How to Relocate Your Household & Pets to Switzerland

Jump right in:

• Moving and shipping household goods
• Customs regulations in Switzerland
• Prohibited and Restricted items
• Bringing a car to Switzerland
• Home Goods Storage
• Vaccinations and health requirements for Switzerland
• Moving to Switzerland with pets

Moving your furniture and household items to Switzerland is simple if you prepare the right documents.

Switzerland allows you to import your used household goods duty‑free as “household effects” when you transfer your main residence to the country, as long as you have owned and used them personally for at least six months and will keep using them after the move.

Documents you need

To bring your goods in duty-free, you normally must present Form 18.44 (“Application/customs declaration for clearance of household effects”) at a Swiss customs office along with a few supporting documents.

Customs may ask for:

• A completed and signed Form 18.44

• Proof that you are moving your residence to Switzerland, such as: an employment contract, rental or purchase contract for your Swiss home, a confirmation of deregistration from your previous municipality

• An inventory list of your household goods (common groups like “5 boxes of clothes, 2 boxes of books, 1 sofa, 1 table” are enough; list valuables separately).

• For non‑EU/EFTA nationals, your Swiss residence permit or entry authorization.

Nationals from EU/EFTA countries do not need to show a residence permit at customs, but they still must prove that they are moving their place of residence and presenting the form and inventory list.

Shipping options

Choose road, sea or air freight based on your origin, shipment size, budget, and delivery timeframe.

You can move your goods to Switzerland in several ways:

1. Road freight (within Europe) Example providers:

• Relocation Genevoise

• Lüscher Umzug AG

• Goldpferd Umzug

Typical cost: approximately from CHF 1,700–5,300+ (USD 1,800–5,600+)

2. Sea and air freight

Most of these providers ship mostly to Basel.

Example provider:

• Schumacher Cargo Logistics (SCL)

Sea freight from overseas: from CHF 1,900–15,000 (USD 2,200–18,000), depending on whether you use shared shipping or a full container

Air freight: from CHF 2,300–9,600 (USD 2,700–11,600) for small or urgent shipments

3. Swiss moving & storage companies (for the local leg)

These companies are useful for the “last mile”: picking up from Basel or a customs warehouse, delivering to your home, and providing storage if needed.

Examples:

• Jost Transport AG Umzüge + Lagerungen

• Goldpferd Umzug

Swiss local delivery and storage: from CHF 500–2,600 (USD 600–3,150)

4. Full‑service relocation agencies (shipping + admin support)

These agencies usually coordinate the shipping company, customs paperwork, and all administrative matters relating to your move (housing, Anmeldung, schools).

Example directories and agencies:

• ReloFinder – Switzerland relocation agency comparison

• Swiss90 – English‑speaking relocation companies

• Lodge Relocation

Full-service relocation agencies: prices are usually quote-based and charged separately from shipping costs

You must declare your household effects and any goods that are not clearly personal when you enter the country.

Customs clearance of household effects is usually only possible on working days at offices that handle commercial goods traffic.

• Most customs offices for commercial goods are open Monday to Friday, during daytime clearance hours; some larger border posts also open on Saturday morning.

• Tourist traffic lanes at major crossroads can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but household effects must be cleared at an office for commercial goods, not at the normal traveler lane.

• If you arrive on a Sunday or late at night, the office for commercial goods is often closed and you cannot clear your household effects that day.

Practical tips:

• Plan your border crossing for a weekday morning so you have a buffer in case customs takes longer.

• Before you book your moving truck, check the exact opening hours of your chosen customs office on the official Locations and opening hours page of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).

Most ordinary household items are allowed, but some categories are banned or under strict control. It is important to leave these out of your shipment or declare them properly.

Prohibited imports in Switzerland:

• narcotics and drugs

• counterfeited branded and designer articles, pirated products

• certain protected animals and plants, and products made from them (e.g. ivory, tortoise shell, shahtoosh, skins of protected big cats)

• certain animal products from non‑EU countries (many meat and dairy products from third countries)

• certain plants, fresh parts of plants, soil and goods made from specific types of wood from third countries (when subject to import bans under phytosanitary rules)

• certain pyrotechnic articles (when they do not meet Swiss safety rules or are banned)

• ozone depleting substances that are banned from import under Swiss environmental law

Restricted imports in Switzerland (require permits, certificates or are limited)

• CBD products (permitted if the THC content does not exceed 1% — these are more flexible requirements than the EU limit of 0.2 %)

• weapons (firearms, knives, electric shock instruments, tear gas sprays, truncheons, etc.)

• radar warning devices

• noncompliant telecommunication equipment

• interference transmitter (jammers)

• therapeutic products and medications amounting to more than a month’s supply

• doping substance

• objects which contain depictions of violence

• pyrotechnic items (fireworks and similar products that are allowed only under conditions)

• objects containing precious metals (must be reported to a Precious Metal Control Office)

• cultural property (Archaeological finds, ancient artifacts, historical coins, original artworks, rare manuscripts, historic archives) laser pointers from class 1M

• protected animals and plants under the CITES convention, and products derived from them (subject to CITES export permits and FSVO import permits)

• hazardous chemicals and pesticides

• waste material (many types of waste are only importable under strict conditions)

• liquid funds (cash and securities) worth more than CHF 10,000 (USD 11,950), which must be declared and explained on request

See the official website for restricted and prohibited items

Bringing a vehicle

You can import your personal car or motorcycle as part of your relocation. In many cases, your vehicle can also be treated as relocation of goods and imported duty‑ and VAT free if you meet the conditions.

