When should the administration for moving back to Switzerland from Switzerland be started?

According to the article, preparations should not be left until the last week. Terminating the rental contract and notifying the employer should be done about 3 months in advance, cancelling KVG and requesting the 3rd pillar payout about 2 months in advance, and settling banking and tax matters about 1 month before the move.

What is the Abmeldung, and why is it important?

The Abmeldung is the deregistration from the Swiss population register. It is one of the most important formal steps when moving back home, because the residence permit must be returned at that time, and the confirmation received about it can later be useful for re-registration in Hungary and for certain tax matters.

Does Swiss health insurance end automatically upon deregistration?

No, KVG/LAMal insurance does not end automatically with the Abmeldung. The insurer must be informed separately in writing of the move-out date and the date of the Abmeldung, otherwise the insurer may continue billing.

Can the 2nd pillar be withdrawn when moving back home?

According to the article, for EU citizens the mandatory part of the 2nd pillar cannot be withdrawn in cash simply because they leave the country. This part usually remains in Switzerland in the form of a Freizügigkeitskonto or Freizügigkeitspolice until retirement age, or until moving to a non-EU/EFTA country.

How can the Swiss rental deposit be returned?

To release the deposit, the apartment must be handed over and the Übergabeprotokoll must be signed. If the landlord has no claims, the deposit is typically returned within a few weeks; in case of a dispute, the cantonal Mieterverband can provide free advice.

What documents are worth collecting before moving out?

According to the article, especially important are the Ausländerausweis, Arbeitszeugnis, proof of the AHV number, balance statements for the 2nd and 3rd pillars, tax returns and tax authority letters from the past 3 years, the rental contract, deposit documentation, and Swiss bank statements.

What is needed for address registration in Hungary after moving back?

At the Kormányablak, a valid identity document and proof of a Hungarian address are required, for example a title deed, rental contract, or accommodation declaration. The Abmeldebestätigung is not mandatory, but it can be a useful document.

How do we properly wrap up Swiss affairs when moving back home?

What are the most important administrative preparations before moving back home?

Preparing to move back home is not something to leave for the last week. Below, we’ve gathered the documents and decision points worth reviewing in good time.

Recommended timeline:

When	Task
3 months before	Terminate the rental contract, notify the employer
2 months before	Submit the KVG cancellation, request payout of the 3rd pillar
1 month before	Settle the bank account, notify the tax authority, cancel utility bills
1–2 weeks before	Abmeldung (deregistration) from the resident register
After arrival (Hungary)	Register your address, reactivate your TAJ number, re-register with OEP

Documents to gather:

Swiss residence permit (Ausländerausweis) – to be returned after the Abmeldung
Employer’s certificate (Arbeitszeugnis) – request it in writing; you are legally entitled to it
Proof of AHV number (AHV-Ausweis) – needed for pension coordination
Statement of balance for the 2nd pillar (berufliche Vorsorge / BVG) from the pension fund (Pensionskasse)
Statement of balance for the 3rd pillar (Säule 3a) from the bank or insurer
Tax returns and letters from the tax authority from the past 3 years
Rental contract and deposit documentation
Swiss bank account statements

How does address deregistration (Abmeldung) work in Switzerland?

Deregistering from the Swiss resident register (Abmeldung) is one of the most important formal steps when moving back home. This is handled by the local Einwohnerkontrolle (resident registration office) or Gemeindekanzlei (municipal office) – the exact name and procedure vary by canton and, in some cases, even by municipality.

The Abmeldung process:

You must report your planned departure in person or in writing (some cantonal offices also accept online notifications).
The residence permit (Ausländerausweis), which the office will confiscate, must be presented.
The office issues a deregistration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung), which is worth keeping — you may need it for re-registration in Hungary and for possible tax matters.

When is it worth doing? No earlier than 8 days before the actual move, and no later than the day of departure. Under some cantonal rules, deregistration must be completed within a few days of moving out — it is worth checking the website of the relevant Gemeinde.

