Changing cantons: what changes when you move to another canton

Switzerland is a federal state made up of 26 cantons. Each canton runs its own migration authority and applies the law on foreign nationals and integration within its own jurisdiction. Anyone moving from one canton to another therefore changes not only their address, but also the administrative jurisdiction. Several legal obligations are attached to this. This article explains the procedure for changing cantons under Art. 37 FNIA and the associated reporting and registration obligations. It does not rank cantons against one another and gives no recommendation as to where one should move.

Who needs a permit to change cantons?

Whether a change of canton requires authorisation depends above all on the type of permit and the legal status. The residence permit (B permit) is cantonal: it was issued by the previous canton and is bound to that canton's jurisdiction.

• B residence permit: A move to another canton requires the consent of the migration authority of the canton of arrival (Art. 37 para. 1 FNIA). There is no automatic right to the change; the authority examines the conditions for granting the permit in the new canton.
• C settlement permit: Holders of a settlement permit are in principle entitled to change cantons, provided there are no grounds for revocation under Art. 63 FNIA (Art. 37 para. 3 FNIA). Consent in the sense of a discretionary assessment is not required; the canton of arrival issues a new permit.
• L short-term permit: A change with a short-term permit is also subject to consent (Art. 37 para. 2 FNIA) and is bound to the underlying gainful employment or purpose of stay.

For EU/EFTA nationals, the change of canton is governed by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP, SR 0.142.112.681) and the Ordinance on the Introduction of the Free Movement of Persons (VFP). The free movement of persons in principle also covers mobility within Switzerland; nevertheless, the new place of residence must be reported to the competent authority and the permit is issued by the canton of arrival.

For third-country nationals with a B permit, the canton of arrival examines the conditions under the general admission provisions (Art. 18–19, 21, 27 and 33 FNIA), namely gainful employment, purpose of stay and secured means of subsistence. The details are set out in the OASA (cf. Art. 31 OASA).

For temporarily admitted persons (F permit) and persons in the asylum procedure (N permit), special rules apply; a change of canton is only possible under the conditions of Art. 58a–58b FNIA or under Art. 27 AsylA and lies within the discretion of the authorities. For persons in need of protection (S permit) and holders of a Ci permit, status-specific special rules also apply.

Note: Which permit type triggers which procedural path follows from the specific permit. For the differences between the B and C permits, see the C settlement permit.

The procedure for changing cantons (B/L permit)

For permits subject to consent, the change of canton proceeds in orderly steps. It is decisive that the consent of the canton of arrival is in place before the place of residence is actually relocated.

1. Submit an application to the canton of arrival. The application for a change of canton must be addressed to the migration authority of the new canton. Some cantons offer online forms, others require an in-person appointment.
2. Submit the required documents. The documents usually requested are the valid permit, proof of gainful employment or of secured means of subsistence in the new canton, proof of housing (rental agreement) and a valid travel document. The exact list depends on the cantonal implementing law and should be confirmed with the competent migration office.
3. Await the decision. The processing time varies depending on the canton and its workload.
4. Deregistration at the previous place of residence. After the place of residence has been relocated, deregistration with the previous municipality must be carried out.
5. Registration in the new municipality. Registration with the residents' registration office of the new place of residence must take place within 14 days of arrival (Art. 12 FNIA in conjunction with Art. 10–16 FNIA; cf. the reporting obligations of the OASA).
6. Receive the new permit. The canton of arrival issues a new permit with the now competent cantonal authority.

The place of residence should not be relocated before the written consent of the canton of arrival has been received. A change without authorisation can jeopardise residence status (cf. the duties to cooperate and to report under Art. 90 and the grounds for revocation under Art. 62–63 FNIA).

Reporting and registration obligation in the municipality

Regardless of the type of permit, there is an obligation to register with the residents' registration office of the new place of residence. The obligation to register and deregister derives from the law on foreign nationals (Art. 12 FNIA) and is supplemented by cantonal and municipal registration law. Domicile in the civil-law sense is determined under Art. 23 Swiss Civil Code (ZGB).

