Moving to Switzerland: The Complete Expat Guide

Everything international professionals and families need to relocate to and settle in Switzerland, permits, health insurance, housing, taxes, banking and Swiss culture.

What you will find here

24 detailed commune guides covering Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zug, Winterthur and more.
A 14-day arrival course walking you through registration, insurance, bank account, housing and everyday life.
A weekly news digest for expats already in Switzerland.
Two doors: How to Crack the Coconut, free in exchange for your email, and The Ultimate 50 Tips bundle at CHF 24.
A commune comparison tool for Steuerfuss, rent, insurance region and commute times.

Start here

New arrival? Begin the free 14-day masterclass at /masterclass.
Deciding where to live? Compare communes at /compare or browse /cities.
Want the full playbook? Download How to Crack the Coconut at /coconut.

Latest guides

The Real Rules of Swiss Work Culture Swiss offices run on punctuality, directness, and boundaries. Here is what I learned about meetings, feedback, and why being five minutes early is not optional.
The Swiss Bank Account You Open in Week One Is Almost Always the Wrong One UBS, Zürcher Kantonalbank, PostFinance, Neon, Yuh, Wise: which bank actually works when you are new in Switzerland, earn in CHF, and still move money abroad.
Swiss Taxes: Why Your Postcode Costs More Than Your Salary Bracket Switzerland has federal, cantonal, and municipal taxes. The same income in Zug and Geneva can produce wildly different bills. Here is how to read your tax stack before you rent an apartment.
Why Swiss Apartment Ads Get 200 Replies and What You Can Still Do The Swiss rental market is brutal, but not random. Here is how applications actually get read, what landlords fear, and why a 3.5-room flat is not three and a half rooms.
Making Friends in Switzerland Is Slower Than You Think, and That Is Normal Swiss friendships take time, but they are not closed. Here is how Vereine, neighbor rituals, and language classes actually turn acquaintances into friends.
Why Switzerland Is the Greatest Nation in the World (And Why the World Should Take Notes) No coastline, no oil, no empire. Yet Switzerland quietly became one of the richest, safest, most innovative places on Earth. A first-person essay on what the world can learn from a country built on systems, not strongmen.
Is 100k, 120k, or 150k CHF Enough to Live in Switzerland? The most asked question on r/Switzerland, answered without spin. Real numbers for singles, couples, and families in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Zug.
Moving to Switzerland: The Checklist Nobody Gives You Every step from job offer to first Swiss coffee. Permit, Anmeldung, insurance, apartment, phone, tax at source, in the exact order they need to happen.
Swiss Residence Permits Explained: B, C, L, and G in Plain English The permit alphabet, decoded. Who gets which permit, how long it lasts, what it lets you do, and how to move from B to C.
How to Actually Get an Apartment in Switzerland Vacancy rates below 0.1 percent, dossiers stacked to the ceiling, and forty applicants per viewing. How to compete, what landlords really want, and why you keep getting rejected.
Swiss Health Insurance: LaMal Is a Commodity, So Stop Overpaying for It Basic health insurance in Switzerland is compulsory within 3 months of arrival. The coverage is identical at every fund, so the only sensible variables are price, franchise and model. Here is how to pick the cheap one, find a doctor and use a pharmacy without getting lost.
Quellensteuer / Tax at Source in Switzerland: How It Works and When You Can Claim Money Back If you hold a B permit and earn under 120,000 CHF, your employer deducts tax directly from your salary. Most expats never realise they can file a return and claim thousands back. Here is the full picture.

