Changing Your Address in Switzerland: Complete Guide

Changing your address in Switzerland: all the steps you need to take

Changing your address when moving in Switzerland is not just a matter of sending a simple letter. It is a structured administrative process involving legal obligations, deadlines to meet and a long list of organisations to notify. Forgetting a single step can result in fines, lost mail or administrative complications.

This guide details every step of the process, whether you are moving within the same municipality, to another municipality in the same canton, or to a different canton. To make sure you forget nothing, use our complete moving checklist.

Legal obligations in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the population registration system is decentralised: each municipality manages its own residents’ register. Every person living in Switzerland is legally required to register with their municipality of residence.

Moving within the same municipality

If you stay within the same municipality, you must notify your new address at the residents’ office. This is generally simpler:

• Deadline: within the deadline set by the canton or municipality
• Documents: ID, new lease agreement
• Procedure: in person at the counter or online (an increasing number of municipalities offer an online portal)
• Cost: check with your municipality

Moving to another municipality (same canton)

• Departure notification at the residents’ office of the old municipality: before the move or within the days that follow (deadline varies by municipality)
• Departure certificate: a document issued to you, to be presented to the new municipality
• Arrival notification at the residents’ office of the new municipality: within the deadline set by the canton
• Documents required: ID/passport, departure certificate, lease agreement, family record book or marriage certificate, residence permit (for foreign nationals)
• Fees: set by each municipality

Intercantonal move

Moving between cantons has additional consequences:

• Same departure/arrival notification procedure as above
• Licence plate change: mandatory within the deadline set by the canton (vehicle registration office of the new canton)
• Health insurance: premiums differ from canton to canton, with the option to switch insurer
• Taxes: taxation in the new canton from 1 January following the move
• Driving licence: address update
• Voting rights: exercised in the new municipality (waiting period for communal and cantonal voting rights varies by canton)

Mail redirection by Swiss Post

Swiss Post’s mail redirection service is essential for a smooth transition.

How to order redirection

Swiss Post offers redirection for different durations, for individuals and businesses. Check the current conditions at post.ch.

1. Online at post.ch: the quickest option
2. At the post office: fill in the form on site with an ID document
3. By phone: contact Swiss Post customer service

Important points:

• Redirection applies to all members of the household registered at the same address
• It covers letters, parcels and newspapers
• The service does not redirect unaddressed mail (advertising)
• Order it early, as activation is not immediate
• Redirected mail bears a yellow sticker with the new address

Complete list of organisations to notify

Here is an exhaustive list of all organisations and services to inform of your address change. They are ranked by priority.

Priority 1 — Immediately

• Municipal residents’ office (departure and arrival notification) — legal obligation
• Employer — for payslips and tax deductions
• Swiss Post — mail redirection
• Health insurer (KVG) — mandatory; premiums change by municipality/canton
• Children’s school — departure notification and enrolment at the new school
• Vehicle registration office — licence plate change if changing cantons

Priority 2 — Within the month

• Banks (current accounts, savings, mortgage): UBS, Credit Suisse, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, cantonal banks, etc.
• Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Cembra, Corner Bank
• AHV/IV/APG compensation fund
• Pension fund (2nd pillar / BVG)
• Pillar 3a (restricted pension provision): bank or insurer
• Household and personal liability insurance (adjust the insured sum for the new property). Also consider handing over your old property and end-of-lease cleaning
• Vehicle insurance (liability, comprehensive)
• Other insurance: life, legal protection, travel, supplementary health
• Serafe (radio-TV licence fee): address change at serafe.ch
• Cantonal and federal tax office — the tax authority of the departing canton generally transfers the file, but proactive notification is recommended

Priority 3 — Within 2 months

• GP / family doctor
• Dentist
• Paediatrician (if you have children)
• Gynaecologist / specialists
• Pharmacy
• Vet (if you have pets)
• Internet/TV provider: Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt, Init7, etc.
• Mobile phone provider
• SBB / public transport subscription: Half Fare card, GA travelcard, regional passes (TPG, TL, BVB, etc.)
• Family allowances (family allowance fund)
• Military service: notify the district commander
• Civil protection: notify the change

Priority 4 — Within 3 months

• Associations and sports clubs
• Press subscriptions: newspapers (24 Heures, Tribune de Geneve, Le Temps, NZZ, etc.), magazines
• Online subscriptions: Amazon, Galaxus, Zalando, etc.
• Loyalty programmes: Coop (Supercard), Migros (Cumulus), Manor, etc.
• Municipal library
• Gym / sports club
• Political parties (if a member)
• Religious organisations (parish)
• Commercial register (if sole trader or company)
• Professional body (lawyers, doctors, architects, etc.)

Steps for specific situations

For foreign nationals (B, C, L, G permits)

Foreign nationals have additional obligations:

• Registration at the residents’ office within the deadline set by the canton (same as Swiss citizens)
• Updating the residence permit: the cantonal migration office must be informed
• If changing cantons: transfer of the permit to the migration office of the new canton
• B permit holders: a change of canton may require a new authorisation
• C permit holders: the transfer is generally simpler
• Cross-border workers (G permit): inform the cantonal office if the workplace changes

For the self-employed and businesses

• Commercial register: address change of the registered office- VAT office (FTA): notify the change
• AHV compensation fund for the self-employed
• Clients and suppliers: inform them of the new address
• Update communication materials (website, business cards, invoices, etc.)

For vehicle owners

Deadlines and fees are set by each canton: check with your vehicle registration office.

For pet owners

• Dog: registration with the new municipality, payment of the annual dog tax (set by the municipality). The AMICUS database is updated automatically via the municipality
• Cat: no notification obligation in Switzerland (unless the municipality has a specific regulation)
• Horse: notify the cantonal veterinary service
• Exotic pets: check the regulations of the new municipality

For more details, see our guide to moving with pets.

Tip: change your address in one go

Some Swiss cantons offer online portals that allow you to notify several organisations of your address change at once:

• eUmzug: available in several cantons. Allows departure and arrival notifications online, and automatically notifies certain services
• One-stop municipal counter: some French-speaking municipalities consolidate all steps on a single portal
• EasyGov.swiss: for businesses, allows certain administrative changes online

Check the website of your new municipality to see if such a service is available. It can save you a considerable amount of time.

Summary of key deadlines

Common mistakes to avoid

Need help organising your move? Request a free quote: your request is passed on to professional movers in your area, while you take care of the admin.

1. Forgetting the departure notification: if you do not deregister from the old municipality, you risk paying taxes in both municipalities
2. Neglecting health insurance: if you change cantons, your premiums change. Failing to notify the change can result in inadequate coverage
3. Forgetting the licence plates: driving with plates from another canton after the deadline is an offence
4. Not ordering mail redirection: without this service, your mail is returned to sender marked “moved, no forwarding address”
5. Ignoring transport subscriptions: a TPG regional pass will not be valid in the TL zone
6. Forgetting military service: call-up papers are sent to the registered address — an unjustified absence is penalised

Frequently asked questions