A week-by-week plan for your first 30 days in Switzerland — every critical settling-in task laid out in order.
Overview
Switzerland is one of the easier countries to settle into administratively — provided you follow the federal timeline strictly. The two non-negotiable deadlines are commune registration within 14 days and health insurance within 90 days. Around those, your first 30 days should be focused on building the foundational infrastructure of Swiss life: residence permit physical issuance, bank account, mobile phone, utilities, schools (if applicable), and tax orientation. This guide walks through your first 30 days week by week, with the specific actions, where to do them, and what documents to bring. All steps are verified against ch.ch (Swiss Government Portal), sem.admin.ch (State Secretariat for Migration), and bag.admin.ch (Federal Office of Public Health).
Week 1 — Land, Register, Open the Basics
- Day 1 (arrival): Customs declaration for household goods (Form 18.44) if you've brought your own; SIM card at airport (Swisscom, Sunrise, or Salt).
- Day 2-3: Move into housing (or temporary accommodation if not yet settled); take meter readings (electricity, water, gas) and photograph them.
- Day 4-7: Commune registration (anmeldung) at the Einwohnerkontrolle of your commune. Bring passport, long-stay visa, signed rental agreement, passport photos, birth certificate (apostilled + translated for non-EU/EFTA), and CHF 50-150 fee. You'll receive an anmeldungsbestätigung — proof of registration.
- Day 7: Submit Swiss bank account application — bring anmeldungsbestätigung, passport, residence permit confirmation. PostFinance often fastest; UBS, Raiffeisen, and Migros Bank also good for new arrivals.
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important things to do in my first 30 days in Switzerland?
Three essentials with hard deadlines: (1) Commune registration (anmeldung) within 14 days of arrival — required by federal law and triggers your residence permit issuance; (2) Health insurance enrolment within 90 days — compulsory under KVG with retroactive coverage to arrival date; (3) Bank account opening — needed for almost everything else (rent direct debit, salary deposit, insurance payment). Beyond these, the first 30 days are about building the foundation: SIM card, internet, school registration for children, utility accounts.
How long does it take to get a Swiss residence permit physically issued?
Typically 2-4 weeks from commune registration (anmeldung) for the physical permit card to be sent to you. The cantonal migration office processes the paperwork. In the meantime, your anmeldungsbestätigung (registration confirmation from the commune) functions as proof of residence and allows you to start work, open a bank account, and enrol in health insurance. Some cantons issue interim residence documents at the commune level on the day you register.
Which Swiss bank should I open an account with?
For new arrivals, the easiest options are: PostFinance (often opens within days; basic account free for residents; widely accepted), UBS (premium service, English-friendly, requires CHF 5,000+ initial deposit for some account types), Raiffeisen (cooperative bank with strong rural/suburban presence; competitive pricing), Migros Bank (consumer-friendly, good mobile app). Avoid Credit Suisse — it was absorbed by UBS in 2023 and the legacy is being wound down. For investors, Vontobel and Julius Baer offer wealth-management services.
Do I need to register my children at school within a specific deadline?
Yes — Swiss schools are cantonal and most cantons require enrolment within a few weeks of arrival. Contact your commune's Schulamt / service scolaire / servizio scolastico immediately after anmeldung. School is compulsory from age 4 in most cantons (kindergarten + 9 years compulsory schooling). Children with limited German/French/Italian are typically placed in Integrationsklassen / classes d'accueil for the first year. Public schools are high-quality and free; international schools (English-language) cost CHF 20,000-40,000/year per child.
How does Swiss income tax work for new arrivals?
Most workers start on Quellensteuer (tax-at-source / withholding tax) — your employer automatically deducts cantonal+federal tax from your gross salary based on your residence permit type, marital status, and number of children. No annual tax filing required. You transition to ordinary tax filing (Ordinary Veranlagung) if you become a C permit holder, or if your income exceeds the cantonal threshold (typically CHF 120,000/year — varies by canton). Self-employed individuals always file annually + pay provisional taxes.
Should I get supplementary health insurance in Switzerland?
Optional but worth considering. KVG (compulsory basic insurance) covers all medically-necessary care but with restrictions: shared hospital rooms, limited choice of specialists outside your canton, no alternative-medicine reimbursement. Zusatzversicherung (supplementary insurance) adds private hospital rooms (Spitalzusatzversicherung), choice of specialist nationwide, dental care, and alternative medicine. Critically: supplementary insurers CAN reject you based on health/age — apply within the first month after arrival if you want them, before any health conditions develop. Cost: CHF 50-300/month/adult on top of basic KVG.
What's the best way to learn German/French/Italian after arrival?
Your commune's Integrationsdienst is the first port of call — most communes offer subsidised or free language classes for new residents. The Swiss government also offers free 'fide' courses (the official integration language programme) — see fide-info.ch for accredited centres near you. Migros Klubschule and Berlitz are the largest private providers (CHF 300-600 for a 10-week course). For naturalisation, you'll need fide A2 oral + B1 oral; for permanent residence (C permit), fide A1 oral + A1 written.
Do I need to register my vehicle when I move to Switzerland?
Yes, within 30 days of arrival (vehicles imported as removal goods are exempt from customs duty + VAT if owned for 6+ months prior). Visit your cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt with: foreign vehicle registration document, customs Form 18.44, proof of ownership for 6+ months, Swiss MFK roadworthiness inspection certificate (CHF 100-200), Swiss third-party liability insurance, residence permit + anmeldungsbestätigung. The cantonal office issues Swiss plates + Verkehrsausweis (Swiss registration). EU vehicles need MFK inspection; many non-EU vehicles may require modifications for Swiss type-approval.