When should I start closing my Swiss affairs before moving back home?

It is advisable to start the closing process at least 3 months before your planned move. The reason is that several contracts have statutory notice periods that cannot be shortened. If you do not start in time, obligations may continue even after you have moved out.

What is the first official step when moving out?

The first and most important step is deregistration at your local municipality, the Gemeinde. After deregistration, the authorities take back your residence permit and issue an Abmeldebestätigung certificate. You may be asked for this in several later administrative procedures.

What happens to my Swiss bank account after moving out?

You may be able to keep your Swiss bank account for a while, but banks often apply different conditions, higher fees or even termination for customers who are no longer resident in Switzerland. It is worth contacting the bank in time, settling automatic debits, then transferring the remaining balance and closing the account in writing.

How does mandatory Swiss health insurance end?

Mandatory health insurance ends on the date of deregistration. You must notify the insurer in writing and attach the deregistration confirmation issued by the Gemeinde. The insurer is obliged to refund any premiums paid in advance for periods no longer covered.

When can a Swiss rental contract be terminated?

The notice period for a Swiss rental contract is usually 3 months, and termination is only possible on the dates specified in the contract. If these deadlines are missed, rent must be paid until the next possible termination date. If you provide an acceptable Nachmieter, the landlord is obliged to accept them.

What should I do with the 2nd pillar (BVG) when moving back home?

You need to apply for the payout from your employer’s pension fund, and the process can take several weeks. For EU citizens, payout of the mandatory portion may be restricted if they continue working in the EU and join a mandatory pension insurance system there. After payout, withholding tax may apply in Switzerland, and it varies by canton.

How long should I keep documents related to moving out?

According to the article, it is worth keeping the most important documents for at least 10 years. These include the Abmeldebestätigung, employment certificates, AHV/AVS statements, the Pensionskasse payout confirmation, tax assessments, as well as the rental contract and the handover report.

How do you wrap up your Swiss affairs before moving back home?

When and why do Swiss matters need to be closed out?

The Swiss administrative system does not handle a move abroad “automatically.” If you do not report your departure, Swiss authorities, insurers, and banks will continue to keep obligations on record for you — including insurance premiums, tax liability, and rent.

It is worth starting the closing process at least 3 months before your planned move abroad. Some contracts (e.g. rental agreement, certain insurance policies) have statutory notice periods that cannot be shortened. If you miss them, the obligation continues even after you move out.

The most common mistake: people consider the physical move complete, while the paperwork drags on for months afterward.

Official deregistration: Gemeinde and Kanton

The first and most important step is deregistering with your local municipality (Gemeinde / Einwohnerkontrolle, in French: Contrôle des habitants). This can be done in person or — in many cantons — online via the ch.ch portal.

For deregistration, you usually need:

a valid ID card or passport,
a residence permit (Ausländerausweis),
the exact date of departure and your new address abroad.

After deregistration, the Gemeinde takes back the residence permit and issues a deregistration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung). Keep this certificate — you will need it when handling bank accounts, insurance, and tax matters.

The date of deregistration is also decisive from a tax perspective: tax liability in Switzerland generally continues until you are domiciled in Switzerland (domicile fiscal / Steuerdomizil).

Managing bank and financial accounts

When should you close your Swiss bank account?

As an EU citizen, you can keep a Swiss bank account for some time after moving abroad, but most banks change the terms for clients who are no longer resident in Switzerland, raise fees, or terminate the contract. It is worth discussing this with the bank in good time.

Steps for settling your bank account

Notify the bank of your planned departure date and your new address abroad.
Ask for information on whether the bank keeps accounts for non-resident clients and under what conditions.
Settle automatic debits (Dauerauftrag / ordre permanent): cancel or redirect recurring transfers (rent, insurance premiums, subscriptions).
Transfer the remaining balance to your bank account in Hungary.
Close the account in writing — verbal notice is not enough.

Managing the second pillar (berufliche Vorsorge / BVG) and AHV/AVS assets is a separate process, which is covered in the “Employment and social insurance administration” section.

Transferring Swiss francs to Hungary

When making the transfer, pay attention to conversion fees. Traditional banks typically use less favorable exchange rates than providers such as Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut. For large amounts (e.g. a 2nd pillar payout), the exchange-rate difference can be significant.

Cancelling insurance policies

Mandatory health insurance (KVG / LAMal)

Swiss mandatory health insurance (Krankenversicherungsgesetz / KVG, in French: Loi sur l'assurance-maladie / LAMal) is compulsory for the duration of your stay in Switzerland. The insurance ends on the date of deregistration — but this must be reported in writing to the insurer (Krankenkasse).

To cancel it, enclose the deregistration confirmation issued by the Gemeinde (Abmeldebestätigung). The insurer is obliged to refund any premiums that were paid in advance but are no longer due.

Important: if you were subject to withholding tax (Quellensteuer), part of your health insurance premium may have been deducted by your employer — this amount must be settled in the final statement.

Supplementary insurance (VVG / LCA)

In addition to mandatory insurance, many Swiss residents have supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung / assurance complémentaire), which is governed by the private insurance contract law (Versicherungsvertragsgesetz / VVG). The cancellation terms differ — check the notice period in your policy (typically 3 months before the contract expires).

Household insurance and liability insurance

Household insurance (Hausratversicherung) and personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) can be cancelled as of the day you move out. A deregistration confirmation is also required for this.

In some cantons (e.g. Vaud, Fribourg), household insurance is mandatory and state-run (cantonal insurer); elsewhere it is taken out with a private insurer. Check which type of policy you have.

Motor vehicle insurance and registration certificate

If you have a vehicle registered in Switzerland, you need to settle the registration certificate and insurance before moving out. The Swiss license plates must be returned to the cantonal road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt / Office des véhicules).

