moving to Switzerland

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - TIMING

Transfer times to Zurich & Geneva

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A valid visa

The be-all and end-all

UTS Germany recommends everyone to find out about the entry and residence regulations at the Swiss embassy early enough before moving to Switzerland. Nevertheless, we have already compiled a summary of the most important points for you:

Do I need a visa?

Every person who works or stays longer than 3 months in Switzerland needs a permit. This is issued by the cantonal migration office and is divided into several categories:

The EU/EFTA membership is necessary for obtaining the permit mentioned above.

An application must be submitted in due time for your family to join you. Usually, however, a residence permit is issued without any further complications.

MOVING WITH ANIMALS

Moving to Switzerland with your pet

Are you planning a move to Switzerland and do you want your pet to come with you? Of course, UTS will also take care of a safe and professional move for your pet. This includes, among other things, organising the transport and dealing with administrative requirements.

Here you can find more information about moving with animals. So that you are well prepared for everything, UTS has created a page on this topic for you. If you have any further questions, your UTS relocation expert will be happy to advise you.

Regulations for the entry of pets into Switzerland

• The pet needs an EU pet passport
• A valid rabies vaccination (applies to dogs, cats and ferrets older than 12 weeks)
• The animal must be chipped (ISO standard 11784, must be readable with a reader according to ISO standard 11785)
• Tattoos are accepted if they were made before 03.06.2011
• The website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office provides further information.

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - IMPORT REGULATIONS

Entering your neighbour

Customs regulations in Switzerland are quite individual. The individual regulations depend on the respective cities or municipalities. Therefore, we recommend that you speak to one of our qualified UTS employees to provide you with relevant information and give you the best possible advice for your move to Switzerland.

However, you will definitely need the following documents to import your removal goods:

We also recommend the Switzerland Country Guide on the IAM homepage. Here you will find important information on the import and export of removal goods when moving to Switzerland.

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - INSURANCE

Health insurance

Anyone who wants to move to Switzerland must take care of their own health insurance. This is not done by the employer!

In addition, there is a compulsory basic health insurance for every citizen in Switzerland. The benefits included are prescribed by law and are the same for all insurance companies. They cover everything that is medically necessary - except dental costs. Supplementary insurance (outpatient supplementary insurance and/or hospital supplementary insurance) is only offered on a voluntary basis.

After moving to Switzerland and registration at the residents' registration office, you have 3 months to take out health insurance at a local health insurance company. If you register within this period, you will be insured retroactively from the date of entry and have nothing to worry about.

There are a few points to note here:

The Health Insurance Act (HIA) obliges all health insurance companies to accept every applicant, regardless of age and state of health. Thus, any person can apply freely and independently to any health insurance fund.

The insured persons must pay a certain part of their health costs themselves. This cost sharing is called a "deductible rate" and is agreed individually with the health insurance company. The health insurance company only covers the costs that exceed the agreed limit. For example, if a deductible rate of CHF 500 is agreed upon and CHF 800 in health costs are incurred in the course of a year, the respective person will receive CHF 300 from the insurance company.

Pension insurance

There are also differences here

In Germany, employees pay just under 18.6 percent of their gross salary into the pension insurance scheme, half of which is paid by the employer.

In contrast, pension provision in Switzerland is based on the so-called three-pillar model:

moving to Switzerland - FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Below we have summarised some of the most frequently asked questions about formalities when moving to Switzerland. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact your UTS relocation manager.

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - LABOUR MARKET

The labour market

Attractive conditions

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - TAX SYSTEM

Income tax

The tax system in Switzerland is characterised by the fact that both the federal government itself and the 26 different cantons and even the approximately 2600 municipalities levy different levels of tax. Each canton thus has its own tax law. The communes usually levy their taxes as surcharges on the cantonal taxes. In recent years, however, these have been massively reduced in order to attract companies and wealthy citizens. In the cantons of Neuchâtel, Jura and Bern in particular, tax rates are extremely low. Zurich charges a medium tax rate. As in Germany, income tax in Switzerland is calculated with progression. The higher the income of an individual, the higher the tax rate.

Furthermore, income tax in Switzerland is also calculated according to expenditure. But what does this mean for your move to Switzerland?

Every person who is resident in Switzerland but not gainfully employed there pays income tax not according to the income earned, but according to a flat-rate estimate of the general cost of living in Switzerland. These again vary depending on the region.

Every private individual resident in Switzerland must therefore fill out his tax forms in the first 5 months of a new year retroactively for the previous year and then send them to the respective tax office of his municipality of residence. Upon receipt of the invoice then issued, the individual resident in Switzerland pays his taxes retroactively.

In general, tax offices in Switzerland have a reputation for being very friendly and accommodating to questions and complications. This is one of the many reasons why Switzerland is becoming increasingly popular with emigrants.

Since, as mentioned above, the individual tax rates vary greatly within Switzerland, our qualified UTS team will be happy to assist you and provide you with individual information for your move to Switzerland. Contact us!

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - COST OF LIVING

Rental prices

An expensive place

There is one thing you should be aware of before moving to Switzerland: With cities like Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest price levels. Increasing immigration in particular is causing rents to skyrocket. Compared to other European cities, the cost of living is about 20% higher than usual. But can the high cost of living be compensated with wages? Here are some figures on rent levels as a guide:

(as of 2024)

Since many workers in Switzerland live outside the cities due to the high city centre rental prices, they have to travel longer distances by bus or car every day. This results in an average of around €650 in additional costs each month.

Food prices are also significantly higher than in Germany, by as much as 20-30%.

Living

How do I find a suitable flat in Switzerland?

Unless your new employer supports you in your search, you should hire an estate agent to find suitable accommodation. In particular, the high demand for flats in cities such as Zurich or Geneva makes finding accommodation a challenge, so we advise you to seek assistance.

The accommodation options in Switzerland are very diverse - from very simple accommodation to luxurious flats, everything is available. UTS Germany will be happy to help you with your selection, contact us!

Food prices

Due to the high food prices, it is worthwhile to live near the border in order to benefit from the cheaper German prices. However, not only food is noticeably more expensive, but also leisure activities such as a visit to the cinema costs almost twice as much as here in Germany, at just under 20€. Even a visit to a simple restaurant can quickly cost around €26 per person.

The move to Switzerland should therefore be well calculated from the outset and take into account all the expected additional and incidental costs. Your UTS expert will be happy to help you with this.

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND - DRIVING A CAR

Driving in Switzerland

Transcribing your driving licence

First the good news: The German driving licence is also valid in Switzerland. However, the driving licence must be transferred to a Swiss driving licence within the next 12 months after immigration. This is because the German driving licence loses its validity after one year. Ideally, the driving licence should be transferred when the imported vehicle is re-registered. This is because it is not possible to drive your own vehicle with Swiss licence plates with a German driving licence anyway. Conversely, it is also not possible to drive your own car with German licence plates with a Swiss driving licence.

But how do I change my driving licence?

You can apply for a Swiss driving licence at the competent traffic office. The cost of issuing and exchanging the new driving licence is around CHF 90. The following documents are required: