Phase 1 — Before departure (3-6 months before)
Permit:
- Obtain the signed offer
- The employer files the permit application with the canton
- EU/EFTA: 2-6 weeks
- Third country: 2-4 months
Temporary housing:
- Book 30 days of Airbnb or hotel for transition
- Avoid signing a lease before arriving (essential visit)
Documents to prepare:
- Passport valid 6 months minimum after arrival
- Birth certificate translated to German/French (apostille by country)
- Marriage and children's birth certificates (idem)
- Recent criminal record (< 3 months)
- Translated and apostilled diplomas
- International driving licence
Finances:
- 3 months of salary in advance for deposit + first rent
- Cross-border bank account (Wise, Revolut Premium) for transfers
Phase 2 — First month in Switzerland
Day 1-7:
- Register at the commune (Population Office) within 14 days — mandatory
- Collect B/C/L permit at the canton
- Announce arrival to employer, HR
Day 7-30:
- Open bank account: PostFinance, UBS, Raiffeisen, Yuh, Neon
- Subscribe LAMal health insurance (mandatory within 3 months)
- Subscribe liability insurance (CHF 10-20/month)
- Subscribe household insurance (CHF 15-40/month)
- Phone: Salt, Sunrise, Swisscom (subscription or prepaid)
- Home internet: Init7, Quickline, Sunrise, Swisscom
Phase 3 — Housing
Finding the apartment:
- Sites: homegate.ch, immoscout24.ch, anibis.ch
- Build the tenant file (3 pay slips, debt extract, permit, liability)
- Apply within 2 hours after a visit: absolute urgency
Signing the lease:
- Standard duration 1 year, automatic renewal
- Deposit: max 3 months net rent (guarantee account or SwissCaution)
- Notice: 3 months minimum, fixed dates (often end of March, June, Sept, Dec)
Inventory:
- Crucial: detailed photos and description
- Keep carefully (proof at exit)
Phase 4 — Taxation
Arrival year:
- Withholding tax automatic on salary (employer withholds)
- B permit: withholding tax up to CHF 120K annual income; above, ordinary taxation
- C permit: annual ordinary taxation only
Tax return:
- If income > CHF 120K: ordinary return (March-May)
- Deductions: transport, meals, 3a, health premiums, training
Tips:
- Keep all receipts from day 1
- Consult a fiduciary for year 1 optimisation (CHF 300-800)
Phase 5 — Family and school
Spouse:
- A B permit holder's spouse gets family reunification
- Right to work immediately (EU/EFTA) or after authorisation (third country)
- Register at ORP if job-searching (free, support)
Children:
- Schooling mandatory and free in public (cantonal)
- Register via commune or directly at school
- Timeline: 1-4 weeks
- Crèches: city shortage, registration sometimes 18 months in advance
Family allowances:
- CHF 200-330/month/child by canton
- Apply via employer or allowance fund
Phase 6 — Social integration
Language:
- Free or commune-subsidised courses (cantonal integration)
- Private school registration (Berlitz, Goethe Institut, Alliance française)
- Language tandem via apps (Tandem, HelloTalk)
Network:
- Internations, Glocals, Hello Switzerland: expat associations
- Sports clubs, professional associations, alumni
- Neighbourhood: Swiss are reserved but respectful
Driving licence:
- EU/EFTA: direct recognition 12 months
- Third country: theory + practical test for some countries
- Conversion within the year
Total budget
Average installation cost:
- Administrative procedures: CHF 500-1,500
- International moving: CHF 5,000-30,000
- Deposit + 1st rent: 3-4 months rent (CHF 6,000-12,000 average)
- 1st quarter insurance: CHF 1,500-3,000
- 1 month temporary housing: CHF 3,000-8,000
- Basic furniture: CHF 5,000-15,000
Total: CHF 20,000-70,000 by family configuration.
Many employers include a relocation package: negotiate it.
