Moving to Zurich

Moving to Zurich requires two things at once: solid logistics on a route of around a thousand kilometres, and careful handling of the formalities, because Switzerland is not part of the European Union or the customs union. 4RELO from Wrocław prepares the whole journey – from the inventory and packing, through the customs declaration at the border, to carrying the furniture into your flat on the Limmat.

Most of our clients move to Zurich for a new job: in banking, insurance, tech companies or at a university. The dates can rarely be moved, as they follow from the contract start date and the flat handover day, so we plan the move backwards – starting from the time your landlord expects you with the keys.

The route from Wrocław to Zurich

We take the A4 motorway to Zgorzelec, then continue via Dresden, Nuremberg and Stuttgart towards Lake Constance. We cross the border at a crossing with a customs office that handles goods, for example at Thayngen or Basel. Such offices work set hours, so we time our arrival at the border for clearance to take place on a working day, not on a Friday evening.

Household goods and customs clearance

Personal belongings and furniture moved when you change your place of residence can enter Switzerland free of duty and tax if you meet the conditions for household goods. In practice, this means a few documents prepared while you are still in Poland:

1. A customs application for household goods (form 18.44) with your signature.
2. A detailed inventory of your belongings – we prepare it together with you during packing.
3. A copy of your passport or ID card.
4. A tenancy or purchase agreement for your home in Switzerland, or an employment contract.
5. Information about new items, alcohol and your car – separate rules apply to these.

The items must have been used by you for at least six months and must continue to be used by you after the move. We go through the details of the declaration before departure, and the clearance itself is handled in cooperation with a customs agency – more on the customs clearance page.

Zurich – quiet hours, dates and parking

Swiss house rules are taken seriously. Many buildings have quiet hours from 22:00 and a midday break, and on Sundays and public holidays a move is simply out of the question. So we start unloading in the morning, to finish reassembling the furniture before evening and avoid complaints from the neighbours on your very first day.

Tenancies in Zurich are usually terminated on locally accepted dates, traditionally the end of March and the end of September. In those weeks the streets fill with lorries, so it is worth booking early. We reserve space outside the building with permission from the city police, and in older tenement buildings in districts such as Wiedikon or Aussersihl we expect a small lift or none at all.

In Switzerland, you hand back your old flat after a formal inspection and a thorough clean. If you are moving from Zurich to Poland and your new home is not ready yet, your belongings can wait in our warehouse.

After arriving in Zurich

Moving to Zurich – questions