Your vehicle usually qualifies as relocation goods if:

• You owned and used it for at least six months before moving.

• You are moving your main residence to Switzerland.

• You will keep using the vehicle privately in Switzerland.

• You import it in close connection with your move (typically within about two years)

At the border, you must declare the vehicle at a customs office that handles imports during regular opening hours and present:

• Your passport or ID

• Form 18.44 and your inventory list

• The foreign vehicle registration certificate

• Proof of relocation (employment contract, rental contract, or purchase agreement)

If your car does not qualify as relocation goods for example, if it is newly purchased you will normally pay 4% automobile tax and 8.1% Swiss import VAT. Customs also charge 20 CHF (24 USD) for the clearance certificate needed for registration.

After import, you must register the vehicle with the cantonal motor vehicle authority and usually pass a technical inspection before you receive Swiss plates.

Finding a permanent home in Switzerland can take time, especially in cities such as Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Lausanne, so many expats use storage units while they search for long-term housing.

You will find storage options ranging from small lockers for a few boxes to larger units that can hold the contents of a multibedroom home. Many facilities are run by specialist self-storage companies or real-estate firms.

Prices vary by city and unit size, but small units can start at around 50–100 CHF (60-120 USD) per month, and larger spaces can cost several hundred francs.

When choosing a storage provider, consider:

• Location and access hours

• Security (locks, cameras, alarms) and whether your goods are insured

• Minimum contract length and notice periods

• Online booking options and customer support

Here is list of storage companies:

• MyPlace

• HOMEBOX

• placeB

• Casaforte

Switzerland does not usually require specific vaccinations for entry or immigration, but health experts recommend that you are up to date with standard routine vaccines before you move.

Routine vaccinations

Before moving, it is a good idea to check with your doctor or travel clinic and make sure you have:

• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)

• Polio (basic series plus an adult booster if needed)

• Chickenpox (varicella) if you never had it

• Seasonal influenza

These vaccines are considered standard in many Western countries and are recommended for residents of Switzerland as well.

Additional vaccines to consider

Depending on your lifestyle, you may also want to know:

Hepatitis A and B – useful if you eat out often, travel widely or work in healthcare.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) – recommended if you plan to hike, bike or camp in forests and rural areas in Switzerland from spring to autumn.

Rabies – mainly for people who expect close contact with wild animals or who spend long periods in remote outdoor locations.

There are no general health requirements for immigration beyond not carrying highly infectious diseases, but schools or daycare centers may ask for proof of certain child vaccinations, so keep your records handy.

Many expats bring their pets to Switzerland, and dogs and cats are common in Swiss households.

Switzerland follows EU aligned rules for pet imports, even though it is not part of the EU, and most pets can enter without quarantine if you plan and meet the conditions.

Basic rules for dogs, cats and ferrets

For dogs, cats and ferrets, three basic requirements apply from most countries:

• A 15‑digit ISO‑compliant microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.

• A valid rabies vaccination, first given at 12 weeks of age or later.

• A pet passport or veterinary health certificate, depending on your country of origin.

From high-risk rabies countries, extra steps are required: a rabies antibody blood test at an approved lab, followed by a three-month waiting period before entry, and often an import license from the Swiss veterinary authorities.

Pets from high-risk countries under about seven months of age are generally not allowed to enter Switzerland at all.

Arrival and registration

When you arrive with your pet:

Use the red customs channel at the border crossing point where staff are on duty and present your pet and the relevant documents.

Your pet may be checked by customs or veterinary staff, especially if you come from outside the EU.

After arrival:

Dogs must be examined by a Swiss veterinarian and registered in the national AMICUS database within 10 days.

You must register as a dog owner with your municipality and pay the local dog tax; some cantons require a dog training course.

If your pet fails to meet the entry conditions, it may have to go into quarantine at your expense or, in serious cases, be refused to entry.

Age rules for puppies and kittens

Because the first rabies vaccination can only be given at 12 weeks and you must then wait at least 21 days, young animals from most countries generally cannot enter Switzerland before they are around 15–16 weeks old.

Separate rules and exemptions exist for some rabies-free or special‑status countries; always check the latest guidance for your route.

Breed and other restrictions

Switzerland does not have one national list of banned dog breeds, but some cantons restrict certain breeds or require permits and training.

In addition:

Importing dogs with cropped ears or docked tails is generally forbidden for permanent entry.

Certain hybrid cats, such as early generation Savannah and Bengal cats, may face restrictions or cannot be imported under standard pet rules.

Many exotic pets and wild animals require special husbandry permits from the cantonal veterinary office.

Horses and other animals

Horses need an equine (horse) passport and appropriate veterinary health certificates. The equine passport is the horse’s official identity document. It contains information such as the horse’s identification number and medical records.

Small pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters, some birds and aquarium fish are often easier to bring and may not need special documents, but you should still check Swiss veterinary and customs information if you plan to move with them permanently.