Re-registration in Hungary: For address registration in Hungary, the Government Office (Kormányablak) requires a valid identity document and proof of your Hungarian address (e.g. title deed, rental contract, host’s declaration). The Abmeldebestätigung is not a mandatory document for the Hungarian procedure, but it can be useful.

How do we terminate Swiss health insurance (KVG / LAMal)?

Swiss mandatory basic insurance (Grundversicherung / assurance de base) is compulsory for every resident in Switzerland under the KVG (Krankenversicherungsgesetz) / LAMal (Loi fédérale sur l'assurance-maladie). The insurance ends on the date of Abmeldung — but the insurer must be notified separately, in writing.

The cancellation process:

Notify the insurer in writing (by registered letter or via the insurer’s online portal, if available) of the planned move-out date and the date of Abmeldung.
Attach a copy of the Abmeldebestätigung, or indicate that you will send it later.
The insurer must refund any premiums paid in advance on a pro rata basis from the date of deregistration.

Important: KVG insurance does not end automatically with Abmeldung. If you fail to submit written cancellation, the insurer may continue billing you. Check with your insurer which cancellation format they accept.

Returning to Hungarian health insurance: In Hungary, to reactivate your TAJ card (Társadalombiztosítási Azonosító Jel), you must register with the health insurance department of the district office competent for your place of residence, or — if you start employment — your employer will handle it. Without employment, you can join the OEP (Országos Egészségbiztosítási Pénztár, now NEAK – Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő) system as a voluntary insured person.

What should be communicated to the employer and the tax authority?

Employer-related tasks

The notice period (Kündigungsfrist) in Switzerland depends on the employment contract and the length of the employment relationship. Under the Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht / OR), after the probation period the usual notice period is 1–3 months, but a collective labour agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag / GAV) and the individual contract may require a longer period.

Request a written employment reference (Arbeitszeugnis) — this is a legal right in Switzerland and is due when the employment contract ends.
Request the final payslip (Lohnabrechnung) and the exit statement for the 2nd pillar (Austrittsabrechnung der Pensionskasse).
Check whether all vacation days have been taken or paid out in cash.

Tax authority tasks

In Switzerland, taxation is handled at cantonal level. If you were subject to withholding tax (Quellensteuer) — which can also apply to EU citizens if they do not meet the conditions for a subsequent tax return — the employer deducts the tax from the final monthly salary.

Before Abmeldung, it is worth asking the competent cantonal tax office (Steueramt) whether you have any open tax obligations.
If you have filed a regular tax return and are due a refund (Steuerrückerstattung), you will still receive it after deregistration — but you must provide your foreign (Hungarian) bank account number or postal address.
Notification of the move to the tax authority is usually handled automatically through Abmeldung, but in some cantons a separate notification may also be required.

How do we settle banking and financial matters?

Bank account

You do not necessarily have to close your Swiss bank account immediately when moving back home — many banks allow you to keep the account as a non-resident, although the terms (fees, access) may change. It is worth coordinating with the bank in advance.

If you want to close the account:

Make sure that all pending transfers, direct debits (Lastschrift), and refunds (e.g. KVG premium refunds, deposit) are completed before closing the account.
Transfer the remaining balance to your Hungarian bank account.

3rd pillar (Säule 3a / troisième pilier)

The 3rd pillar is voluntary, tax-advantaged retirement savings in Switzerland. The payout (Kapitalbezug) is possible when leaving the country, but the following conditions apply:

When the amount is paid out in Switzerland withholding tax (Quellensteuer) is deducted. The tax rate depends on the canton and is typically calculated at a preferential rate under the rules for capital payout tax (Kapitalauszahlungssteuer).
The payout request must be submitted to the bank or insurance company, together with the Abmeldebestätigung.
Processing the payout usually takes a few weeks.

2nd pillar (berufliche Vorsorge / BVG)

Handling the 2nd pillar (mandatory occupational pension) is more complex. As an EU citizen (and Hungary is an EU member), you cannot simply cash out the amount just because you are leaving the country – the rules on free movement within the EU restrict this. The mandatory portion (obligatorischer Teil) remains in Switzerland in the form of a Freizügigkeitskonto (vested benefits account) or Freizügigkeitspolice (insurance policy) until you reach retirement age or move to a country outside the EU/EFTA.

