Moving to Switzerland
Switzerland lies in the middle of Europe, but outside the European Union and the customs union. That one fact changes everything: moving to Switzerland requires a customs declaration, documents prepared before departure and passing through a customs office during its opening hours. Anyone who treats it like a move to Germany may end up spending a day at the border with a full lorry.
Household goods – conditions for duty-free import
Furniture, clothes, household appliances and other personal belongings enter Switzerland free of customs duty and import tax if they are household goods for relocation. Swiss regulations require each item to have been in your use for at least six months before the move and to remain in your use once you have settled. At the same time, you must genuinely be moving your residence to Switzerland – as confirmed by a tenancy agreement, a property purchase or an employment contract.
Documents for customs clearance
- Form 18.44 – the application for duty-free import of household goods, signed by you.
- Inventory of goods – a list of the items in the boxes and furniture, ideally with box numbers. We draw it up together with you during packing.
- Proof of identity – a copy of your passport or ID card.
- Proof of relocation – a tenancy or purchase agreement for your home, municipal registration or an employment contract.
- Separate items – cars, new items, alcohol and tobacco products are declared separately, as different rules apply to them.
We handle customs clearance in cooperation with a customs agency. You will find a description of this service on the customs clearance page.
The border crossing depends on the canton
| Destination region | Crossing with a customs office | Route through Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich, Schaffhausen, Winterthur | Thayngen | via Nuremberg and Stuttgart |
| St. Gallen, eastern Switzerland | Kreuzlingen or St. Margrethen | via Munich and Lindau |
| Basel, Bern, Lucerne | Basel – Weil am Rhein | via Frankfurt am Main and Karlsruhe |
| Geneva, Lausanne | Basel or via France | the longest option, usually with an overnight stop |
From Wrocław, that is from about 1,000 to over 1,300 kilometres. On the route via Basel, the load can stop at our Frankfurt am Main warehouse, which lets us time our arrival at the border to the customs office’s opening hours. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes may not drive at night or on Sundays in Switzerland, and they pay a separate charge per kilometre – we take both into account in the schedule and the quote.
After arrival and when returning to Poland
Registering with the municipality
In most cantons, you register at the municipal residents’ registration office within 14 days. That is also where you apply for a residence permit, after which you choose your compulsory health insurance.
Returning from Switzerland
When moving back to Poland, you cross the EU customs border again. The belongings of a person transferring their residence to Poland may be exempt from duty, but they require a declaration at a Polish or German customs office and an inventory.
Moving to Switzerland – questions
Can I take furniture bought a month before departure to Switzerland?
It may be subject to duty and tax, as it does not meet the six-month use requirement. We list such items separately on the inventory, with proof of purchase.
Who fills in form 18.44?
You sign it as the person relocating. We help you fill it in and attach it to the inventory, and the customs agency takes over the declaration at the border.
Do you move belongings to the French-speaking part of Switzerland?
Yes, to Geneva, Lausanne and the whole Lake Geneva region. It is a longer route, so we plan it with an overnight stop for the drivers.
Can I send just a few boxes to Switzerland?
Yes, but even a small shipment of household goods requires a customs declaration and an inventory. Careful preparation of the documents matters more here than the size of the load.
How long does clearance at the Swiss border take?
With complete documents, usually not long, but it depends on the queue at the office and any inspection of the load. We build in a margin for it in the schedule.
Preparing your inventory?
Tell us which canton you are moving to – we will prepare a quote, a list of documents and a plan for crossing the border.
Switzerland with no surprises
at the border
A free moving quote with help on form 18.44 and your inventory of goods.
Free quote