Prepare your arrival
Moving to Switzerland: a practical preparation checklist
Updated 21 October 2026 · RDB Immobilier Sàrl
Are you planning to move to Switzerland for a job, a business project or a change of life? Separate what you can prepare remotely from decisions that depend on your circumstances and the relevant authorities. Use this checklist to create your own arrival plan, wherever you are moving from.
1. Clarify your circumstances before setting a date
Write down who is moving, the reason for the stay, the nationalities involved, your intended region and your timeline. A confirmed job, a job search, studies and a business project should be treated as different starting points rather than assumed to follow the same process.
The official ch.ch portal explains that residence requirements depend on nationality and the purpose and duration of the stay. Read the information relevant to your situation and ask the competent authority about unresolved questions before making irreversible commitments. A housing or company project does not replace that check.
Starting a business in Switzerland does not necessarily mean immediately forming a limited liability company (Sàrl/GmbH) or public limited company (SA/AG). Depending on your circumstances, self-employment, including a sole proprietorship, may be an option. Residence and work requirements, recognition of your status by the compensation office and the formalities for your activity need to be checked separately.
- Confirmed: employment, place of activity and household members.
- Planned: moving date, possible municipalities and housing needs.
- Unresolved: the questions to check and who can answer each one.
2. Prepare your home search alongside the wider move
Create a search brief covering your budget, area and a few essential requirements. If you know your workplace, compare actual journeys before limiting the search to one city. A nearby municipality may suit the project, but its transport links and available properties still need checking.
Decide how you will handle viewings while abroad and ask each property manager what an application requires. Prepare documents so you can adapt them to the recipient rather than circulating them indiscriminately. Sending an application does not mean that a property has been secured.
3. Organise your documents and contacts
Make an inventory of documents you already have and those an organisation has actually requested. Record validity, language, any requested translation and who needs to supply the document. This is a planning tool, not a universal official document list.
Identify the intended municipality, the relevant cantonal authority and the contacts for your work and housing. Ask them directly about the procedures and deadlines that apply to you. If you are moving with children, add questions for local schools or childcare providers.
4. Plan the physical move and arrival costs
A home search and the transport of your belongings are separate services. Compare removal quotes that specify volume, dates, access and included tasks. Ask what happens if your move-in date changes.
Consult the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security instructions before planning to bring your personal belongings across the border. A transport quote does not establish which customs conditions apply. Keep confirmed costs separate from items you still need to price.
5. Keep an arrival calendar based on confirmed information
For each step, record an action, the person responsible, the recipient and a confirmed deadline. Include the topics to prepare with the relevant organisations: arrival registration, insurance, housing services and everyday arrangements.
Use three simple statuses: to check, in progress and confirmed. Show when one task depends on an earlier answer. This makes it harder to mistake a proposed home, authorisation or date for something already secured.
Your departure checklist
- Describe your household, project and intended region.
- Check your residence procedure with the competent authority.
- Prepare housing criteria and a plan for viewings.
- List the documents actually requested and outstanding questions.
- Separate initial costs from monthly spending.
- Give every unresolved item a next action.
Official references
Planning a move to Switzerland?
RDB Immobilier Sàrl helps with home searches and can assess the other needs presented on this website. Describe your situation so that the scope, terms and relevant contacts can be clarified. Decisions by authorities and property owners remain independent of this support.
Tell us about your project