⚠️ The exact conditions for cashing out the 2nd pillar involve a complex legal area. There is a separate article on this in the Knowledge Base; in complex cases, it is worth involving a Swiss pension law specialist.

How do you terminate the rental contract and get the deposit back?

Ending the rental contract

Under Swiss tenancy law (Mietrecht), the notice period is usually 3 months, and notice must be given for the contractual termination dates (Kündigungstermin) specified in the lease – typically March 31, June 30, or September 30, though this can vary from one rental contract to another.

Notice should be sent to the landlord by registered mail (eingeschriebener Brief).
It is possible to shorten the notice period if you find a suitable, solvent replacement tenant (Nachmieter) and propose them to the landlord. The landlord is not obliged to accept the replacement tenant, but if they meet the requirements, they generally cannot be refused.

Getting back the deposit (Mietkaution)

The Swiss rental deposit can be up to 3 months’ rent and must be placed in a special bank account opened for this purpose (Mietkautionskonto).

To release the deposit, the apartment must be handed over (Wohnungsübergabe) and the handover report (Übergabeprotokoll) must be signed.
If the landlord has no claims (damage, unpaid rent), the deposit is returned after the apartment handover – typically within a few weeks.
If there is a dispute about the deposit amount, the cantonal tenants’ associations (Mieterverband) provide free advice.

Closing utility accounts

Notify your electricity, gas, internet, and phone providers of your termination date.
Request a final bill (Schlussrechnung), and make sure you have an active bank account or a Hungarian mailing address to receive any refund.
The post office box (Postfach) and mail forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag) can be arranged on the Swiss Post (Die Post / La Poste) website – this is useful if you still expect mail from Switzerland after moving back home.

What needs to be done with the vehicle and the driver’s license?

Taking the car out of the country or selling it

If you are taking a car purchased in Switzerland out of the country:

For export, the car must be deregistered (Abmeldung beim Strassenverkehrsamt – traffic authority) and export plates (Exportschild) must be obtained.
In Hungary, the car must be registered with the traffic authority and transferred to Hungarian license plates. The procedure requires the Swiss vehicle registration document, the customs declaration (if required), and taking out mandatory liability insurance.
Customs exemption rules for the transfer of personal property within the EU may apply, but it is worth checking the details based on the information from NAV (National Tax and Customs Administration).

Swiss driver’s license

A Swiss driver’s license (Führerausweis) is generally valid in an EU member state, but in Hungary, after moving back, the authorities may require you to exchange it. The rules for exchanging a driver’s license within the EU are based on Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

⚠️ The current procedure for exchanging a Swiss driver’s license in Hungary requires human review – see INTERNAL NOTES.

What are the final tasks on the day of moving back home and afterward?

In Switzerland, in the last few days:

Cancel the deregistration and return the Ausländerausweis.
Hand over the apartment and sign the Übergabeprotokoll.
Set up postal forwarding.
Check the final bank transactions.
Confirm the KVG cancellation.

After arriving in Hungary:

Register your address at the Government Office (identity document + proof of address required).
Reactivate your TAJ number / re-register with NEAK.
Open or reactivate a Hungarian bank account, if needed.
Check your tax identification number (NAV).
If a child is moving back too: school enrollment and civil registry matters need to be arranged.

Sources

ch.ch – The Swiss Federal Administration information portal: https://www.ch.ch/en/
Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV / OFAS) – AHV, 2nd and 3rd pillars: https://www.bsv.admin.ch
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – residence permits, deregistration: https://www.sem.admin.ch
Swiss Post – postal forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag): https://www.post.ch
National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NEAK), Hungary: https://www.neak.gov.hu
Hungarian Government Office / document office matters: https://www.magyarorszag.hu
National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) – customs matters for returnees: https://www.nav.gov.hu