Registering in Switzerland after you arrive: the first 90 days

Switzerland is a federal country, and most of what happens after you land is handled by your commune (Gemeinde, commune, comune) and your canton, not by Bern. The federal rules set the deadlines; the local office sets the counter hours, the forms and the fees. This guide walks through the sequence for a US citizen who has entered on a national D visa with a permit approved in principle.

Day 1 to 14: register with the commune

The Swiss Embassy in Washington states that you are obliged to register within 14 days of arrival in Switzerland with the competent cantonal authority of your place of residence. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) repeats the same 14-day rule in its work permit procedure and adds a point that matters for anyone with a job offer: the employee can only begin work after registering.

In most cantons the first stop is the residents' registration office of your commune (Einwohnerkontrolle, contrôle des habitants, controllo abitanti). Large cities often let you book an appointment online. Bring:

• your US passport with the D visa;
• the permit approval or entry authorisation letter;
• your lease or a landlord's confirmation of residence;
• your employment contract, if you are coming to work;
• passport photos if your canton asks for them (some take biometrics at a separate appointment instead);
• civil status documents for family members: marriage certificate and children's birth certificates, usually with apostilles and translations if they are not in a Swiss national language or English.

Each family member registers. Expect a fee for the permit, set by the canton.

The permit card and biometrics

Third-country nationals receive a biometric residence permit card. SEM explains the history: since 2019 EU/EFTA nationals receive a credit-card format permit without a chip, while third-country nationals holding L, B or C permits receive a biometric card. After registration the canton will usually invite you to have your photo and fingerprints taken, and the card arrives by post. Keep the registration confirmation until then, since landlords, banks and employers may ask for proof of status.

Your permit type will be printed on the card:

• L: short-term residence;
• B: residence permit, renewed periodically;
• C: settlement permit, granted later on integration criteria.

Within three months: health insurance

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) states that anyone settling in Switzerland must take out health insurance within three months of taking up residence, and that each family member, adult or child, has to be insured individually. Two rules shape the timing:

• Coverage is retroactive. If you enroll within the three months, coverage starts from the beginning of your residence and any costs incurred since then are reimbursed. Premiums are also owed from that date.
• Late enrollment costs more. FOPH states that with delayed registration, coverage takes effect only from enrollment and a surcharge is payable unless the delay is justified.

FOPH also notes that people entering with the intention of settling are subject to the obligation from the date of arrival, not from registration or the issue of the permit. Insurers must accept every applicant for basic insurance without exclusions or waiting periods, regardless of age or health. The cantonal office will check that you are insured, and FOPH's tourist page states that people who fail to enroll can be assigned to an insurer automatically.

Your AHV number (OASI number)

The 13-digit AHV/AVS number is Switzerland's social security and personal identification number. The Central Compensation Office (ZAS) explains how a foreign national gets one:

• When you settle, the number is created by the migration services.
• If you register for health insurance, the insurer can have it created as needed.
• If you work, your employer contacts the compensation office, which requests the number after the employment contract starts.

You do not need to supply the number to register for health insurance, and ZAS states that not knowing it should not block an administrative procedure. Once you are insured, the number is printed on your health insurance card. Detail on what the number is used for is in the guide to the Swiss tax ID and AHV number in this series.

If you are not employed

People living in Switzerland without paid work, such as retirees under the reference age and non-working spouses in some cases, still owe AHV contributions. The AHV/IV information service explains that non-employed people should register with the compensation office of their canton of residence to avoid gaps, and the obligation runs from January 1 after the 20th birthday to the reference age. Contributions for non-employed people are calculated from assets and pension income.

Taxes start automatically

Foreign employees without a C permit are taxed at source. SEM states that their employers must register them with the tax authorities and deduct the tax monthly. You do not file a registration yourself for withholding tax, but you should check your first payslip to confirm the right canton and tariff code.

Other first-month tasks

• Bank account. Most banks want your permit or registration confirmation and proof of address. US citizens also complete FATCA self-certification forms.
• Phone contract. Prepaid SIMs need ID; postpaid contracts are easier once you have the permit card.
• Driving. A US license can be used for 12 months from the entry date on your residence permit; after that you need a Swiss license, per cantonal road traffic offices.
• Household waste and fees. Communes run their own waste systems; ask at registration which bags or stickers apply.
• School enrollment. Registering children at the commune usually triggers contact from the local school administration.

Leaving or moving within Switzerland

Registration is not a one-time event. You must deregister when you leave a commune and register again in the new one, generally within the same 14-day window. When you leave Switzerland for good, deregistration matters for taxes and health insurance: FOPH states that compulsory coverage ends when you take up residence in another country.

US-side tasks after arrival

• Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the U.S. Embassy in Bern can reach you.
• Update your address with the IRS and your bank, and note that US citizens remain responsible for filing US federal income tax returns while abroad, as the U.S. Embassy in Bern reminds citizens.
• Request your absentee ballot with a Federal Post Card Application through FVAP.

Common questions

How long do I have to register after arriving in Switzerland? 14 days. The Swiss Embassy in Washington and SEM both state that you must register with the authority at your place of residence within 14 days, and employees may only start work after registering.

Do I need my AHV number before signing up for health insurance? No. ZAS states that health insurers can have a number created as needed, and it will then appear on your insurance card.

What happens if I miss the three-month health insurance deadline? FOPH states that coverage then starts only from the date you enroll, and you pay a surcharge unless the delay is justified.

Does each family member need separate health insurance? Yes. FOPH states that every family member, adult or child, must be insured individually.