Moving to Switzerland: canton-first arrival plan

Start with nationality, purpose and canton

EU/EFTA free-movement rules and third-country admission rules are materially different. The permit also depends on duration and whether you are employed, self-employed, joining family or living without work. Select the canton and commune before relying on a checklist because local authorities handle the file.

For a job, confirm who submits which labour-market or permit step and whether approval is required before entry. Keep salary, hours, work location and start date consistent. A Schengen visit or another country’s permit does not itself authorise Swiss employment.

• ch.ch: permits for living in Switzerland
• ch.ch: working in Switzerland as a foreign national

Register before starting work

Official guidance says foreign workers register with the communal authority within 14 days of arrival and before starting work. Book or check the commune process early, bringing passport, housing evidence, civil-status documents and the work or permit papers it specifies.

The commune, cantonal migration office and cantonal employment office have different roles. Save confirmations from each and check the permit card for restrictions. Renewals are also locally handled; ch.ch says applications are generally possible no earlier than three months and no later than two weeks before expiry.

• ch.ch: working in Switzerland as a foreign national
• ch.ch: permits for living in Switzerland

Choose health insurance within the arrival window

Health insurance is compulsory and privately purchased. ch.ch states that workers must insure themselves and family no later than three months after arrival or beginning work. Compare the mandatory basic product, deductible, model and accident coverage on your household facts.

Do not assume employer payroll provides ordinary health insurance. Check whether accident cover through employment changes what belongs in the policy, and arrange cover for every family member. Ask the cantonal authority about exemptions only if an official category appears to fit.

• ch.ch: working in Switzerland as a foreign national
• ch.ch: health insurance for people resident in Switzerland

Budget by canton and net pay

Request a payroll illustration showing social contributions, pension arrangements and any tax at source. Tax at source commonly applies to foreign workers without a C permit, but residence, canton and circumstances matter; use the cantonal calculator and check whether an additional return or correction procedure applies.

For banking, obtain the provider’s identity, residence and tax-residency list before applying. For housing, compare deposit structure, ancillary charges, handover report and commute. Do not extrapolate a rent or tax result from another canton.

• ch.ch: tax at source
• ch.ch: permits for living in Switzerland

Route the case to the right desk

Swiss administration works best when the first question is local.

• ch.ch: working in Switzerland as a foreign national
• ch.ch: permits for living in Switzerland
• ch.ch: driving with a foreign licence

Finish family and mobility files separately

Get civil-status records in the format the canton requests and give every dependant a permit, insurance and school or childcare task. If a relationship-based status changes, ch.ch instructs the holder to notify the cantonal migration authority.

Check the road-traffic office for the foreign-licence exchange window and whether a control drive is required. Keep a calendar for permit renewal, health premium changes, tax certificates and lease notice. Switzerland rewards precise canton-specific execution, not a single federal newcomer form.

Ask the commune which changes it passes onward and which you must report yourself. A move across cantons can affect the immigration contact, taxes, insurance pricing and school arrangements, so check obligations before signing the next lease.

• ch.ch: permits for living in Switzerland
• ch.ch: driving with a foreign licence