Every person entering Switzerland must clear customs. You are required to declare all imported goods you are carrying if their total value exceeds CHF 300, and any goods that exceed the duty-free allowances for foodstuffs, alcohol and tobacco.
For the details have a look at the Chart Importation into Switzerland.
If you do not pay the customs duties you owe, your belongings could be seized. The customs formalities are described on the page about shopping tourism.
Animals
Border formalities vary depending on whether you bring a dog, a lizard skin or goods of animal origin into Switzerland.
For more information, have a look at the regulations for animals, animal products and protected wildlife.
Plants
Be careful about the souvenirs you bring back from your trips. It is against the law to import a number of different plants, fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, seeds and other parts of living plants into Switzerland. This also applies to soil and certain types of wood.
For more information, have a look at the regulations for plants, cut flowers and protected flora and the information about plant health.
It is prohibited to import a number of different weapons into Switzerland. You must declare all weapons and ammunition you are bringing into Switzerland at the customs office.
Weapons are not subject to customs duties, but you need to pay the value added tax (7.7%).
More information about bringing weapons into Switzerland and the required permits is available on the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security's web page about weapons and on the ch.ch page about weapons.
You can enter Switzerland with a loaned vehicle, but you would be well advised to have a written authorisation from the owner of the vehicle to avoid any suspicion of theft. You can download an authorisation form here.
You can enter Switzerland with as much cash (in the form of cash, foreign currencies or securities) as you like. However, customs officials may seize amounts higher than CHF 10,000 if they suspect a crime has been committed.
In addition, sums of money over CHF 10,000 are recorded in the computer system of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security.
More information is available on the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security's web page about cash, foreign currencies and securities.
Here are the addresses and business hours of cross-border checkpoints and customs offices to help you plan your entry into Switzerland.
The brochure about clearing Swiss customs provides practical information for individuals.
The website of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security provides information for individuals, including FAQs related to motor vehicles with information about bringing a car into and customs clearance.
The ch.ch. website offers further information about moving to Switzerland and about customs formalities for purchasing goods abroad.