Arriving in Switzerland with your move sorted out is only the beginning. There's a sequence of administrative steps with real deadlines — some as short as 14 days — and if you're caught off guard, they can complicate everything from your paycheck to your healthcare. Here's the order that actually works.
This is the first and most urgent step. Go in person to the Contrôle des habitants / Einwohnerkontrolle of your municipality with your passport, work contract or accommodation proof, and passport photos. This process triggers your residence permit — without it, you can't move forward with almost anything else. Full details in our documents guide.
Open it in parallel with your registration. If your permit is still being processed, a digital bank (Neon, Yuh) will usually accept you with just your lease agreement and passport. You'll need it so your employer can pay your salary.
Not technically an "official" step, but a Swiss number makes life a lot easier: you'll be asked for it at the bank, for online paperwork, and on most local service websites.
Take a close look at your first payslip: you'll see social security deductions (AVS/AI/APG), accident insurance, pension (LPP), and, if applicable, tax at source. If anything doesn't match what you negotiated, ask HR as soon as possible.
This is the deadline most people leave for last — and the most expensive one to forget. Compare options on priminfo.ch and sign up before the 3 months from your arrival are up. More details in the health insurance guide.
Keep digital copies of absolutely everything from day one: work contract, lease, registration confirmation, insurance confirmations. You'll need them again and again for later paperwork.
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