Tax obligations and final settlement

When does Swiss tax liability end?

In Switzerland, tax liability ends when your actual Swiss tax domicile (Steuerdomizil / domicile fiscal) ends — this is usually the day you deregister with the Gemeinde. The tax year therefore does not run for a full year, but only up to the date you move out.

Withholding tax (Quellensteuer) and annual reconciliation

If you were subject to withholding tax (Quellensteuer) — which applied to most EU workers, especially if they did not have a C permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung / autorisation d'établissement) — your employer deducted tax from your gross salary each month.

For the year of your move, the cantonal tax office (Kantonales Steueramt / Administration fiscale cantonale) will issue a final statement. This may result in either a refund or an additional payment, depending on the difference between your actual income and the withholding tax deducted.

If you filed a tax return (Steuererklärung / déclaration d'impôts), you will receive a final assessment through the usual procedure. If you did not file a return (you were taxed at source and were not required to do so), the canton will close the case based on your employer certificates.

Hungarian-Swiss double taxation agreement

Hungary and Switzerland have a double taxation agreement (1981, as amended). This means that, in principle, the same income cannot be taxed in both countries. In the year you move back home, it is especially important to clarify which country the given income item (e.g. Swiss salary, 2nd pillar payout) is taxable in.

A lump-sum payout from the 2nd pillar (BVG) is possible when you permanently leave Switzerland, but its tax treatment is complex — the next section covers this.

Employment and social insurance administration

Termination of employment

Employment must be terminated in accordance with Swiss employment law (Obligationenrecht / OR, Code des obligations / CO). The notice period depends on the length of employment and the contract — typically 1–3 months. Ask your employer for a certificate of employment (Arbeitszeugnis / certificat de travail) — this is a mandatory document on the Swiss labour market, and you may need it again in the future.

AHV/AVS and pension entitlement

AHV/AVS (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung / Assurance-vieillesse et survivants) is the old-age and survivors’ insurance. The contributions you have paid are not lost: your Swiss pension entitlement remains valid, and it can be coordinated with your Hungarian pension under the social security agreement between the two countries.

You can request an AHV account statement from the Central Compensation Office (Zentrale Ausgleichsstelle / Caisse centrale de compensation, ZAS/CCC). This is an important document for any future pension claim.

Second pillar (BVG) — the most important financial decision

The second pillar (berufliche Vorsorge / BVG) is Switzerland’s occupational pension system. If you leave Switzerland permanently and are an EU citizen, you may withdraw the accumulated capital in cash under certain conditions.

Important restriction: for EU citizens, payment of the mandatory portion (obligatorischer Teil) is restricted if they continue working in the EU and join a compulsory pension insurance system there. The portion above that (überobligatorischer Teil) can usually be withdrawn.

The payout must be requested from the occupational pension fund (Pensionskasse / caisse de pension), and the process can take several weeks. Swiss withholding tax is deducted from the amount paid out — the rate varies by canton, and part of it may be reclaimable under the double taxation agreement.

⚠️ This area is complex and requires an individual assessment — for the specific amounts and tax rates, the editor should check the current cantonal tax rates and the latest information from ZAS/CCC.

Property and ending the rental contract

Ending the rental contract

Under Swiss tenancy law (Obligationenrecht / OR, Art. 266 ff.), the notice period is generally 3 months, and it applies only to the contractual termination dates (typically 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December). If you miss these, you will have to keep paying rent until the next possible date.

Exception: if you find a suitable replacement tenant (Nachmieter / repreneur), the landlord is obliged to accept them, and you may be released from the contract before the end of the notice period.

The apartment must be handed over in the landlord’s presence at move-out (Wohnungsabnahme / état des lieux de sortie). Any damage may be deducted from the security deposit (Mietkaution / dépôt de garantie). The deposit is held in a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) — it is released after you move out, by agreement between the parties.

Property owned by you

If you own property in Switzerland, moving out does not automatically mean you must sell it. As an EU citizen, you may keep the property. However, rental income from the property or any increase in value may create a Swiss tax liability.

When selling the property, real estate capital gains tax (Grundstückgewinnsteuer / impôt sur les gains immobiliers) may apply, and the rate varies by canton and depending on how long you have owned the property.

Practical checklist: documents and deadlines

The list below summarises the most important tasks in chronological order. Detailed descriptions of each step can be found in the sections above.

3 months before moving out:

[ ] Terminate the rental contract in writing (taking the notice period into account)
[ ] Inform your employer and agree on the notice period
[ ] Contact the Pensionskasse about payout options for the 2nd pillar
[ ] Inform your bank about the planned move-out

1–2 months before moving out:

[ ] Cancel supplementary insurance policies (notice periods for VVG contracts)
[ ] Cancel or redirect standing orders (Dauerauftrag)
[ ] Arrange car insurance and vehicle registration (if relevant)

In the week of moving out:

[ ] Deregister with the Gemeinde (Abmeldung) — collect the Abmeldebestätigung
[ ] Cancel compulsory health insurance (KVG) in writing, with proof of receipt
[ ] Cancel household insurance
[ ] Complete the apartment handover (Wohnungsabnahme) and initiate the release of the security deposit

After moving out:

[ ] Close your bank account or keep it as a non-resident account (check with the bank)
[ ] Notify the tax office of your new foreign address
[ ] Request an AHV/AVS statement (ZAS/CCC)
[ ] Submit a Pensionskasse payout request (if you have decided to do so)
[ ] Keep an eye on your tax return / withholding tax final assessment

Documents to keep (for at least 10 years):

Abmeldebestätigung (deregistration confirmation)
All employment references (Arbeitszeugnis)
AHV/AVS statements
Pensionskasse payout confirmation
Tax assessments (Steuerveranlagung)
Lease agreement and handover protocol