How can a Hungarian citizen manage their first 90 days in Switzerland?
As a Hungarian citizen, you may stay in Switzerland as a tourist for up to 90 days. Work requires registration; relocating requires address registration and insurance arrangements.
Table of contents
- How long can you stay in Switzerland as a tourist without registering?
- How can you work in Switzerland for less than 90 days?
- What needs to be done when working for a Swiss employer?
- What needs to be done in the case of a posting or self-employment?
- When must an online notification be submitted for short-term work?
- When and where do you need to register your address in Switzerland?
- Can address registration be completed electronically?
- How much time do you have to take out compulsory Swiss health insurance?
- From when is the insurance valid, and what may be the consequence of a delay?
- Sources
- Related Articles
How long can you stay in Switzerland as a tourist without registering?
As a Hungarian citizen, you may stay in Switzerland visa-free as a tourist, without engaging in gainful employment, for up to 90 days. A valid passport or identity card is required for entry.
The 90-day option applies exclusively to stays that do not involve gainful employment. Visa-free entry should not be assumed to grant the right to work. Short-term employment is subject to a separate notification procedure.
Upon entry, the authorities may carry out random checks to verify that sufficient financial means are available. According to information provided by the Swiss diplomatic mission, the standard reference amount is CHF 100 per day, or CHF 30 per day for students. This is a financial means requirement relevant to entry checks, not a Swiss cost-of-living budget.
Purpose of travel | Basic situation covered in the dossier | Main action required |
|---|---|---|
Tourist visit | Up to 90 days, without gainful employment | A valid identity document is required; financial means may also be checked upon entry. |
Short-term employment | Up to 90 days or 3 months per calendar year | Online notification is required for short-term employment. |
Longer-term relocation | Stay of more than 90 days or a contract lasting more than 3 months | Registration with the local residents' registration office is required within 14 days. |
It is not advisable to provide a single, general list in one article of the documents to bring from Hungary. The municipality of residence, employer, insurer and the type of matter concerned may each require different documents; the requirements of the specific authority handling the matter should therefore be checked in advance.
How can you work in Switzerland for less than 90 days?
According to the rule outlined in the dossier, Swiss employment of up to 90 days or up to 3 months per calendar year does not require a residence or work permit. However, online notification is required for short-term gainful employment.
The notification procedure for short-term employment in German Meldeverfahren für kurzfristige Erwerbstätigkeit. The procedure must not be confused with the residence permit associated with longer-term stays (Ausländerausweis), such as the B residence permit (Ausweis B) or the L residence permit (Ausweis L.
The 90-day work allowance is tied to the calendar year. It is therefore advisable to keep an ongoing record of days spent on short assignments, projects and postings. Time spent as a tourist and days spent seeking employment must not be treated under the same legal basis.
What needs to be done when working for a Swiss employer?
If you undertake short-term work for a Swiss employer, the notification must be submitted no later than the day before work begins. According to the dossier, this deadline also applies in 2026.
The notification for short-term work is submitted online. Completing the administrative steps later than the day before work begins is risky, as the notification requirement for short-term employment is not the same as the conditions for entry as a tourist.
What needs to be done in the case of a posting or self-employment?
If you are posted to Switzerland by a foreign company, or if you carry out short-term work in Switzerland as a self-employed person, the notification must be submitted at least 8 days before work begins. This deadline is longer than the requirement applicable to Swiss employers.
The difference between the two cases is significant:
Employment situation | Notification deadline | Type of notification |
|---|---|---|
Short-term work for a Swiss employer | No later than the day before work begins | Online notification for short-term employment |
Posting by a foreign employer | At least 8 days before starting work | Online notification of short-term work |
Self-employed work in Switzerland | At least 8 days before starting work | Online notification of short-term work |
The length of the employment contract and the legal basis for the actual work are particularly important. An employment contract exceeding 3 months no longer falls within the same short-term category as work of up to 90 days per year.
When must an online notification be submitted for short-term work?
An online notification is required for short-term work in Switzerland; since April 2025, the procedure has been handled by EasyGov.swiss. According to the dossier, EasyGov.swiss has fully taken over the role previously performed by the SEM portal.
