Can anyone find your address in Switzerland?

The real rule

Why the Swiss laugh, and what it means if you're new here.

In Zurich, anyone may ask the city for your address. If you would rather decide yourself who knows where you live, you can ask for a Datensperre, a block on your data. It is free and needs no reason. One limit: a creditor who can show proof can still get your address.

Arrival course, day 2: the Anmeldung

The rule, explained

The City of Zurich explains it on its page on Adressauskünfte: private persons may request information about a resident, and depending on the kind of information it costs CHF 10 to 20. The answer covers name, address and the date of moving in. The same page says you can ask, without giving reasons, for your address to be blocked. The data protection officer of the canton of Zurich adds the details in „Ihr Recht auf Datensperre“: the block is free of charge and needs no reason, but a creditor who can prove a claim can still get the address. This film covers the City of Zurich; other places have their own pages.

Sources: City of Zurich, Adressauskünfte; Data protection officer, canton of Zurich, Ihr Recht auf Datensperre

Questions people ask

How do I block my address in Zurich?

Ask the city for a Datensperre. It is free and needs no reason (City of Zurich; data protection officer, canton of Zurich).

Can someone still find a blocked address?

A creditor with proof can still get it (data protection officer, canton of Zurich).

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