How can you move to Switzerland as a Hungarian employee?

Which residence permit is required to work in Switzerland?

As a Hungarian citizen, the duration of your employment contract determines whether you need to apply for a B EU/EFTA or L EU/EFTA residence permit (Ausländerausweis or Aufenthaltsbewilligung). A separate procedure applies to short-term employment of up to 90 days: this requires not a residence permit, but an employer’s online notification.

Under the AFMP, the agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the European Union, Hungarian citizens may work in Switzerland under EU/EFTA rules. According to the 2026 information in the research dossier, this is not subject to quotas or a labour market test.

The key document is the Swiss employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag). It is not sufficient simply to wish to look for a job in Switzerland or for an employer to have verbally promised employment: proof of the employment relationship may be an essential document for registration and the permit process.

The B EU/EFTA permit is not the same as the L EU/EFTA permit. The B permit is for longer-term contracts of at least one year or for open-ended contracts. The L permit for employment lasting between 3 and 12 months.

The practical administration of permits may vary from canton to canton. Federal rules determine the basic eligibility, but the cantonal migration authority and the municipality of residence also play a role in the process.

What does this mean for Hungarian citizens?

A Hungarian passport or identity card confirms EU citizen status. For employment in Switzerland, this provides a more favourable starting point than the rules applicable to third-country nationals.

However, when establishing residence in Switzerland, Hungarian citizens must fulfil the registration requirement (Meldepflicht or Anmeldepflicht) and take out mandatory health insurance. Hungarian citizenship does not exempt anyone from either local registration or Swiss insurance.

When can the 90-day notification procedure be used?

The 90-day notification procedure can be used if work in Switzerland does not exceed 90 days in a calendar year. In this case, no residence permit is required, but the employer must submit an online notification through the Meldeverfahren system by the day before work begins.

The 90-day rule is not a shortened B or L permit. It is an independent notification option for EU/EFTA citizens working in Switzerland for a short period.

Notification is the employer’s responsibility. Before travelling and starting work, employees should clarify with their employer in writing whether the notification has been submitted and what confirmation or information they will receive about it.

The 90-day limit applies per calendar year. Short-term work performed in an earlier or later year should not be assumed to automatically create a new 90-day entitlement within the same year.

Why should 90 days of work not be treated as a move?

According to the dossier, work lasting up to 90 days does not require a residence permit. However, if the actual centre of life shifts to Switzerland, Swiss residence is established, or the duration of employment exceeds this framework, it is not advisable to regard the situation merely as short-term work.

Residence, the duration of employment and insurance obligations are interrelated issues. If there are plans to move to Switzerland for a longer period, the first step is to verify the exact duration of the contract.

How much time is available to register with the local municipality?

Registration with the municipality of residence must be completed no later than 14 days after arrival, and in all cases before the first working day begins. The deadline includes two conditions: the 14-day window does not override the obligation to complete registration before work starts.

Residence-related administration typically begins at the municipal or city authority (Gemeinde), specifically with the residents’ registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle). In accordance with the applicable local procedure, the municipality forwards or links the data to the other competent authorities.

The availability of in-person administration and online solutions is not uniform across Switzerland. Some municipalities may require personal attendance, while others may also handle certain matters digitally. The following should be checked on the official website of the chosen place of residence or directly with the municipality:

• whether an appointment must be booked in advance;

• whether you need to appear in person;

• whether proof of a rented room or temporary accommodation is accepted;

• which original documents and copies are required;

• whether there is a local fee for registration or for issuing the permit.

From a deadline perspective, it is risky to start work first and only later try to arrange registration of residence or a permit. The requirement to register before starting work does not make this a safe practice.

Which documents may be required for registration of residence?

For registration of residence, you may be asked to provide a valid passport or identity card, a Swiss employment contract, a rental agreement or confirmation from the accommodation provider. In some cases, a marriage certificate and passport photograph may also be required.

The list of documents may vary by municipality. Therefore, it is not sufficient to rely on a general online list before moving: the requirements of the specific Gemeinde or Einwohnerkontrolle are decisive.

For Hungarian families, it is particularly important to note that the requirement for a marriage certificate or other family document may vary from municipality to municipality. If a spouse or child is also moving, the documentation requirements may differ from those for an employee arriving alone.

