Relocation from Germany to Switzerland

What do you have to pay attention to when moving / relocating from Germany to Switzerland if you want to live in Switzerland temporarily or long-term? We explore these questions in this article.

When searching for your apartment or house, you can, for example, search for apartments on comparis (a metasearch platform).

If you do not find what you are looking for, we can offer you our webinar: Finding an apartment.

It is advisable to plan your move/relocation from Germany to Switzerland carefully and, despite speaking the same national language, also adapt to cultural differences and everyday peculiarities.

Checklist for the inspection of the apartment

In addition, pay attention to a few things when viewing the apartment. Here are some points that should be considered:

1. Condition of the apartment: Check the general condition of the apartment. Look for possible damage to walls, floors or ceilings. Make sure all electrical appliances, faucets, heaters, etc. are working.
2. Size and room layout: consider whether the apartment meets your space requirements. Check the room layout and make sure that the number of rooms and their size meet your requirements. If necessary, create a small sketch, which depicts the layout of the apartment.
3. Amenities: Check if the apartment has the desired features, such as built-in wardrobes, cellar, washing machine and/or a balcony.
4. Incidence of light: Pay attention to the incidence of light in the various rooms. Check if there is enough natural light and if the orientation of the apartment suits your preferences.
5. Location and surroundings: Get an idea of the location of the apartment. Consider whether the neighborhood meets your needs and whether there are important amenities in the area, such as supermarkets, schools, public transportation, or recreational opportunities.
6. Noise pollution: Be aware of possible noise sources such as road traffic, neighborhood noise, or construction sites nearby. Make sure that the noise level is acceptable to you. For example, you can use the federal maps at Maps of Switzerland – map.geo.admin.ch
7. Heating and energy costs: Inquire about heating and energy costs to get an idea of monthly utility costs.
8. Parking facilities: If you own a car, inquire about parking near the apartment. Ask about parking or garages and if there are additional costs associated with them.

It is advisable to bring a checklist with you to the apartment inspection to ensure that you check all relevant items.

Documents for the inspection or apartment registration

At the time of the visit or at the time of registration, you will usually subsequently need the following documents for the rental in Switzerland:

• Copy of the residence permit
• valid identity card/passport
• Copy of the employment contract
• Contact details of the last landlord
• Debt collection information (information about your creditworthiness, comparable to the “Schufa” information in Germany). This can be applied for at the debt collection office, information can be obtained from the respective municipality.

Citizens of the EU and EFTA have the possibility to live and work in Switzerland for up to three months without needing a residence permit. However, it is necessary to register with the relevant cantonal labor market authorities. If one intends to stay in Switzerland for longer than three months, a residence permit is required, which can be applied for at the migration office of the canton of residence. There are different types of permits:

• The short-term residence permit L is valid for a period of less than one year and is valid as long as the temporary employment lasts.
• Residence permit B can be applied for if you are employed in Switzerland for more than one year or for an indefinite period of time. It has a validity period of five years and can be extended.
• After an uninterrupted stay of five years in Switzerland, one receives the C settlement permit. This is valid indefinitely, but is reviewed every five years.

In most cases, when moving / relocating from Germany to Switzerland, a withholding tax must be expected at the beginning. Info can be found at the Federal Tax Office of Switzerland

The following mandatory social contributions are deducted directly from the salary:

• Old-age and survivors’ insurance (AHV), disability insurance (IV) and compensation for loss of earnings (EO): Approximately 5 percent of gross salary (without upper limit).
• Unemployment insurance (ALV): Approximately 1.1 percent of salary up to a maximum limit of 148,200 francs per year. For amounts over 148,200 francs, the contribution is 0.5 percent.
• Occupational pension plan (BVG): Contributions for pension insurance vary depending on the insurance and the age of the insured person and range from 7 to 18 percent of salary.

If you are staying in Switzerland for a longer period of time, it is advisable to cancel your existing cell phone provider contract and take out a mobile subscription in Switzerland. As Switzerland is not part of the EU, EU roaming cannot be used for Switzerland, which can lead to high costs. To sign up for a subscription. For this you also need an official ID or a passport.

If you are staying in Switzerland for a longer period of time, it is recommended to either change all your subscriptions to your new address or to cancel them. It is easy if they do this while they are not yet officially registered at the new address.

To open a bank account in Switzerland, you usually need to follow the steps below:

Find out about different banks in Switzerland to find the one that best suits your needs. Consider factors such as account fees, minimum deposits, banking services and reputation.

Obtain identification documents: Make sure you have valid identification documents, such as a passport or ID card. In some cases, the bank may also ask for additional documents such as proof of residency or information about your financial situation.