Arriving in Switzerland: administrative checklist for expats

Arriving in Switzerland means completing a series of administrative steps in quick succession. Residence permit, municipal registration, health insurance, bank account: everything must be in order within the first few weeks, or you risk fines and complications. Here are the steps to take, in order.

At a glance

• Register with your municipality within 14 days of your arrival (sometimes 8 days depending on the canton).
• Take out compulsory basic health insurance (LAMal/KVG) within 3 months, with retroactive coverage from the day of your arrival.
• Your residence permit is obtained when you register with your municipality, or through the cantonal population and migration office.
• For EU/EFTA nationals: free establishment with an employment contract. For nationals from other countries: prior authorisation from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is required.

What you need to understand

Your administrative status in Switzerland rests primarily on your residence permit, which determines your rights (work, access to social insurance, internal mobility, family reunification). The main permit types:

• Permit L: short-term residence authorisation (less than 12 months).
• Permit B: residence permit (generally 1 to 5 years, renewable).
• Permit C: settlement permit (indefinite duration, after 5 or 10 years of residence depending on nationality).
• Permit G: cross-border worker.
• Permit F / N: provisional admission / asylum seeker.

For EU/EFTA nationals, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) simplifies the move: an employment contract is sufficient in most cases. For nationals of third countries, arrival requires prior authorisation from both the employer and the SEM.

Steps in order

Before you leave

• If you are coming from a third country, do not travel without a long-stay visa and prior authorisation. Your employer or a family member in Switzerland must submit the application in advance.
• Prepare all your official documents in original and certified translation where needed (birth certificate, marriage certificate, diplomas, medical file).

Within 14 days of arrival

1. Register your arrival with your municipality of residence. You will need to present:
   • Identity card or passport.
   • Rental contract or proof of accommodation.
   • Employment contract (if you have one).
   • Birth certificate (and marriage certificate if applicable).
   • Recent passport photo.
   • Registration fee (varies by canton/municipality).
2. Apply for your residence permit at the same time, or through the cantonal population and migration office.

Within 3 months

3. Take out compulsory basic health insurance (LAMal/KVG). This is mandatory for every resident. The insurance takes effect retroactively from the day of your arrival. Compare premiums at priminfo.admin.ch.
4. Open a Swiss bank or post office account. Most employers pay salaries exclusively into a Swiss account. Documents required: identity document, proof of address, residence permit (or acknowledgement of receipt).
5. Enrol children in school: public schooling is compulsory from age 4 (depending on canton). Check with your municipality.

In the first months

6. Take out recommended supplementary insurance: personal liability, household contents, vehicle.
7. Notify your foreign driving licence: an EU/EFTA licence is valid. For all others, it must be exchanged within 12 months.
8. Register with the AHV/AVS if you are employed (generally done automatically through your employer).

Documents to keep safe

• Passport and identity card.
• Residence permit (and any acknowledgement of receipt while waiting for the original).
• Birth certificate, marriage certificate, family record book (translated where required).
• Diplomas and professional qualifications (originals and certified translations).
• Employment contract and payslips.
• Rental contract and incoming property inspection report.
• Health insurance card and LAMal/KVG policy.
• Registration confirmation from your municipality.
• AHV/AVS certificate with your 13-digit number.

Critical deadlines

• 8 to 14 days: registration with your municipality (varies by canton).
• 3 months: mandatory enrolment in compulsory basic health insurance.
• 12 months: exchange of a non-EU/EFTA driving licence.
• 5 years (EU/EFTA) or 10 years: possibility of applying for a Permit C (permanent settlement).
• 2 months before expiry: application to renew your residence permit.

Specifics for cross-border workers (Permit G)

• You live in a neighbouring country and work in Switzerland.
• Register with the cantonal migration office in your work canton.
• Your health insurance can be Swiss (LAMal/KVG) or from your country of residence, depending on an option you must exercise within 3 months.
• Your taxes are withheld at source in Switzerland, with adjustments according to the applicable double-taxation agreements (which differ by canton and country).

Common mistakes

• Registering with the municipality too late: possible fines and complications when opening a bank account or signing a rental contract.
• Forgetting health insurance: after 3 months, the canton will assign you to an insurer automatically, with the resulting financial consequences.
• Underestimating certified translations: some authorities refuse documents that have not been translated by a recognised translator.
• Ignoring the driving licence exchange: driving without a valid licence after 12 months is an offence.
• Assuming everything can be done online: many steps still require a personal visit to your municipality's office.

Useful official links

• ch.ch · Residence permit
• ch.ch · Moving to Switzerland from abroad
• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), tel. 058 465 11 11
• priminfo.admin.ch · Official health insurance comparison tool
• Official website of your municipality and cantonal population office.

How Admini can help

Arriving in Switzerland means managing a dozen documents simultaneously, often in multiple languages and formats. Admini helps you:

• Centralise your passport, residence permit, contracts, certified translations and certificates in one place.
• Get reminders for critical deadlines (14-day registration, 3-month LAMal, 12-month driving licence exchange, permit renewal).
• Prepare a clean dossier to present to authorities (municipality, bank, employer, trustee).
• Instantly retrieve a birth certificate or translated diploma, without searching through boxes or emails.

The goal is to spare you the feeling of drowning in paperwork during your first weeks in Switzerland.