Congratulations — you're moving to Switzerland. Between finding an apartment, opening a bank account, and learning how the recycling works, insurance probably isn't the most exciting item on your to-do list. But it's one of the most time-sensitive.
Switzerland has strict deadlines. Miss the three-month window for health insurance and you'll be assigned a provider at random — often not the cheapest. Sign a lease without personal liability insurance and your landlord may not hand over the keys. This checklist walks you through every insurance milestone in the right order, so you can tick them off as you go.
The golden rule
Before you arrive
1. Cancel or suspend your home-country coverage
Contact your current health insurer, contents insurance, and any private liability policies. Most European insurers will let you cancel with 30 days' notice if you can show proof of relocation (work contract, rental agreement, or de-registration certificate). Don't cancel too early — keep coverage until the day you leave.
2. Gather your documents
Swiss administration loves paperwork. Before you board your flight, have digital copies of:
- Passport and residence permit confirmation (if already issued)
- Work contract or university enrollment
- Birth certificate and marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Vaccination records (useful for family health registration)
- Previous no-claims history for car insurance (if you'll drive)
Week 1: Arrival
3. Register at the Gemeinde within 14 days
Within 14 days of moving into your Swiss address, you must register in person at your local Einwohnerkontrolle (residents' office). Bring your passport, rental contract, work contract, and a passport photo. You'll receive a residence confirmation — this is the document your health insurer will ask for.
Your registration date becomes the official start of your three-month health insurance deadline, so keep this document safe.
4. Open a Swiss bank account
Most insurers prefer a CHF bank account for direct debit (LSV). You'll also need one for salary payments and rent. UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, and neobanks like Neon or Yuh are the common choices for newcomers.
Weeks 2–4: Mandatory coverage
5. Compare and sign up for KVG health insurance
Swiss basic health insurance (KVG in German, LAMal in French) is identical by law across all 40+ insurers — the benefits are fixed by the federal government. What differs is the premium, which varies by canton, age group, and model (standard, HMO, Telmed, family doctor).
Use Priminfo.ch (the federal comparison tool) or a broker to compare prices. A standard adult premium in 2026 ranges from roughly CHF 280 to CHF 550 per month depending on canton and deductible. Choose a higher Franchise (deductible) to lower the monthly premium if you rarely visit a doctor.
Backdate your policy
6. Confirm your employer's mandatory contributions
If you're employed, your payslip will show deductions for:
- AHV/IV/EO — state pension and disability (5.3% employee share)
- ALV — unemployment insurance (1.1% up to CHF 148,200)
- BVG — occupational pension (varies 7–18% depending on age, split with employer)
- NBUV — non-occupational accident insurance if you work 8+ hours per week (covers you outside work)
Your employer handles all of these automatically. Don't try to duplicate them privately.
Month 1–2: Protect your apartment and life
7. Get personal liability + household contents insurance
Most Swiss landlords require proof of personal liability (Privathaftpflicht) before handing over the keys. It covers you if you accidentally damage someone else's property — including the apartment itself. A standard family policy is CHF 5–15 per month for CHF 5 million in coverage.
Household contents insurance (Hausrat) protects your belongings from fire, water damage, burglary, and natural disasters. It's almost always bundled with liability and costs another CHF 10–25 per month depending on the sum insured.
Don't underinsure your belongings
8. Handle your car (if you brought one)
You have 12 months to re-register a foreign vehicle with a Swiss license plate. Once registered, you must have at least mandatory third-party liability (Motorfahrzeughaftpflicht). Fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) is recommended for cars under 5 years old, partial (Teilkasko) for older ones. Typical annual cost: CHF 700 to CHF 2,500.
Month 2–3: Optimize and plan ahead
9. Consider supplementary health insurance
Basic KVG doesn't cover private or semi-private hospital rooms, dental beyond accidents, alternative medicine, glasses, or most fitness benefits. Supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung) fills these gaps — but unlike KVG, providers can decline you based on health history. Apply while you're young and healthy for the best rates.
10. Open a Pillar 3a account
If you're taxed in Switzerland and have earned income, you can contribute up to CHF 7,056 per year (2026 limit) to a Pillar 3a retirement account. Contributions are fully deductible from your taxable income — a significant saving given Swiss marginal tax rates. You can choose a bank account (low return, safe) or an investment-linked account (higher long-term returns).
Do this in December
Bonus: Keep these in mind for later
- Legal protection insurance — useful if you rent, drive, or work in disputes-heavy industries. CHF 15–25/month.
- Life insurance — consider when you have dependents, a mortgage, or both.
- Disability cover — BVG covers some of this, but private top-ups are worth looking at if your income depends on you being healthy.
- Review annually — your situation changes. So should your insurance.
Next steps
Insurance in Switzerland is comprehensive, well-regulated, and — once you've set it up — surprisingly low-maintenance. The first 90 days are the critical ones. Work through this checklist in order, keep copies of everything, and you'll be fine.
If you want a personalized overview of what you actually need, take our free 5-minute risk analysis. We'll map your situation against 18 insurance types and show you what's missing, what's optional, and what you can probably skip.