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When moving into a new apartment you often have to take care of a lot of things that might work differently in Switzerland than in your home country. The following list should help you to get started.

Registration: You normally register for electricity, gas and water at your local company (städtische Werke). In many cases, your landlord will do the registration for you, but you’re often required to pay a deposit of up to CHF 250.

Electricity, gas and water are either billed separately or together. The calculation is normally done every quarter, with meters being read every six months. During your first quarter, you may therefore be billed on estimated usage.

Water: Water costs are either determined individually depending on usage and the charges are levied with the rent. Water in Switzerland is generally hard, but there are a number of filter systems available to reduce or eliminate the calcium (Kalk) that builds up on heating elements and in pots and pans.

Electricity: In Switzerland, the current comes out of the socket at 220 volts and 50 Hz AC. Note that there are three different types of plugs in use with 2, 3 or 5 contacts. You are therefore likely to need adapters.

Heating: Most flats in Switzerland have central heating (Zentralheizung/chauffage central). The heating is normally turned off in warmer months.

Garbage disposal: In many Swiss regions you have to dispose your garbage in special ‘official’ garbage bags that are sold at CHF 2-6 per unit. If you dispose your garbage in a normal bag, the ‘garbage detective’ will find you and you will have to pay a penalty of some CHF 100. Remember: you’re in Switzerland!

Garbage separation: Due to increasing concern for the environment, it is common in Switzerland to sort rubbish into different types for recycling, instead of throwing it all in the same bin. There are normally several different bins in each apartment block. Separation is followed strictly by the Swiss and it can often be enforced by law.

Chemicals: Garbage with chemicals and poisons (i.e. batteries, motor oil, etc.) is not allowed to be disposed of in normal bins. There are special depots for this kind of garbage in Switzerland.

Old furniture and large electrical goods are classified as Sperrmüll (bulky waste) and are picked up by your local garbage disposal firm on special dates.

Old shoes and clothes can often be disposed of in large containers in towns and cities across Switzerland. Several times a year the Red Cross and other organisations call on citizens to dispose of their old clothes and donate them to charity. You can find addresses in the Yellow Pages or at your post office.

As soon as you cross the border with the intention of settling in Switzerland, you normally have eight days to register with the local authority (Gemeinde/commune) where you are living, even if you are still in temporary accommodation, such as a hotel.

Residence registration is obligatory for everybody living in Switzerland, including foreigners and Swiss citizens. Registration is done at the local community office (Gemeindehaus/maison communale) in the country site or an area office (Kreisbüro/bureau d’arrondissement) in cities. Larger cities sometimes have a special residence registration department (Einwohnerkontrolle/contrôle d’habitants).

In any case, you have to register your arrival before you start working. The commune will then pass on your documents to the cantonal authorities who will process your request and send you your residence permit (if you need one).

If you already have a formal employment contract, bring the following documents with you:

* valid identity documents (for you and all accompanying family members )
* your health insurance certificate (showing you hold a policy with a recognized health insurance company)
* a passport photo (for you and all accompanying family members )
* civil status documents such as family record booklet, marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, etc.
* your employment contract.

If you are looking for work, bring with you the same documents as above with the exception of the employment contract.

Note that the rules on registration are enforced very strictly in Switzerland, one of the reasons being that direct income taxes are levied at the place of your registration.

If you want to live, work or study in Switzerland, you will probably need a residence permit. Regulations depend on your country of origin and other factors.

The following chapter gives you an overview of the regulations both for EU citizens and Non-EU nationals. For the information for Non-EU nationals, just have a look at the end of the chapter.
EU nationals

The bilateral agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU entered into force on 1 June 2002 and facilitates entry, residence and employment in Switzerland for EU-nationals as well as citizens from Norway, Iceland (EFTA members) and – conditionally – Liechtenstein.

Eventually, EU-citizens will have complete freedom of movement within Switzerland and Swiss citizens within EU-countries.

However, during a transitional period until 31 May 2007, Switzerland can and probably will continue to allocate work permits according to quotas. On 1 June 2007, all quotas for EU citizens desiring to work in Switzerland will be suspended (but Switzerland retains the right to reintroduce quotas until 2012 if immigration becomes unexpectedly high).

For EU-citizens, this means that until 2007 you still need a residence permit and a work permit, and you are still subject to the quota system. However, the procedure for delivering these official documents has been simplified.
New EU residency and work permits

The bilateral agreement on the free movement of persons provides for short-term residency permits (up to 364 days) and five-year residency permits. Furthermore, people with short-term residency permits are not obliged to leave Switzerland when their employment contract ends.

(1) Short-term residency permit (L-EC/EFTA)

Short-term residency permits L (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung EG) are issued to employees with fixed-term employment contracts for less than 12 months and, in many cases, to ‘non-active persons’ (i.e. students and pensioners).

If you are going to work, your employer should make a request for a short-term residence permit to the cantonal labour market authorities. You will receive a short-term residence permit valid for the duration of your employment contract.

