Before Moving to Switzerland: What Steps Do You Need to Take?

Quick Answer

As a Hungarian citizen, moving to Switzerland is relatively straightforward from a legal standpoint — under the EU–Switzerland Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA, Freizügigkeitsabkommen), no prior work visa is required. That said, the process demands serious preparation: document authentication, finding accommodation, opening a bank account, mandatory health insurance, and deregistration formalities in Hungary — all running in parallel, and mistakes can cause delays of months. Below, we walk you through every step with concrete deadlines and the relevant institutions.

What legal basis allows Hungarian citizens to move to Switzerland?

As a Hungarian citizen, you are an EU national, and therefore fall under the FZA within the Swiss legal framework. In practice, this means you do not need to obtain a work permit in advance, and the quota system (Kontingentierung) that applies to third-country nationals does not apply to you.

After arriving, you must register at your local residents' registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle / Contrôle des habitants) within 14 days (or before your first working day). If you are arriving with an employment contract, you apply there for a B permit (Ausländerausweis B), which is generally issued for 5 years and is renewable. If you are staying for fewer than 90 days for work purposes, you do not need a permit — a simple online notification (Meldeverfahren) is sufficient. If your employment contract runs between 3 and 12 months, you will receive an L permit (Ausländerausweis L).

An important distinction: the L permit is valid for a maximum of 1 year, does not automatically entitle you to a longer stay, and carries different conditions when it comes to accessing social benefits. If you intend to settle in Switzerland, the B permit is the standard goal.

If your spouse is a third-country national (non-EU/EFTA), the situation is more complex: their residence permit is tied to yours and requires a separate procedure with the cantonal migration authority (Migrationsamt).

What documents do you need to prepare before moving?

This is the area where most people lose the most time. While applying for a B permit often requires nothing more than a passport and an employment contract, Swiss authorities — for example in the case of marriage or family reunification — will request original, authenticated documents. A simple photocopy, as commonly accepted in Hungarian public administration, is not sufficient.

Tip: In Hungary, you can request multilingual (CIEC) birth and marriage certificates. These are accepted in Switzerland without an apostille or certified translation, which can save you a great deal of time and money!