Registration

  • All you need to know about your registration process

  • This will take you ½ a day

  • Mandatory by law within the 
first two weeks after arrival

  • Required Swissify-steps:

    • Visa

    • Housing

  • Required documents:

    • Employment contract

    • Passport / Identification card

    • Lease Contract


All newcomers need to register at their local municipality (commune in French/Italian and Gemeinde in German) within 14 days of entering Switzerland and prior to their first working day. You have to register at the local registration office of your municipality in person (usually including all family members).

  • Visa approval (if needed)

  • Employment contract or confirmation of employment

  • Temporary or permanent address in Switzerland

  • Valid travel documents (passport or identification card)

  • New requirement valid from January 2020: Certificate proving competence in the local language of Level A1 at a minimum, or proof of registration in a language course with this qualification as its goal (where applicable, exceptions apply for French and German native speakers)

Address

For the residence permit you need a valid address in Switzerland. This does not necessarily have to correspond to your definitive address. It is therefore possible to enter a temporary address. However, if you enter a temporary address it is important that you do not forget to report your new address. This is mandatory for every citizen in Switzerland.

Prepare registration

Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to register online if you are moving from abroad to Switzerland. You will have to visit the municipality in person to do this. So that the registration goes ahead quickly and smoothly, it is advisable to prepare and bring:

  • Lease agreement or confirmation of the place of residence, if using a temporary address

  • ID or passport

  • Employment contract

Visit the municipality

You do not need an appointment to register. It is advisable to visit the municipality in the morning, as experience shows that there are fewer people present at this time of the day. Here you can find the address and the opening hours: Ämterfinder

In smaller municipality offices you should not assume that the officials will able to speak to you in English. In such cases it may be worth being accompanied by someone who can translate for you

Would you like to be accompanied?

Ensure your registration gets completed first time, avoid language issues and potential misunderstandings with the officials – have a local expert join you at registration.

Let Swissify accompany you

Wait for the approval

While waiting to receive your confirmation, you can continue with the next steps of your move.

Note that some steps, especially those relating to signing contracts, can only completed once you have received your registration confirmation.

Would you like to be accompanied?

Ensure your registration gets completed first time, avoid language issues and potential misunderstandings with the officials – have a local expert join you at registration.

Let Swissify accompany you