EasyGov.swiss is the digital administrative platform, while SEM is the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (Staatssekretariat für Migration). The applicable notification deadline depends on whether the work is for a Swiss employer, involves a posting, or is carried out on a self-employed basis.
The administrative steps aligned with the start of work are as follows:
First, clarify the legal basis for the work. It matters whether you are employed by a Swiss employer, posted by a foreign company, or undertaking an assignment as a self-employed person.
Then determine the deadline. For a Swiss employer, the deadline is no later than the day before work begins; for postings and self-employed work, it is at least 8 days in advance.
The online notification must be processed through EasyGov.swiss. For short-term work, this is the required digital procedure.
Track the duration of the work within the calendar year. The short-term framework set out in the dossier is a maximum of 90 days or 3 months per year.
For postings by a Hungarian employer, it is particularly important to note that the category of “foreign company” may also include the Hungarian company. It is therefore not advisable to leave the 8-day notification deadline until the last few days before travelling.
When and where do you need to register your address in Switzerland?
If your stay in Switzerland exceeds 90 days or your employment contract is longer than 3 months, you must register in person with the local residents' registration office within 14 days. Depending on the municipality, the office may be called, for example, Einwohnerkontrolle or Personenmeldeamt.
Address registration is not merely the recording of a postal address. It is the official administrative step for establishing residence in Switzerland, which entails the registration obligation (Anmeldepflicht). The local authority, the procedure and the detailed rules may vary from one municipality to another.
Two situations must be clearly distinguished in relation to the 14-day deadline:
A person staying as a tourist for up to 90 days without gainful employment: according to the dossier, the rules on visa-free tourist stays apply.
A person establishing residence in Switzerland and staying for more than 90 days: registration with the local Einwohnerkontrolle or Personenmeldeamt is required within 14 days.
A person arriving with an employment contract longer than 3 months: according to the dossier, registration with the local residents' registration office within 14 days is likewise the starting point.
The fee for address registration is not standardised nationwide. According to the dossier, it is typically between 10 and 30 CHF, but the actual amount depends on the canton and municipality. The fee and the local administrative steps should therefore be checked on the official website of the relevant municipality.
Can address registration be completed electronically?
Yes, electronic change-of-address services are available in some municipalities and cantons, but this is not a uniform nationwide rule. According to the sources, Kanton Basel-Stadt and Stadt St. Gallen both offer electronic administrative options related to moving and registration.
eUmzugCH is the name associated with electronic change-of-address administration in Switzerland. However, it should not be assumed that every municipality uses the same system or that a fully online procedure is available in every case.
Even where an electronic option is available, the guidance provided by the local residents' registration office is authoritative. In particular, the following should be checked:
whether online registration is available in the municipality concerned;
whether the electronic procedure can be used for full registration or only for the advance submission of information;
whether an in-person visit is required;
the amount of the local registration fee;
which deadline the municipality applies.
The example of Kanton Basel-Stadt and Stadt St. Gallen shows that digital solutions exist, but it does not support a nationwide generalisation. In Switzerland, the practical details of residence registration are largely organised at the local level.
How much time do you have to take out compulsory Swiss health insurance?
When establishing residence in Switzerland, compulsory basic health insurance (Obligatory Health Insurance) must be taken out within 3 months of establishing residence. The legal framework of the system is KVG, known in French as LAMal.
The 3-month deadline does not mean that insurance coverage only becomes relevant from the date the policy is concluded. The insurance relationship and premium payments take effect retroactively from the date of residence registration.
For compulsory basic insurance, the rules associated with the system of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, BAG (Federal Office of Public Health; in English, FOPH) apply. Organisations associated with the KVG system include Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG.
The insurance deadline is linked to the situation of a person resident in Switzerland. It is not advisable to assume automatically that a short tourist visit or short-term declared employment creates the same insurance situation as actually establishing residence in Switzerland.
From when is the insurance valid, and what may be the consequence of a delay?
Compulsory Swiss basic health insurance becomes valid retroactively from the date of residence registration, and the obligation to pay premiums also dates back to that day. Therefore, the 3-month administrative period does not postpone the financial effect of the start of insurance coverage.