City and commune guides

Moving to Zurich Switzerland's financial capital offers unparalleled career opportunities, world-class amenities, and stunning Alpine views. Your comprehensive guide to living in Zurich.
Moving to Geneva International Geneva offers diplomatic prestige, multilingual environment, and Alpine proximity. Your comprehensive guide to living in Switzerland's global city.
Moving to Basel Switzerland's cultural capital at the tri-border region offers pharmaceutical excellence, Art Basel prestige, and Rhine riverside living.
Moving to Bern Switzerland's charming capital combines UNESCO heritage, political importance, and Alpine accessibility in one perfect package.
Moving to Lausanne Olympic capital on Lake Geneva combines international sports governance, prestigious universities, and French Swiss elegance.
Moving to Fribourg Bilingual charm between Bern and Lausanne offers authentic Swiss culture, medieval beauty, and peaceful living.
Moving to Adliswil Charming suburb near Zurich offers family-friendly living, excellent transport links, and lower costs than the city center.
Moving to Vevey Charming Lake Geneva town with Nestlé heritage, vineyard terraces, and small-town Swiss charm near Montreux.
Moving to Switzerland Your comprehensive guide to living in Switzerland - from Alpine culture to banking, languages to lifestyle. Everything expats need to know.
Moving to Lucerne Central Swiss gem combines lake beauty, mountain access, and medieval charm. Perfect gateway to the Alps with strong tourism industry.
Moving to Zug Switzerland's lowest-tax canton attracts international businesses and wealthy expats. Stunning lake location with crypto and finance focus.
Moving to Lugano Switzerland's gateway to Italy offers Mediterranean charm, stunning Lake Lugano views, and excellent international connectivity. Perfect blend of Swiss quality and Italian lifestyle.
Moving to Sankt Gallen Historic textile city with UNESCO World Heritage abbey, strong economy, and excellent education. Gateway to Appenzell region with traditional Swiss culture.
Moving to Martigny Nestled at the crossroads of the Rhône Valley and the Great St. Bernard Pass, Martigny is a Valais town blending Roman heritage, world-class art, renowned vineyards and a sizeable health insurance sector.
Moving to Baar One of Switzerland's lowest-tax communes on the edge of Zug, popular with international families and holding companies.
Moving to Cham Lakefront commune in canton Zug with low taxes, a beautiful shoreline, and a slower pace than Zug city.
Moving to Wollerau High-earner commune on Lake Zurich's south shore, one of the lowest-tax municipalities in canton Schwyz.
Moving to Freienbach Lake Zurich commune in canton Schwyz with strong transport links, low taxes, and more housing supply than its neighbours.
Moving to Meggen Sun-facing lakeside commune outside Lucerne with a very low tax multiplier and some of central Switzerland's best views.
Moving to Rotkreuz Canton Zug's pharma hub, home to Roche Diagnostics, Amgen ELMAC and Novartis Pharma Schweiz. Low tax, high English, small-village scale.
Moving to Opfikon Zurich's airport corridor. Popular with expat professionals on relocation packages who need short commutes and frequent flights.
Moving to Winterthur Switzerland's sixth-largest city, 22 minutes from Zurich by train, with a real cultural life of its own and much lower rents.
Moving to Küsnacht Zurich's Gold Coast in a single village. Low tax multiplier, direct S-Bahn to Zurich HB, and a very tight housing market.
Moving to Allschwil Basel's pharma suburb, home to the BaseLink life-sciences campus and popular with Roche and Novartis staff.

The 14-day arrival course

Before you land, the papers that travel with you Almost everything Switzerland asks of you in your first month is a document you either brought or did not bring. Pack the file, not just the suitcase.
Anmeldung, the paperwork clock starts now If you have moved to Switzerland in the last two weeks, this is the single most important thing you will do this month.
Health insurance, the three-month deadline nobody explains Basic health insurance is mandatory for every resident within three months of arrival. If you do not choose, the canton assigns one for you, usually the most expensive.
Opening a Swiss bank account without the pain You need a Swiss IBAN before you can pay rent, receive your salary in most cases, and set up direct debits for insurance and taxes.
Mobile and internet, what works on day one You will want a Swiss number for two-factor codes, delivery slips, and being treated as a resident.
Housing I, the dossier that wins Swiss apartments Swiss landlords choose tenants from paper. If your dossier is complete and yours is the first to arrive, you win. If it is incomplete, you lose to someone with less money but a better file.
Housing II, what you are signing A Swiss lease is short, and everything it does not say is handled by the house rules and the handover protocol. Read all three before the pen moves.
SERAFE, the bill that arrives whether you own a TV or not The household media fee is CHF 335 per year per household, and it is device-independent. No television, streaming only, makes no difference.
The taxed rubbish bag, and why your neighbours notice Swiss recycling is a moral system. Learn it early.
Transport, and the driving licence clock Swiss trains, trams, and buses are one system. Your foreign driving licence, meanwhile, is on a timer from the day you took up residence.
Withholding vs declaration, the tax switch For most new arrivals, tax is withheld directly from your salary (Quellensteuer or impôt à la source). You do nothing. But two thresholds change that.
The three pillars, in plain language Swiss retirement money sits in three separate places. Once you see which is which, every deduction on your payslip makes sense.
Children, schools and childcare Education is run by the cantons and delivered by your commune, which is good news: the school your child attends is decided by where you registered.
The Coconut, and what to do next The paperwork is a fortnight. The culture is the long game. Here is the part no office hands you.