Why register
Registration updates the residents' register (RH). It is the basis for the residence permit, mandatory health insurance, taxation, voting, schooling and municipal services. Failure to register can result in a fine and complicate permit renewal.
Deadlines
- Arrival from abroad: within 14 days, before starting work
- Arrival from another canton: 14 days
- Move within the same commune: usually 14 days
- Departure abroad: before leaving (ideally 1–2 weeks ahead)
Documents required
For arrival:
- Passport or ID card
- Permit (B/L/C/G) or entry authorisation
- Tenancy contract or housing certificate
- Employment contract
- AVS card if you have one
- Family book / birth certificates (families)
- Insurance green card (depending on canton)
For departure:
- Residence permit
- Proof of new address (abroad or another canton)
- Confirmation of lease termination
- Confirmation of AVS / LPP termination if leaving permanently
Fees
Arrival registration typically costs CHF 20–50; some communes are free for departures. Geneva charges CHF 25, Lausanne CHF 50, Zurich varies.
Special case: short stays
If you stay less than 3 months in Switzerland for holidays or a short project, you do not need to register formally. But as soon as you start working, registration is mandatory from day one, even for a job of a few days.
Tips
- Book online when possible: counters are busy at the start and end of each month
- Always keep the residence certificate (Wohnsitzbescheinigung): it is required by banks, schools and HR
- If leaving Switzerland permanently, also notify AVS and your pension fund to recover LPP assets
