Planning a move to Switzerland? Our relocation guide covers permits and visas, cost of living, pets, and the cheapest way to ship your belongings door to door.
Moving to Switzerland means relocating to live, work, study or retire in this Alpine nation. To do it, you secure the right residence permit (EU/EFTA citizens have freedom of movement; UK and other non-EU citizens need a permit and usually a job offer), register with your local commune within 14 days, take out mandatory health insurance, and ship your belongings. My Baggage sends your boxes, suitcases and personal effects door to door to Switzerland by fast air freight, avoiding costly traditional removals and airline excess baggage fees.
This guide covers how to relocate to Switzerland step by step: permits and visas, planning daily life, moving with pets, choosing where to live, and the cheapest way to get your belongings there. Moving to the heart of Europe is a big step, so we have made one part of it simple - getting your things there safely. It sits within our international removals service, with dedicated shipping to Switzerland.
Moving to Switzerland involves securing the right residence permit, then organising the practical side of the move: finances, housing, mandatory health insurance, and getting your belongings across Europe. Switzerland consistently ranks among the world's most desirable places to live, drawing expats with its political stability, exceptional quality of life, high salaries and breathtaking Alpine scenery.
It takes many forms. Some people move to Switzerland for work in finance or pharma, others to study, retire or join family. EU/EFTA citizens benefit from freedom of movement, while UK and other non-EU citizens face a stricter, quota-based permit system, so the very first step is confirming you can move legally. After that, the steps are broadly the same: plan your new life and ship what you own. This guide walks through each one.
People move to Switzerland for its high salaries, quality of life, safety and spectacular outdoors. The country consistently ranks among the world's most desirable and prosperous places to live. Here are the reasons that come up most.
Strong pay, particularly in finance, pharma, tech and engineering, helps offset the high cost of living.
Clean, safe, efficient cities where the trains run on time and everything simply works.
Mountains, lakes and world-class skiing and hiking right on your doorstep.
A high-quality, universal system funded through mandatory private health insurance.
A stable, neutral country with a strong economy and low unemployment.
Fast rail and flights put Paris, Milan and Munich within easy reach for weekends away.
Four official languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh - with English widely spoken at work.
Very low crime, excellent schools and clean air make it popular with families.
Relocating to Switzerland works best when you tackle it in order, starting several months ahead. Confirm your permit first, because it underpins everything else, then work through these five steps.
Confirm the right residence permit and, for non-EU citizens, secure a job offer. Quotas mean applying early matters.
Research Swiss banking, plan currency transfers to CHF, and budget for the high cost of living.
Research cantons and arrange short-term accommodation before committing to a long-term rental.
Send boxes and suitcases ahead by door-to-door air freight to Switzerland so you travel light.
Register with your commune within 14 days, take out mandatory health insurance, and set up utilities.
It depends on your nationality. EU/EFTA citizens benefit from freedom of movement and simply register after arriving, while UK and other non-EU citizens need a residence permit, almost always backed by a job offer. Switzerland operates one of Europe's most selective systems, with annual quotas for non-EU nationals and employers required to show the role could not be filled locally. Permit processing can take weeks to months, so start early.
For short-term employment, usually valid for up to 12 months and tied to your work contract.
The initial residence permit for stays longer than 12 months, typically renewable and linked to your job.
Permanent residence, available after several years of living in Switzerland legally, subject to eligibility.
For people who live in a neighbouring country and commute to work in Switzerland.
For full-time study at an approved Swiss institution; you must show sufficient funds and health insurance.
For spouses, registered partners and close family members joining a relative who legally resides in Switzerland.
Some cantons allow financially independent non-EU nationals to reside without working, with stricter requirements.
Use the official Swiss government permit and visa information before you book anything.
Where you live comes down to your job, budget, language preference and lifestyle. Each canton offers something distinct, and My Baggage delivers to every location across Switzerland. These are the cities expats choose most.
Zurich is the German-speaking financial hub with the most jobs, Geneva the French-speaking international and diplomatic centre, Basel a cultural and pharma powerhouse, and Bern the relaxed capital. Tax-friendly Zug and Italian-speaking Lugano are popular alternatives. Research cost of living and rents in each canton before you commit.
Shipping your belongings to Switzerland with My Baggage takes four simple steps and no trip to a depot. Instead of slow, expensive traditional removals or costly airline excess baggage, your boxes and suitcases travel door to door by air freight, fully tracked, and typically arrive within days.
Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so every shipment needs a customs declaration. When you book, My Baggage automatically generates your digital customs forms from your order details - you answer a few questions and usually supply a copy of your passport photo page, and we handle the paperwork. Customs fees or duties may apply depending on your circumstances, though movers transferring residence often pay little or no duty on used personal effects. See our shipping to Switzerland page for customs detail, then get an instant quote.
The cost to ship belongings to Switzerland depends on the size, weight and number of items, and the most accurate figure comes from an instant quote. For most movers sending boxes and suitcases, door-to-door air freight with My Baggage is far cheaper than a traditional removals company or sea freight container, much faster, and costs less than airline excess baggage fees on heavier loads.
There are three broad ways to move your belongings to Switzerland. Across the things that matter most - speed, convenience and cost - My Baggage comes out on top.
| Feature | Air freight (My Baggage) | Removals company / sea freight | Airline excess baggage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door delivery | Yes, collected and delivered | Often port or depot based | No, airport to airport |
| Typical speed | A few days | Weeks (sea freight 6-12 weeks) | Same flight |
| Cost for boxes & suitcases | Low, you pay per item | High, priced for a full load | High per-bag and overweight fees |
| Best for | Boxes, suitcases & personal effects | A whole house of furniture | One or two extra bags |
| Online tracking | Full tracking, door to door | Varies by provider | Airline handling only |
Unless you are moving an entire household of furniture, air freight with My Baggage is the clear winner. Shipping boxes to Switzerland and luggage by air is usually the cheapest practical way to send clothes, books, kitchenware and personal effects, because you pay per item rather than for a whole van or container you cannot fill.
For anything beyond one extra bag, shipping ahead is usually cheaper and far easier than airline excess baggage fees. Your belongings travel door to door while you fly with hand luggage only, so the airport part of your move to Switzerland looks like this.
All round, a much easier way to move.
My Baggage ships your suitcases, boxes, personal effects and sports equipment such as golf clubs or a bike from your door to your Swiss address, with full online tracking and free compensation cover of £/€/$100 (upgradable to £/€/$1,500). Compare it against airline excess baggage and get an instant quote.
When you book with My Baggage, your digital customs forms (along with any other official forms required) are automatically generated from the information you provide during your order, so completing customs is quick and convenient. You answer a few questions about your shipment and usually provide a copy of your passport photo page. Requirements vary, and customs authorities may ask for more information.
Because Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, every shipment needs a declaration, and subsequent customs fees or duties may apply - it depends on your situation. Many movers transferring their residence pay little or no duty on used personal effects they have owned and used for at least six months, declared on Swiss customs Form 18.44, but allowances and conditions change. Check the current rules with the Swiss customs authority (BAZG) before you book.
Yes, you can bring pets to Switzerland, though it has strict import rules to prevent rabies and protect animal welfare, so careful preparation is essential. Most people relocate with dogs, cats or ferrets, and the exact requirements depend on the animal, its age, your country of origin and its veterinary documentation. My Baggage ships personal effects, not live animals, so a specialist pet relocation service handles this part of your move, but here is what to expect.
Key requirements typically include an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip (implanted before rabies vaccination), a valid rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, an EU Pet Passport or official veterinary health certificate, and tapeworm treatment for dogs from certain countries. Switzerland also has cantonal rules on "dangerous breeds" - some cantons ban specific breeds such as Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers, while others require permits or muzzling, so research your destination canton first.
For the most accurate and current requirements, check directly with the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), and consider a professional pet relocation service to manage the paperwork and travel smoothly. Once you have arrived, our guide to the best cities for pet lovers can help you choose a pet-friendly place to settle.
Beyond permits and logistics, it helps to understand everyday life before you move to Switzerland. These are the topics movers research most when planning their new Swiss life.
High quality and universal, but funded through mandatory private health insurance you must arrange within three months.
Strong public schools plus world-renowned universities such as ETH Zurich and EPFL.
Among the world's highest for rent, food and insurance - though salaries are correspondingly high.
Most new arrivals rent, as buying is expensive and less common; expect to provide references and a deposit.
High pay and strong worker protections; non-EU roles are subject to permit quotas.
Switzerland drives on the right. You can use a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months, then exchange it.
You will need a Swiss bank account, and tax is levied at federal, cantonal and communal level.
Four official languages by region; society values order, punctuality and quiet (including on Sundays).
Famously punctual, integrated public transport makes a car optional in most cities.
Figures and rules change, so treat this as a starting point and verify the detail for your circumstances with official sources before you act.
"By far the easiest way to get our boxes to Switzerland. I was apprehensive at first, but they kept their promises and everything arrived as planned."
Verified review"Excellent service from beginning to end. Pricing was clear and easy to understand. Packages collected on time and delivered to Switzerland on the day agreed."