According to official Swiss information, an employment contract or tenancy agreement can also be used to prove the relocation of residence. In practical terms, these two documents therefore form the basis not only for the employment process but also for the registration process.

How can household goods be cleared through customs when moving?

To import household goods brought from Hungary to Switzerland duty-free (Zollfreie Einfuhr von Übersiedlungsgut), Form 18.44 must be submitted in duplicate, together with a detailed list of the items to be imported, when crossing the customs border. Customs formalities must be prepared in accordance with the rules of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, BAZG.

For customs clearance, the detailed list is not merely a formality. It makes it possible to identify which household goods are arriving in Switzerland and whether subsequent shipments were already declared at the time of the first import.

How should boxes and furniture arriving later be handled?

If household goods arrive in several shipments, the later consignments must already be listed at the time of the first import. According to the research dossier, there is generally a period of 2 years for subsequent imports, but this should be checked separately against BAZG's current guidance before departure.

This is particularly relevant if the Hungarian home is not vacated in a single day or if the family joins later. Failing to declare items arriving later in advance may cause problems during customs clearance.

Before moving, it is advisable to keep the following in a separate file:

• two copies of Form 18.44;

• the detailed list of household goods;

• the employment contract or tenancy agreement, which may prove the fact of moving to Switzerland;

• a separate indication of subsequent shipments;

• BAZG's current information and the guidance applicable at the time of departure concerning the eMoving system.

The detailed rules for duty-free import, the procedure for crossing the border and the handling of subsequent shipments should be checked directly before departure. In these matters, it is not advisable to rely on old forum posts or the experiences of people who moved previously.

When and by when is it mandatory to take out Swiss health insurance?

Basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months of establishing residence in Switzerland. It is called Grundversicherung in German, and its legal designation is compulsory health care insurance (Obligatorische Krankenpflegeversicherung).

The mandatory system is based on the KVG, the Federal Health Insurance Act. Priminfo, the comparison platform operated by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), can be used to select an insurer.

The 3-month deadline does not mean that it is advisable to postpone choosing an insurer for three months. If insurance is taken out late, the accumulated outstanding premiums must be paid in a lump sum, and a penalty may also be imposed.

How much does compulsory Swiss health insurance cost?

There is no single nationwide monthly premium that applies to everyone. Compulsory health insurance premiums may vary by canton and even by municipality, so the amount can only be checked based on the specific place of residence, age, and chosen insurance model.

For this reason, it is not reliable to base a moving budget on the premium paid by an acquaintance living in another canton. Insurance premiums in Zürich, Bern, Basel, Genève, or a smaller municipality may not be directly comparable.

Arranging health insurance status in Hungary may be a separate matter involving Hungarian authorities and individual circumstances. This article does not cover the specific steps, as the research dossier does not contain a verified procedural description for this situation.

What cantonal and municipal differences may affect the move?

The basic framework of residence rights is provided by federal rules, but practical arrangements for moving may involve cantonal and municipal differences. The areas most likely to vary are the method of address registration, the documents required, the permit administration process, and health insurance premiums.

Choosing a place of residence is not solely a housing-search decision. The municipality concerned determines where registration takes place, which local document list is required, and which insurance premium zone the new residence falls into.

The safest order for moving abroad is therefore as follows: first, clarify the duration of the contract, then the actual Swiss residential address, followed by the local registration procedure, customs clearance and health insurance. This reduces the risk of administrative procedures being delayed before the start of work due to a deadline or missing document.

Sources

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – Working in Switzerland

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – EU/EFTA B permit

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – EU/EFTA L permit

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – EU/EFTA citizens in Switzerland

• arbeit.swiss – Employing staff across borders

• ch.ch – Moving to Switzerland

• ch.ch – Changing and cancelling health insurance

• Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG)

• Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) – Priminfo premium calculator

• University of Bern Welcome Center – Health insurance

• Integration in Switzerland – Registering an address in Switzerland

• VanOnsite – Moving to Switzerland customs

• Little Star – Moving to Switzerland with family

• Bovita – Swiss health insurance after moving: 90 days

• Association of Corporate Counsel – Top ten points employers consider to obtain a work permit in Switzerland

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