At registration, the following are generally required: passport or identity card, the foreign national's permit, the rental agreement, and – depending on the municipality – a deregistration confirmation from the previous place of residence and proof of health insurance. Municipal fees may apply; their amount depends on the respective municipal law.

Health insurance when changing cantons

The compulsory health care insurance (KVG/LAMal) remains compulsory even after a change of canton. Anyone moving to Switzerland or changing their insurance status must take out insurance within three months; the insurance then applies retroactively from the relevant point in time. In the case of a change of residence within Switzerland, the insurer must be informed of the change of address.

This article does not compare insurers and gives no premium figures. For the official, canton-specific information on health insurance – including the premium overview – the official federal premium calculator is available: priminfo.admin.ch.

Tax domicile when changing cantons

The Swiss tax system has three tiers (federal, cantonal, municipal). A change of canton changes the tax domicile. For the direct federal tax and the withholding tax, the provisions of the DBG (Federal Act on Direct Federal Taxation) (Art. 83 et seq. DBG) form the federal-law framework; the cantonal tax sovereignty derives from the respective cantonal tax act.

• The tax liability is in principle determined by the place of residence at the end of the tax period. The detailed treatment of a change during the year is governed by the tax harmonisation law and cantonal tax law.
• Anyone who is taxed at source (in particular holders of a B permit without settlement) is subject, after the change, to the withholding tax rate of the new canton (Art. 83 et seq. DBG in conjunction with cantonal law).
• The change of address must be reported to the cantonal tax administration.

This article gives no tax rates, does not assess any canton as more favourable for tax purposes, and gives no advice on tax optimisation. Binding information is provided exclusively by the competent tax administrations.

School and childcare

Schooling falls within the jurisdiction of the cantons. When moving with children of compulsory school age, curricula, school-year structures and the language of instruction may differ. German-speaking cantons follow the Lehrplan 21, in French-speaking Switzerland the Plan d'études romand applies, and in Ticino the cantonal curriculum. A change during the school year is generally possible; it is advisable to contact the school administration of the new municipality early on.

The offer of supplementary childcare (day-care centre) and any subsidies are also regulated at cantonal and municipal level and differ accordingly.

Vehicle and driving licence

Anyone who keeps a vehicle must re-register it with the road traffic office of the new canton after moving. New cantonal licence plates are issued in the process. The driving licence remains valid; the address must be reported to the competent authority. The motor vehicle tax is levied at cantonal level.

Overview: B permit and C permit compared

The table below presents only the procedural difference. It contains no assessment and no recommendation.

Checklist for changing cantons

The order is not arbitrary: individual steps presuppose prior consents.

1. Clarify whether the change is subject to consent (B/L) or whether there is in principle a right (C).
2. If subject to consent: submit an application for a change of canton to the migration office of the canton of arrival.
3. Await written consent before relocating the place of residence (for B/L).
4. Secure housing in the new canton (rental agreement or proof of ownership).
5. Inform the employer of the change of address (relevant for the withholding tax).
6. Carry out deregistration at the previous place of residence.
7. Register in the new municipality within 14 days (Art. 12 FNIA).
8. Inform the health insurer of the change of address.
9. Re-register the vehicle with the road traffic office of the new canton.
10. Update the address with the bank, other insurers and the post office (forwarding order).
11. For children of compulsory school age, contact the school administration of the new municipality.
12. Report the change of address to the cantonal tax administration.

Where exactly jurisdiction lies

The implementation of the change of canton lies with the cantonal migration authorities; the federal-law bases are found in Art. 37, 40 et seq. and 99 FNIA and in the OASA (cf. Art. 31, 73 OASA). Binding, up-to-date information on documents, deadlines and fees is provided exclusively by the competent cantonal authority. General information on cantonal jurisdiction can be found in the cantonal practice articles and in the terminology glossaries on the law on foreign nationals.

Note: This article explains the legal situation and is not legal advice (Art. 12 LLCA).