5 Things Every Expat Must Do in Their First 30 Days in Switzerland

Your First 30 Days in Switzerland: Why They Matter

The first month after moving to Switzerland is the most critical. Several legal deadlines start ticking from day one, and missing them can result in penalties, gaps in coverage, or unnecessary costs. This week-by-week checklist ensures you handle everything in the right order.

Week 1: The Essentials (Days 1-7)

1. Register at Your Local Municipality (Gemeinde)

This is your #1 priority. Within 14 days of moving in, you must register at your local Einwohnerkontrolle (residents' registration office). Without this, nothing else can proceed — no bank account, no insurance, no permit.

What to bring:

• Valid passport (and visa if applicable)
• Employment contract or letter from employer
• Rental agreement (Mietvertrag)
• Passport photos (2-4)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable, apostilled)
• Birth certificates for children (if applicable)

What happens: You'll receive a registration confirmation (Anmeldebestätigung) and your residence permit application will be initiated. The permit itself (credit-card format) arrives by mail within 2-6 weeks.

2. Choose Health Insurance (KVG)

Swiss law requires all residents to have basic health insurance (KVG) within 3 months of arrival. However, coverage is retroactive to your registration date — so the sooner you choose, the sooner you're protected.

Key decisions:

• Provider: Compare at least 3-5 providers. Premiums for identical coverage can differ by CHF 150+/month
• Deductible: CHF 300 (lowest, highest premium) to CHF 2,500 (highest, lowest premium)
• Model: Standard (free choice), HMO, Telmed, or Hausarzt (10-25% savings)

3. Open a Swiss Bank Account

You'll need a Swiss bank account for salary payments, rent, and insurance premiums. Major options:

Documents needed: Passport, residence permit or registration confirmation, employment contract. Most banks require an in-person appointment for the first account.

4. Get a Swiss Phone Number

A Swiss mobile number is essential for two-factor authentication, government correspondence, and everyday life. The three major providers:

• Swisscom: Best coverage, most expensive (from CHF 30/month)
• Sunrise: Good coverage, competitive prices (from CHF 25/month)
• Salt: Budget-friendly, decent coverage (from CHF 20/month)

Budget alternatives like Wingo (Swisscom network), Yallo (Sunrise), or Lidl Connect offer plans from CHF 10-15/month.

Week 2: Financial Setup (Days 8-14)

5. Register for Serafe (TV/Radio Fee)

Every Swiss household pays a mandatory media fee of CHF 335/year (billed quarterly at CHF 83.75). Serafe will contact you automatically after registration, but expect the first bill within a few weeks.

6. Understand Your Pension Registration

As an employed person, you're automatically enrolled in the first two pension pillars:

• Pillar 1 (AHV/IV): Deducted from your salary (5.3% employee + 5.3% employer)
• Pillar 2 (BVG): Occupational pension through your employer (varies, typically 7-10% of salary)

No action needed — your employer handles this. But check that your AHV number (756.XXXX.XXXX.XX) is correct on your payslip.

7. Get Liability Insurance (Privathaftpflicht)

While not legally mandatory, liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) is considered essential in Switzerland. It covers damages you accidentally cause to others — from flooding your neighbor's apartment to injuring someone while cycling. Costs only CHF 5-10/month and covers up to CHF 5 million.

8. Understand Your Tax Situation

Most expats with a B-permit pay taxes via Quellensteuer (withholding at source) — your employer deducts tax directly from your salary. Key things to know:

• Withholding rates depend on canton, income, and family status
• You can request deduction corrections by March 31 of the following year
• Pillar 3a contributions are your biggest tax-saving opportunity

Week 3: Optimization (Days 15-21)

9. Open a Pillar 3a Account

This is the single most valuable financial step you can take as an expat. A pillar 3a account lets you save up to CHF 7,258/year (2026) in a tax-deductible retirement account. At a marginal tax rate of 25-35%, that's CHF 1,800-2,500 in tax savings — every year.

Popular pillar 3a providers: VIAC (best for investing), Frankly (ZKB), Finpension, or your bank. You can open a 3a account the same day online.

10. Find a Family Doctor (Hausarzt)

Register with a local GP as soon as possible. In popular areas, good doctors have waiting lists of months. Having an established GP is also required if you choose a Hausarzt insurance model (which saves 10-15% on premiums).

How to find one: Ask colleagues, check Doctolib.ch, or search your insurer's directory.

11. Get a Halbtax or GA

Swiss public transport is excellent but expensive. Two passes that save money:

• Halbtax (Half-Fare Card): CHF 185/year — all tickets at 50% off. Pays for itself within 1-2 months of commuting
• GA (General Abonnement): CHF 3,860/year (2nd class) — unlimited travel on all trains, buses, boats. Worth it if your commute costs more than CHF 320/month

12. Set Up Utilities and Internet

Electricity is usually included in your rental through the local utility company. For internet, the main providers are Swisscom (most reliable), Sunrise, and Salt, with plans from CHF 40-60/month for fiber.

Week 4: Final Steps (Days 22-30)

13. Check Premium Subsidy Eligibility

If your income is below cantonal thresholds (approximately CHF 40,000-55,000 depending on canton), you may qualify for health insurance premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung). Apply at your cantonal compensation office.

14. Consider VVG Supplementary Insurance

Basic KVG doesn't cover dental, private hospital rooms, or extensive alternative medicine. Consider supplementary insurance (VVG) for:

• Dental coverage (Swiss dental costs are very high)
• Alternative medicine (acupuncture, osteopathy)
• Private/semi-private hospital rooms
• Extended travel coverage

15. Set Up Twint and Swiss Post

Twint is Switzerland's mobile payment app, used everywhere from restaurants to parking meters. Download it and link it to your bank account. Swiss Post account lets you manage mail delivery, forward packages, and use PickPost locations.

16. Join Expat Communities

Building a social network accelerates your integration:

• InterNations: Largest expat community, regular events in all major cities
• Meetup.com: Language exchanges, hiking groups, professional networks
• Facebook groups: \"Expats in Zurich\", \"Brits in Switzerland\", city-specific groups
• Your employer: Many companies have expat integration programs

Complete 30-Day Checklist