Treat Switzerland as a separate customs territory
Switzerland is not part of the EU, so a move from an EU country is still a customs matter. The Swiss customs authority (BAZG) says the main requirement for importing household goods without duty is a transfer of domicile to Switzerland. The goods must have been used by you personally for at least six months and must continue to be used by you after import. Students can bring educational materials in without a domicile transfer. Vehicles have their own customs page and are not simply treated as household effects, so ask about them separately.
Official guidance: BAZG: moving household effects BAZG: vehicle customs clearance FAQ
Prepare form 18.44 and the list of goods
The customs procedure uses application form 18.44 for household effects, presented at the customs office of importation. BAZG asks for the relocation file to be sent for preliminary examination at least two working days before you plan to cross the border, and you must then cross at that same customs office. A list of relocation goods is part of the file, so make it match your numbered boxes and furniture. EU and EFTA citizens do not need a residence permit to prove the transfer of domicile and can use documents such as an employment contract, a lease or a notice-of-departure confirmation. Agree in writing who completes, signs and presents the form.
Official guidance: BAZG: moving to Switzerland, procedure BAZG: customs information office
Register your residence within the deadline
Official Swiss pages say EU and EFTA nationals who take up work must register with the commune where they live and apply for a residence permit within 14 days of arrival and before starting work. A stay of more than 90 days requires a permit from the cantonal migration office, and pensioners, students and people of private means also register. Non-EU nationals normally need to arrange entry and a permit before they travel, and the Swiss foreign ministry explains when a national visa is needed. Your canton and commune set the practical process.
Official guidance: SEM: information for EU and EFTA citizens (FAQ) ch.ch: working in Switzerland as a foreign national Swiss foreign ministry: entry and residence
Find out how the canton handles schooling
The cantons are responsible for compulsory education and the municipalities organise the schools, so the rules depend on where you live. Children normally attend the public school in their area of residence, and public compulsory education is free. The enrolment cut-off date for starting school varies by canton. Contact your commune or the cantonal education department before you sign a lease, and ask about the teaching language, which varies between the German, French, Italian and Romansh-speaking regions.
Official guidance: ch.ch: kindergarten and compulsory education EDK: compulsory education
Apartment blocks, quiet hours and moving slots
Many Swiss apartment buildings have house rules on delivery times, lift use and noise, and some ask you to book the lift or a moving slot. Ask the landlord or building manager and give us the answer. Check the lift size, the distance from the vehicle to the door and whether street parking needs a permit from the commune. Tell us the floor and show us the entrance in photographs.
Mountain roads, chalets and lakeside homes
A chalet or a home on a steep road may need a smaller vehicle, because bends, gradients and winter conditions limit what can reach the door. Ask about seasonal access, gates and any private road. If the property is reached only by a narrow track, tell us early so the delivery plan reflects it.
Compact homes need a measured inventory
Swiss rooms and cellars are often smaller than in other countries, and storage may be a shared cellar. Measure large furniture against doors and stairs, decide what is worth shipping, and list the rest for sale or donation. Mark fragile and valuable pieces and tell us what packing you want quoted.
- Large furniture with dimensions and items to dismantle.
- Fragile, valuable or antique pieces.
- Collection access, the Swiss town and canton, and who will receive the delivery.
Moving out of Switzerland instead?
Tell us the receiving country and the Swiss collection town. Leaving Switzerland has its own deregistration and customs checks with your commune and the receiving country, so describe the real direction and dates in your enquiry.
Your questions answered
Do I need customs paperwork if I am moving from the EU?
Yes. Switzerland is outside the EU, so the move is an import. The customs office expects the household effects application and a list of goods, sent before you cross the border.
Do I need a residence permit before the shipment can enter?
Customs asks you to show a transfer of domicile. EU and EFTA citizens can do this with documents such as a lease or an employment contract. Others should check what applies to them with the Swiss authorities.
Can I enquire before I have a Swiss address?
Yes. Give the canton and town you are considering, your timing and what you plan to take. Confirm the address, access and the receiving contact before the delivery plan is agreed.
Keep the official checks with your moving plan
Official guidance checked on 6 November 2026. Recheck the linked authorities before confirming paperwork and dates, using your nationality, residence circumstances and the actual origin and destination of the belongings. Ask us about the moving arrangements alongside those checks.