On presentation of a new employment contract, you can apply for a new short-term residency permit. This can be done without leaving Switzerland. If your employment continues or you find a new job after the first year, the short-term permit can be renewed.

Note that an L-EC permit gives you the right to bring your family to Switzerland.

(2) B residency permit (B-EC/EFTA)

If you have a fixed-term employment contract for a year or longer or permanent contract in Switzerland, you can obtain a B permit, which is valid for five years. (Dauer-Aufenthaltsbewilligung EG/permis de séjour). The B-EC permit guarantees professional and geographical mobility, allowing you to get a new job, change your place of work or become self-employed.

To obtain this permit, you need to take the same steps for obtaining a short-term residency permit (see above). On presentation of an employment contract for a year or longer, your residency permit will be extended for a further five year period. The extension may, however, be limited to a year if you have been unemployed, against your will, for more than twelvemonths in succession.

(3) Settlement C permit (C-EC/EFTA)

After having lived in Switzerland for 5 years, your B permit will be converted into a C permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung EG/permis d’établissement C). This permit gives unrestricted access to the labour market. You don’t require permission to change jobs, your canton of residence or work or to set up your own business. The C permit can be renewed every 5 years indefinitely.

(4) Border crossing G permit (G-EC/EFTA)

A G permit (Grenzgängerbewilligung, permis frontalier) is issued to people living in another country but working in Switzerland. There are many people commuting to Switzerland for work, as the cost of living in neighbouring countries is significantly lower than in Switzerland.

Unlike L, B and C permits, a G permit doesn’t entitle you to residential rights in Switzerland. A G permit cannot be converted into a residential permit.

Since 2002, there have been some changes in the border zone restrictions for G permits:

* Residence for a period of six months in the cross-border region is no longer required.
* All EU citizens now have access to the cross-border commuter status (which is no longer exclusively available to nationals from neighbouring countries to Switzerland).
* You do not have to return home on a daily basis but only once a week. This makes it possible to stay in Switzerland from Monday to Friday and only go abroad during weekends.
* If you have an employment contract for at least a year, you will receive a cross−border commuter permit for five years instead of one year.
* You now also have the possibility to set up your own business in Switzerland.
* In connection with your work, you are allowed to acquire a second home as well as work space in Switzerland.

Self-employment

Your status as a European citizen, theoretically gives you the right to settle in Switzerland and to set up your own business, provided that you do so assuming full responsibility and at your own risk. Regulations are different depending on whether you have an L or a B permit. For more information, go to the website of the Federal Office of Immigration, Integration and Emigration.
If you are looking for work in Switzerland

If you are looking for work in Switzerland, you do not need a residence permit for a stay up to 3 months long. If your job search lasts longer than three months (or if you are exporting your unemployment benefits), you have to apply to your commune of stay for a residence permit, which is valid for another three months period, for the purpose of looking for work. These permits are not subject to quotas.
Students and pensioners

If you’re planning to stay in Switzerland without working fulltime, you need to fulfil two conditions to obtain a residency permit:

* You must have sufficient financial means to provide for your own and your family’s needs.
* You must have health and accident insurance coverage

If you are a student, you must prove that your main reason for being in Switzerland is to pursue your studies and that you are enrolled in a university or a recognised college of higher education as a regular student. If you get the student B permit, you’re allowed to work up to 15 hours per week.
Non-EU residents

Since the Swiss-EU bilateral agreement for free labour movement, non-EU-citizens can only get a Swiss work permit if their future employer proves there is no Swiss or EU national available to do the job.

However, there are exceptions to this rule for highly qualified specialists and top executives. If you do get a work permit, this will usually be defined in your residence permit.

The types of residence permits for non-EU citizens are very similar to the permits given out to EU nationals, only that they are harder obtain and to renew.

(1) Short-term residence permit (L-Permit)

A short-term residence permit L ( Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung EG) is valid for up to one year and can be renewed. It is linked to a specific job and company and you may not be granted a new permit if you change jobs. After 24 months the residence permit ends definitively.

(2) B residence permit (B-Permit)

A B-Permit is normally valid for one year and can be renewed. To Non-EU-nationals, it is only issued in specific circumstances (i.e. if you’re a highly trained specialist in a profession where there’s currently a shortage of qualified people from Switzerland or the EU).

(3) Settlement C permit (C-Permit)

A C-Permit is given out for permanent residency in Switzerland and can be renewed indefinitely. To Non-EU-citizens, it is normally only given out after 10 years of residency in Switzerland. There are some exceptions for spouses of Swiss citizens and other groups. The C-Permit allows you to freely change jobs, employers and/or become self-employed.

(4) Border crossing G permit (G-Permit)

A G permit ( Grenzgängerbewilligung/permis frontalier) is issued to people living in another country but working in Switzerland. There are many people commuting to Switzerland for work, as the cost of living in neighbouring countries is significantly lower than in Switzerland. Unlike L, B and C permits, a G permit doesn’t entitle you to any residential rights in Switzerland. A G permit is renewed annually and cannot be converted into a residential permit.