An unjustified delay beyond 3 months may result in a surcharge. According to the dossier, medical costs incurred during the period of delay may be borne by the insured person.
Taking out insurance late may therefore involve two types of risk:
Retroactive premium payments: insurance premiums may be due from the date of residence registration, not only from the date of enrolment with the chosen insurer.
Risk of a surcharge: an additional premium may apply in the event of an unjustified delay exceeding 3 months.
Risk of medical costs: the insured person may be liable for the costs of care received during the delay.
It is advisable not to wait until the final weeks to choose an insurer and conclude the policy. It is recommended to keep the residence registration date, the insurance application date and the insurer’s confirmation together.
Sources
invia.hu — https://www.invia.hu/svajc/belepesi-formalitasok/
admin.ch: Visitor visa checklist, June 18, 2024. —
Kanton Basel-Stadt: Meldeverfahren für kurzfristige Erwerbstätigkeit —
arbeit.swiss: Employing staff across borders —
EasyGov.swiss: Online registration process for short-term employment —
taxolution.ch: Moving to Switzerland —
movetoeu.eu: Switzerland guide —
KVG.org: Compulsory insurance —
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In Brief
As a Hungarian citizen, you may stay in Switzerland visa-free as a tourist for up to 90 days, provided you do not engage in gainful employment. Short-term work requires online notification: for a Swiss employer, no later than the day before work begins; in the case of secondment or self-employed work, at least 8 days in advance. For stays exceeding 90 days, local registration is required within 14 days; when establishing residence in Switzerland, compulsory basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months.
Key Takeaways
- Determine the purpose of entry in advance: a tourist stay does not in itself grant the right to work.
- For short-term work, clarify whether the arrangement involves a Swiss employer, a secondment by a foreign company, or a self-employed assignment.
- For a Swiss employer, submit the online notification through EasyGov.swiss no later than the day before work begins; for secondments or self-employed work, do so at least 8 days in advance.
- Keep an ongoing record of working days within the calendar year, as the limit for short-term work is a maximum of 90 days or 3 months per year.
- For a stay exceeding 90 days or an employment contract longer than 3 months, register with the local residents' registration office within 14 days.
- When establishing residence in Switzerland, take out compulsory basic health insurance within 3 months, and retain the dates and confirmations related to the notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a Hungarian citizen stay in Switzerland as a tourist without registering?
A Hungarian citizen may stay in Switzerland visa-free as a tourist for up to 90 days without engaging in gainful employment. A valid passport or identity card is required for entry. The authorities may also check whether sufficient financial means are available.
Can someone work in Switzerland during the 90-day tourist stay?
The visa-free stay granted to tourists does not in itself confer the right to work. Short-term gainful employment requires a separate online notification, and the annual limit on working days must also be monitored.
Where must short-term work in Switzerland be notified?
Since April 2025, notifications for short-term work must be handled through the EasyGov.swiss online system. The deadline depends on the legal basis for the work: no later than the day before work begins for a Swiss employer, and at least 8 days in advance for secondments and self-employed work.
When must short-term work be notified at least 8 days in advance?
The notification must be submitted at least 8 days before work begins if a foreign company seconded the employee to Switzerland, or if the work is performed on a self-employed basis. The foreign company category may include an employer based in Hungary.
When must a Swiss residential address be registered?
If the stay in Switzerland exceeds 90 days, or the employment contract is longer than 3 months, in-person registration with the local residents' registration office is required within 14 days. Depending on the municipality, the office may be called Einwohnerkontrolle or Personenmeldeamt, for example.
Can Swiss address registration also be handled electronically?
Electronic services are available in some municipalities and cantons, for example in the canton of Basel-Stadt and Stadt St. Gallen. However, this is not standardised nationwide, so it is necessary to check whether the relevant municipality offers full online registration or only preliminary data submission, and whether an in-person appointment is required.
Within what time must compulsory Swiss health insurance be taken out?
When establishing residence in Switzerland, compulsory basic health insurance must be taken out within 3 months of establishing residence. Insurance coverage and the obligation to pay premiums apply retroactively from the date of residence registration. Unjustified delays may result in a surcharge and a risk of having to bear treatment costs.
Related guides
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