Practical guide
Finding a home in Switzerland from abroad
Updated 21 October 2026 · RDB Immobilier Sàrl
You can prepare your search before arriving, even if your moving date or destination is not final. The aim is to turn a broad relocation plan into clear search criteria and practical actions you can keep track of from another country.
1. Write a search brief you can actually use
Start by deciding whether you intend to rent or buy. This guide mainly concerns preparing a rental search. Then list possible towns, the size of home you need and requirements you cannot change. An essential requirement should help you rule out a listing; a preference helps you choose between otherwise suitable homes.
For your budget, separate the advertised rent, the stated charges and your other everyday expenses. If a listing does not make clear what is included, keep this as an open question and ask for clarification. Do not treat your own estimate as an amount confirmed by the landlord.
- Essentials: your budget ceiling, a minimum size and a workable commute.
- Preferences: floor, balcony, building style or a particular neighbourhood.
- Flexibility: nearby towns, move-in dates or features you could reconsider.
2. Compare listings using the same criteria
Use one comparison sheet for every property: listing link, town, rent, stated charges, size, availability and contact. Add a column for missing information. An attractive but incomplete listing still needs checking; photographs alone should not move it to the top of your shortlist.
Search filters can narrow down location, room count, rent and move-in date. Alerts can support your search. Homegate’s guide explains these features on its own portal; also consider letting agencies’ listings and other sources relevant to your chosen region.
3. Arrange viewings before booking a trip
Contact the letting agency or the person named in the listing to find out how viewings are organised. Explain that you are still abroad and ask what can be done remotely. A video or a call may provide useful information, but cannot show everything you could assess in person.
Before planning a trip, group your available dates and have appointments confirmed. Prepare the same questions for each home: noise, daylight, access, equipment, pet conditions and availability. Record the answers during the viewing, separating confirmed details from points that still need checking.
4. Prepare the requested application and handle documents carefully
Ask the agency for the information and documents expected for the particular home. If you are moving from abroad and do not have a requested document, explain your circumstances and ask what evidence they can consider. Do not assume that an application used in your current country will be accepted unchanged in Switzerland.
Check the recipient and submission channel before sending personal documents. The Swiss data protection authority explains that information collected for a rental application must serve a purpose connected with the tenancy and be proportionate. Its guidance helps applicants understand questions in rental forms; the linked source below is in French.
5. Track your applications and keep uncertainties visible
Keep a simple record of viewing dates, submission dates, missing documents and your next action. It will help you answer accurately when an agency gets in touch and avoid mixing up applications. Attending a viewing or submitting a file does not mean you have been offered the property.
If your arrival also depends on a job or a residence application, keep those milestones in a separate calendar. Distinguish your preferred date from a confirmed date. If you are considering temporary accommodation, review its conditions before committing; it does not guarantee that you will subsequently obtain a long-term home.
Your starting brief in five lines
- Project: rent or buy; moving alone, as a couple or with family.
- Area: possible towns and the commute to take into account.
- Budget: your proposed ceiling and costs still to clarify.
- Timing: preferred date, availability for appointments and decisions still pending.
- Flexibility: three essentials and three preferences.
Further reading
Would you like support with your home search?
RDB Immobilier Sàrl searches for homes to rent or buy, arranges viewings and helps prepare your file. The scope and terms of support are set out in a proposal. The decision on the property rests with the landlord or seller.
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