Moving to Switzerland

International moving to Switzerland

We handle the customs paperwork alongside transport planning, so the process still feels straightforward even though an extra administrative step is involved compared with an EU-to-EU move.

Switzerland's combination of corporate demand and strict but well-defined customs rules means the biggest risk to a smooth move is timing rather than complexity — the paperwork itself is routine for us, but it needs to be started early enough that it does not become the deciding factor in whether your goods arrive when you need them.

Beyond Zurich and Geneva, Basel's position on the French and German borders and Lausanne's international sporting and academic institutions each bring their own steady stream of relocations. The customs process is the same regardless of which Swiss city you are moving to, since it is a national requirement rather than a local one.

How the moving process works

Every international move we plan follows the same core stages, adapted to your route and volume. See our full explanation of how it works for detail on each stage — assessment, planning, packing, collection, international transport, and delivery.

Moving options

Groupage to Zurich, Geneva and Basel runs regularly given the volume of corporate relocations on these routes. Dedicated transport is common where a fixed start date or larger volume makes sense. Given the customs step involved, we generally recommend confirming your transport option earlier than you would for an EU-to-EU move, so paperwork and transport planning proceed in parallel rather than one waiting on the other.

Read more about the difference between groupage / shared load and dedicated transport.

Packing services

We pack household goods for road transport and prepare the detailed inventory that Swiss customs generally requires alongside the declaration. An accurate, itemised inventory is not just a packing convenience here — it is a direct input into the customs process, so we treat it as part of the documentation from the start rather than an afterthought.

See our full packing service for what is included.

Storage

Storage is available if your Swiss address is not yet ready to receive your goods. This is common for corporate relocations where a start date is fixed well before permanent housing has been secured.

Read more about our storage service.

Transit considerations

Mountain roads and city-centre access in places like Geneva's old town can affect delivery vehicle size and timing, which we plan for in advance. Zurich and Basel generally have more straightforward modern-city access, though specific building requirements are still confirmed ahead of delivery.

Customs & documentation

Switzerland is not an EU member, so household goods moving in require a customs declaration (form 18.44) and typically an itemised inventory. Goods that have been owned and used for at least six months by someone establishing Swiss residence are generally eligible for duty and tax relief, though the final assessment sits with Swiss customs. We prepare the documentation as part of your move, and flag anything in your inventory that might need additional supporting evidence of ownership or usage period before the declaration is filed.

Cost factors

Alongside volume and transport type, customs processing is a specific cost and time factor for moves into Switzerland — see our costs page for how this fits into overall planning. Corporate relocations with a fixed start date tend to favour dedicated transport specifically so the customs and delivery timeline can be planned with confidence rather than depending on a shared load's schedule.

See our full guide to international moving costs.