers offer single services such as a home search or settling-in support.
What is an orientation visit?
It is a short trip to see neighborhoods, homes and schools before you decide. See the orientation visit page for more.
How early should I contact someone?
Earlier usually means more choice, especially for housing and schools. The timeline shows a typical order of steps.
Does a relocation agent speak English?
Most providers who work with international newcomers do. Ask which languages your contact person speaks.
Can they help if I am moving with a pet?
Some can explain the import papers and coordinate the steps. Ask the provider whether this is part of their offer.
Is Relocation Swiss a relocation agent?
No. It is a matching service. It connects you with a relocation company in Switzerland that fits your request.
Does sending a request commit me to anything?
No. You send your details, a company gets in touch, and you decide whether to go ahead.
What should I ask before hiring a provider?
Ask what is included, who your contact is, which regions they know, how fees work and what happens if timelines slip.
Can an agent give me tax advice?
No. Tax questions belong with a qualified tax specialist who can examine your situation. An agent may point you toward one.
Can they help my partner find work?
Some offer a basic orientation on the local job market. Results depend on the field, language skills and permit status, and nobody can promise a job.
What if I change my mind about the move?
Talk to the provider about terms before you sign. Read the cancellation conditions in the contract.