Overview
All guides
31 procedures from permit to tax — in the order they come up. Every guide names the authority, the deadlines and the cost items.
01
Preparation and Entry
6 guides- Switzerland National Visa D — How to Apply Third-country nationals need a national category D visa for a stay of more than three months. 5 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Work Permit — Employer Application Guide For third-country nationals the employer files the application with the cantonal labour market authority. 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Notification Procedure — EU/EFTA Work For employment of up to 90 working days per calendar year, EU/EFTA nationals only need to submit an online… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Residence Without Employment — Rules Anyone staying in Switzerland for more than three months without gainful employment needs a residence permit… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Job Seeker Permit — Rules and Deadlines EU/EFTA nationals may enter Switzerland to look for work: the first three months without a permit, then with… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Student Visa — Enrolment and Permit The university's letter of admission is a prerequisite for the residence application. 5 steps · 1 cost item
02
Arrival and Registration
4 guides- Deregistering Your Previous Residence — Checklist A move away from a Swiss municipality is reported to the residents' registration office of the previous… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Municipality Registration — 14-Day Rule Anyone moving to Switzerland must register in person with the residents' registration office of their… 5 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Cross-Border Commuter Registration Cross-border commuters do not register with a Swiss municipality; they are registered in the canton of their… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Moving Back to Switzerland as a Swiss Citizen Swiss citizens need no residence permit, but are subject to the same registration and insurance obligations… 4 steps · 1 cost item
03
Residence Permits
3 guides- Switzerland Permit L — Short-Term Residence Permit L covers stays of up to one year and is tied to the purpose of your stay and to your employer. 4 steps · 6 cost items
- Switzerland Permit B — Residence Permit Guide Permit B is granted for an employment contract of twelve months or longer, and for permanent contracts. 5 steps · 6 cost items
- Switzerland Permit G — Cross-Border Commuters Permit G entitles you to work in Switzerland while living abroad. 4 steps · 6 cost items
04
Insurance and Social Security
4 guides- Switzerland Health Insurance — Deadline and Choice Basic health insurance is compulsory for everyone resident in Switzerland. 5 steps · 2 cost items
- Switzerland Cross-Border Health Insurance Option Cross-border commuters are in principle subject to compulsory health insurance in Switzerland, but under the… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland OASI Number — Social Insurance Guide Anyone working in Switzerland is compulsorily covered by old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI), disability… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Self-Employment — Compensation Office In Switzerland self-employment is not a status you choose but one the compensation office recognises. 4 steps · 1 cost item
05
Family
5 guides- Switzerland Family Reunification — Spouse Visa Reunification with a spouse or registered partner must be applied for with the cantonal migration authority. 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Family Reunification for Children Children under 18 can join you; the application goes to the cantonal migration authority. 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland School Registration — What to Know School attendance is compulsory and free of charge at public schools, regardless of residence status. 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Childcare — Daycare and Costs Day-care centres in the cities are regularly fully booked; waiting times of six to twelve months are common… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Family Allowance — Who Qualifies Family allowances are not granted ex officio: employees apply through their employer to its family… 5 steps · 1 cost item
06
Housing and Logistics
7 guides- Switzerland Apartment Search — Rental Deposit The Swiss rental market is tight in urban centres. 5 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Customs — Duty-Free Household Goods Household removal goods are exempt from customs duty and import tax if you used them abroad for at least six… 5 steps · 2 cost items
- Switzerland Vehicle Customs Clearance — Guide A vehicle you used abroad for at least six months before the move can be imported free of charges as removal… 4 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Vehicle Registration — Step by Step An imported vehicle must be registered with the road traffic office of your canton of residence within one… 5 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Driving Licence Exchange — Rules After you take up residence, a foreign driving licence entitles you to drive for at most twelve months; after… 4 steps · 3 cost items
- Bringing Your Pet to Switzerland — Requirements Dogs, cats and ferrets need microchip identification, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport or an… 5 steps · 2 cost items
- Switzerland Dog Registration — AMICUS and Tax A dog imported from abroad must be presented to a vet in Switzerland within ten days; the practice checks the… 5 steps · 2 cost items
07
Taxes
2 guides- Switzerland Withholding Tax — Rates Explained Foreign employees without a settlement permit (permit C) are taxed at source: the employer deducts the tax… 5 steps · 1 cost item
- Switzerland Cross-Border Commuter Tax Guide Where your salary is taxed depends on the double taxation agreement with your country of residence and… 4 steps · 1 cost item
Which ones apply to you?
Five questions, and your plan holds only the procedures your situation triggers — with deadlines and costs.