Moving to Switzerland: Your First 90 Days Checklist
Published 2026-10-19 · Updated 2026-10-19 · 3 min read · 3 sources · Verified Swiss federal benchmarks
Direct answer
Register at your commune within 14 days of arrival and before you start work. Take out mandatory health insurance within 3 months; coverage is retroactive to your arrival date.
Key facts
- Commune registration is due within 14 days of arrival and before starting employment.
- Health insurance is mandatory within 3 months; premiums apply from your arrival date.
- EU/EFTA workers with a contract of at least 12 months typically receive a B permit valid for 5 years.
- Your employer usually triggers your AHV (social security) registration once you are on payroll.
Why the first two weeks matter
Swiss communes run the population register, local tax rolls, and many steps linked to your permit. The law expects you to register within 14 days of arrival. You must also register before you take up employment. Missing that window leads to fines and blocks payroll setup.
Bring your passport, proof of address, employment contract if you have one, and any visa or permit papers. Keep registration confirmation for banks and insurers.
First 90 days in order
Use this sequence as a checklist rather than a rigid calendar. Cantons differ on appointment speed, but the legal deadlines stay the same nationwide.
Health insurance and commune registration are the two deadlines newcomers miss most often. Both have retroactive financial effects if you delay.
- 1Day 1–14: Register at the Einwohnerkontrolle / contrôle des habitants with passport, address proof, and permit documents.
- 2Before first work day: Complete registration; employers expect a valid permit status for non-Swiss hires.
- 3Within 3 months of arrival: Choose a Swiss basic health insurer (KVG/LAMal); coverage backdates to arrival.
- 4Week 2–4: Open a bank account if needed for salary; bring ID and residence confirmation.
- 5Month 2–3: Exchange a foreign driving licence within 12 months if you plan to drive; start early if you need appointments.
- 6Ongoing: Keep copies of registration confirmation, insurance policy, and permit correspondence.
Permits and work in brief
EU and EFTA nationals with a contract of at least 12 months generally receive a B permit for five years; shorter contracts may bring an L permit for the contract duration.
Non-EU nationals need an employer-led permit with labour market test and quotas. After five years with a B permit (EU-17/EFTA, US, CA) or ten years otherwise, you may qualify for a C permit; early integration can apply after five years with B1 spoken under AIG Art. 34.
Permits do not replace commune registration or health insurance.
Worked example: family arriving for work
A couple moves to Basel-Stadt. The earner has an EU passport and a contract at CHF 9,500 gross per month; the partner joins on family reunification.
They register before work starts, enroll health insurance within three months with premiums from arrival, and the employer registers AHV on payroll.
Common mistakes
Starting work before commune registration blocks payroll and risks fines.
Delaying health insurance past three months still triggers backdated premiums from arrival.
Tourist cover does not replace Swiss mandatory insurance once you are resident.
FAQ
- Can I start work before commune registration?
- No. You must register within 14 days of arrival and before starting work. Your employer will also need your registered status for payroll and AHV.
- What if I miss the 3-month health insurance deadline?
- You still must enroll. The insurer will assign you to a plan and charge premiums from your arrival date, including any missed months.
- Do family members follow the same timeline?
- Each person registers separately. Dependents need their own health insurance within the same 3-month rule.
- Where do I register if I live in one canton but work in another?
- You register at the commune where you live. Your permit and tax base follow your residential address.
Neue Schweizer Grenzwerte und Research-Reports per E-Mail erhalten.
Wir schreiben nur, wenn neue Bundesdaten, kantonale Steuertarife oder Top 100 KI-Rankings vorliegen. Jede Zahl ist mit der offiziellen Quelle belegt.
Keep reading
- Swiss housing and tenancy report Q4 2026: Mortgage rates, Referenzzinssatz, and rent adjustmentsThe federal mortgage reference interest rate (hypothekarischer Referenzzinssatz) published by the Federal Housing Office (BWO) sits anchored at 1.75% in the fourth quarter of 2026 following steady Swiss National Bank policy rate stabilization. With nationwide housing vacancy rates compressed near historic lows of 1.08% and major metropolitan vacancy rates (Zurich, Geneva, Basel) below 0.5%, tenants facing rent increases must audit the exact reference rate and cost inflation factors stated in their base lease, while property buyers navigate SARON vs fixed-rate mortgage spreads.
- Unemployment in Switzerland: RAV registration and benefit basicsRegister with the Regional Employment Centre (RAV) as early as possible and at latest on the first day you are unemployed. Unemployment benefit is 70% of insured salary, or 80% with dependent children or low income, with insured salary capped at CHF 148,200; you must have paid ALV (1.10% employee share on covered earnings).
- Nebenkosten in Switzerland: Akonto billing and the annual statementNebenkosten are ancillary costs such as heating, water, and building maintenance, billed either as monthly Akonto advances with an annual settlement or as a fixed pauschal amount. Your landlord must account for Akonto charges and refund or bill the difference; compare each line on the statement to your lease.
- Guide: Swiss gross-to-net salary in 2026: AHV, ALV, BVG and taxes explainedIn Switzerland, mandatory employee social security and pension deductions reduce gross salary by roughly 10% to 16% before income tax: 5.30% for AHV/IV/EO, 1.10% for ALV (up to CHF 148,200), ~1.3% for NBU/KTG, and 3.5% to 9.0% of coordinated salary for the 2nd-pillar pension (BVG/LPP).
- Guide: Pillar 3a maximum for 2026: CHF 7,258 or 20% of incomeIn 2026 you can pay up to CHF 7,258 into Pillar 3a if you have a pension fund. Without one, the limit is 20% of net earned income, up to CHF 36,288.