International movers in Zürich

Household goods arriving from abroad are cleared, in principle Monday to Friday during opening hours, only at customs offices that handle commercial goods, and any of them can do it (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026) (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026). The federal customs information line is +41 58 467 15 15 (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026).

The city registers newcomers only after they have actually moved in, so no Zurich registration confirmation exists yet when the goods cross the border (City of Zurich, checked 21 Oct 2026). Customs names other proof of the move, such as the employment contract, the lease or the confirmation of departure from the country of origin, and decides whether the documents suffice (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026). If papers are missing, the goods are cleared provisionally against a guarantee, and the documents can follow within six months (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Later consignments are listed separately at the first import, and the two-year window from the move applies to them too (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026). A dog that comes along is entered in the city’s dog register, kept by the Stadtpolizei, within ten days of arrival if it is older than three months (City of Zurich, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Arrivals from abroad register in person at the Personenmeldeamt Zürich Süd in the Stadthaus, Stadthausquai 17, with a booked appointment, and only once they actually live in the city (City of Zurich, checked 21 Oct 2026). The deadline is 14 days (2026) (City of Zurich, checked 21 Oct 2026); the fee is CHF 40 per adult, plus the cantonal migration office’s permit fees for foreign nationals (City of Zurich, checked 21 Oct 2026). More in our guide to registering at your commune.