Homepage

Swiss customs

Entry, customs formalities when moving to or from Switzerland, clearance of private goods.

The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide

The latest edition of “The Swiss Confederation: a brief guide” is now available. It can be ordered or downloaded free of charge.

AHV

Number, Card, number, contributions, etc.

Are winter tyres compulsory?

All you need to know about changing your tyres.

Speed limits and fines

What kind of fines and penalties do I risk to face when I drive over the speed limit?

Rent

Tenancy law: renting an apartment, how to go about giving notice, how to deal with rent increases and reductions, etc.

Federal Vote on 8 March 2015

Everything you need to know regarding this popular vote.

Your tax return

Completing a tax return: What forms do I have to fill in? Online tax system? What is tax-deductible? Find here all our useful information. 

Foreign nationals in Switzerland

Entry, work and life in Switzerland as well as naturalisation and family reunification.

Federal elections 2015

Information about the federal elections on 18 October 2015.

Withholding tax

What taxes are foreign employees required to pay?

Buying a house or an apartment

Financing the purchase, forms of ownership, purchase contract etc.

Passport and ID card

Ordering, validity, loss.

Naturalisation

Regular and simplified naturalisation: requirements, costs, length

Divorce

Proceedings, alimony, child custody.

Federal Council

Members, responsibilities, decisions.

Self-employment

Getting started, insurances, occupational pension

Value Added Tax

VAT rate, claiming back, forms

Initiative

How is an initiative launched?

Employment contract

Model employment contract, terminating an employment contract, CEA.

Driving licence

Driving licence, learner’s licence, driving test.

Marriage

Wedding at the the register office, choice of last name, legal and economic consequences.

Minimum wages in Switzerland

Are there any provisions for minimum and average wages?

Work in the administration

Are you looking for work in the federal government, cantons, communes?

Relations Switzerland - EU

Consequences of the Swiss vote on the free movement of persons.

Register unemployment

When and how do you need to register with the employment office or RAV?

Moving home

Checklist, day off, notification of departure and registration

Maternity leave

How long is it and how much money do I get during this period?

SBB day passes

Do communes offer day passes? What is the price?

Debt enforcement: register

How do I order an extract certificate from the Debt Collection Register?

Family allowances

What does this amount to and where can you apply for it?

Waste and recycling

Where to dispose of different kinds of waste.

Addresses of administrative authorities

School holidays

When are the school holidays? Holiday calendar for the different cantons.

Death

Checklist in the event of a death, funeral, pensions for the surviving spouse and children of the deceased.

Job reference

Am I entitled to a job reference? What information must and can be included?

Filing a report

How to file a criminal complaint.

Register of Convictions

How to order an extract from the register of convictions.

Health insurance: entitlement to a reduction

Where can you apply for a premium reduction?

Old age pension

AHV, occupational and private pensions.

Studying at a university

University, ETH or university of applied sciences.

Inheritance

Succession law, will, certificate of inheritance, inheritance tax.

Lost and found

Lost property offices, found objects, missing animals.

Medically assisted reproduction

What procedures are approved in Switzerland?

Accompanied driving practice

Rules for learner drivers and accompanying drivers

Patient decrees

What you need to know and selection of patient decrees.

Alimony

In the event of a divorce, who is entitled to alimony?

Tax return

Filling out your tax return, salary statement, deducting donations etc.

Apprenticeship

How do you find an apprenticeship?

1.7.14: Joint custody applies

Joint custody now applies.

Ordering civil status certificates

Where should I order a certificate of origin, a marriage certificate, birth certificate or death certificate, etc.?

Pregnancy and birth

Benefits covered by health insurance, registration, names, parental custody.

Work

Working hours and absences, minimum wage, references, self-employment