Last Updated on 2 months by David Bergmann
Are you planning a move to or within Switzerland? Re-registering your place of residence is an important step in finalizing your move. Unfortunately, the registration system in Switzerland is quite complex, as cantons and municipalities can set their own rules and deadlines for various relocation scenarios. We have summarized the most important points for you so that you don’t lose sight of the legal requirements and deadlines in the heat of the moment.
- Why is a change of address important when moving house?
- Which contractual partners should be informed?
- Change of address via Relock
- Swiss Post services
- What you need to consider
1 Why is a change of address important when moving house?
Updating your address is a crucial step when moving to Switzerland. Here are some reasons why you should think about changing your address:
Official duty:
In Switzerland, there is a legal obligation to register your new address with the residents’ registration office in your new municipality within 14 days of moving. This registration is necessary to ensure that you can be reached at all times.
Postal delivery:
An updated address ensures that you receive your mail, such as invoices, official letters and personal letters, without delay. This way you avoid misunderstandings and possible reminders for incorrect deliveries to your old address.
Continuity of service:
By updating your address, you ensure that you can use existing contracts and services such as internet, electricity, water and gas without interruption.
Avoid penalties:
In Switzerland, the authorities are very strict about changes of address. If you do not provide your new address, you may be fined. To avoid this, you should deregister from your old address in advance and register with the new municipality.
2. which contractual partners should be informed?
The change of address affects not only the authorities, but also various contractual partners and institutions. Here are the most important places where you should communicate your new address:
Residents’ Registration Office:
As mentioned above, this is a legal obligation. Make sure that you deregister your old residence when you move and register your new residence with the residents’ registration office in the new municipality within 14 days of moving. You will need the following documents: certificate of residence, family record book and proof of health insurance.
Road traffic office:
If you own a car, you must notify the Road Traffic Office of your change of address. This is important to keep your vehicle registration and driver’s license up to date.
Insurances:
All insurance partners such as health and accident insurance, AHV compensation fund, car insurance, household contents insurance and car insurance must also be informed.
Banks and financial institutions:
If you have accounts or other financial products with banks or PostFinance, you should also inform them of your new address.
Other contractual partners:
Also think about all other service providers, such as Internet providers, so that they can reach you at your new address. If you have memberships in clubs or newspaper subscriptions, these must also be informed.
Online stores:
When ordering online, always check the delivery or billing address and update it after your move.
Name change:
If your name changes due to marriage or divorce, you should also report this change to the relevant authorities.
Business and private customers:
If you own a business or work from home, don’t forget to inform your customers and business partners about your move.
Friends of the family:
Friends and relatives also need to know your new address so that they can contact you easily.
3. change of address via Relock
From now on, all Relock customers have the option of informing all contractual partners of their change of address with just a few clicks.
All you have to do is log in to your Relock account and click on “My tasks”. Select “Change of address” under “Relocation services”. You then have the option of selecting companies and contractual partners by clicking on them (e.g. bank, insurance company, health insurance company, online stores, etc.).
As soon as you have confirmed your details, the partners you have selected will automatically be notified of your move and your new address.
Would you like to change your address with just a few clicks? Click here to find out more!
4. services provided by Swiss Post
Swiss Post offers various services to make it easier for you to change your address and move:
- Forwarding order: If you would like your mail to be forwarded from your old address to your new place of residence, you can request a forwarding order from Swiss Post. With this service, you won’t miss any important mail while you update your address with your contractual partners.
2. notification of change of address: Swiss Post also offers you the option of notifying your change of address online. This can be particularly practical if you want to register your move quickly and easily.
Tip: Alternatively, you can simply use Relock’s change of address service (see above).
- Contact form: On the Swiss Post website, you will find a contact form that you can use to ask questions about changing your address and other relocation matters.
5 What you need to consider
Other points you should bear in mind when changing your address when moving to Switzerland:
New municipality of residence and change of canton: If you are moving to a new municipality or even a different canton, you should not only update your address, but also your home address certificate and your family register accordingly.
Zip code and weekly residence: Please note that the zip code of your new address may vary depending on the municipality. If you have a weekly residence, it is important to clearly mark your main and secondary address.
Identity cards for residents and foreigners: Swiss and foreign nationals must also update their identity documents and foreign national identity cards when they change their address.
EFTA states: If you are moving to Switzerland from a member state of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), special regulations apply that you should be aware of.
Conclusion:
Changing your address when moving to Switzerland may seem complicated at first, but with the right planning and the steps above, you can complete the process smoothly.
Remember that updating your address in good time will help make your move as stress-free as possible and ensure that you can settle into your new home without any problems.
We wish you every success with your move!
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