Verified review"The team was really helpful with advice on how to pack and complete the customs paperwork for our move to Switzerland. Collected and delivered efficiently and on time."
Verified reviewTo move to Switzerland from the UK, first secure a job offer and the right residence permit (usually an L or B permit), as freedom of movement no longer applies post-Brexit. Then arrange housing, register with your commune within 14 days, take out mandatory health insurance, and ship your belongings. My Baggage sends boxes and suitcases door to door, so you travel light and arrive ready to settle in.
Yes, but UK citizens are now treated as non-EU nationals, so freedom of movement no longer applies. You generally need a job offer from a Swiss employer who shows the role could not be filled locally, and your application counts against Switzerland's annual UK quotas for B and L permits. Retirement, study and family routes also exist. Apply early, as quotas and processing times matter.
It is much harder without a job. Non-EU citizens almost always need a job offer to obtain a work permit. The main exceptions are studying on a student permit, joining family through reunification, or, in some cantons, residing as a financially independent person of independent means, which has strict financial requirements. EU/EFTA citizens have more flexibility under freedom of movement.
For most movers, the cheapest practical way to ship belongings to Switzerland is door-to-door air freight with a courier like My Baggage, paying per box or suitcase rather than for a whole removals van. A full removals firm only makes sense for an entire household of furniture, while paying per item is far cheaper for clothes, books and personal effects.
Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so shipments need a customs declaration and can attract duties and VAT, which can push up the cost compared with shipping within the EU. Many movers transferring their residence pay little or no duty on used personal effects, but it depends on your circumstances, so check the current Swiss rules. Booking with My Baggage and shipping per box keeps costs down and the paperwork simple.
With My Baggage, shipments to Switzerland typically arrive within a few days using our fast air freight service, far quicker than a traditional removals firm. Delivery times vary by service and destination, and remote Alpine locations may need extra transit time. Collections and deliveries run Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Yes. Each item shipped to Switzerland can weigh up to 30kg (66 lbs). Use the My Baggage Size Checker tool when booking to confirm your boxes and suitcases meet the guidelines, and enter accurate dimensions and weight to avoid additional charges.
Yes. Because Switzerland is outside the EU, all shipments go through Swiss customs and need a completed declaration. When you book with My Baggage, we automatically generate the customs paperwork from your order, and you usually provide a copy of your passport photo page. Customs fees or duties may apply depending on your circumstances; movers transferring residence often pay little or no duty on used personal effects, while new items may attract duty or VAT.
Yes. My Baggage specialises in shipping personal effects to Switzerland, including clothes, books, kitchenware and household items packed in boxes or suitcases. When you are transferring residence, used personal effects you have owned and used for at least six months may qualify for duty relief, so keep an itemised inventory and check the latest Swiss guidance and our prohibited items list before you pack.
You cannot ship prohibited or restricted items. For Switzerland, My Baggage also lists antiques, furs, jewellery, and precious metals and stones as prohibited, on top of general restricted items such as liquids, aerosols, medicines, perishable food, plants and animal products. Always check the My Baggage prohibited items list and Swiss customs guidance before packing your shipment.
EU/EFTA citizens have freedom of movement and register after arriving. UK and other non-EU citizens need a residence permit - typically an L (short-term) or B (longer-term) permit tied to a job offer, with a C permit for permanent residence later. Switzerland uses annual quotas for non-EU nationals, so check the official Swiss government information and apply early.
Yes - usually dogs, cats and ferrets. They need an ISO-compliant microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, an EU Pet Passport or vet health certificate, and tapeworm treatment for dogs from certain countries. Some cantons restrict specific breeds, so check the destination canton's rules and the FSVO website, and use a specialist pet relocation service.
The total cost of moving to Switzerland depends on permit fees, flights, shipping your belongings, a rental deposit and high initial living costs. Shipping is one of the more controllable parts: sending boxes and suitcases by door-to-door air freight is far cheaper than a full removals firm for most moves. Get an instant quote for the shipping element and budget permit and travel costs separately.
You can do either. Many movers send their belongings ahead so they arrive around the same time, while others ship shortly after arriving once they have an address and permit. Because air freight takes only a few days, you have flexibility, just allow time for customs clearance and avoid sending time-sensitive items.
This guide is designed to inform and inspire your move to Switzerland, but you should always carry out your own research, as the details depend on your individual circumstances and can change. Permit rules, quotas, costs and customs requirements are set by the Swiss authorities, so refer to official resources such as the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, and the FSVO, and verify everything before you act. Prices and living expenses are indicative and correct at the time of publishing.
