Change of address when moving – the big checklist
A well-organised move saves time and stress. Comparis explains who you have to inform of your new address, and how best to go about it.
01.04.2026
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1. Notifying insurance companies
Inform all your insurance providers of your new address. With some insurance companies, further adjustments are also necessary – or it may even be worth switching.
Comparis tip: Moving house is a good opportunity to check all your insurance policies and adjust them if necessary.
Health insurer
You can inform your health insurer of your change of residence online, by telephone or via email. You’ll find their phone number and email address on your bills or their website.
Your health insurance premiums depend on your place of residence. A switch can be worthwhile. However, you must observe the switching deadlines. You can only switch outside these periods if your health insurer does not operate in your new place of residence.
Contents and personal liability insurance
Inform your insurers online, by telephone or via email. If the value of all home contents increases, remember to adjust the sum insured upwards if your household contents increase, especially if you are moving in with another person. This will help you avoid cover restrictions in the event of a claim.
Good to know: if you move in with another person, moving in with another person, you will only need only one home contents and personal liability policy. In this case, many insurers are accommodating and will allow you to cancel one of the policies on an exceptional basis.
Motor vehicle insurance
Notify your car or motorcycle insurance company of your move as soon as possible. This is because the premium for your motor vehicle insurance depends on where you live. Therefore, when you move, it’s also worth comparing and, if necessary, switching insurers.
Is your vehicle more than six years old? Then it may be worth switching from full casco to partial casco insurance is worth considering. Remember to check the cancellation deadlines for car insurance.
2. Notifying telecommunications providers
Telephone (landline and mobile) and internet
Inform your telephone and internet service providers. This can be done online in most cases. You will usually find the relevant forms Corresponding forms can usually be found in the customer area of the website.
Please note any deadlines for disclosing your move. Internet service providers usually need a few days to update your internet connection. Otherwise, you may not be able to use your internet at your new address in time.
Check internet availability
Depending on where you live, you may have access to different internet speeds available to you. For example, it is possible that after moving, you will have a fibre-optic connection after moving.
Find out what speed and offers are available to you in your new home. This will also ensure that you don’t pay too much if you have a lower speed than at your old place of residence.
Telephone directory entry
Do you still want to be listed in the digital telephone directory and remain easy to find? Enter your local.ch change of address on local.ch.
Radio/television
The agency that collects radio and television licence fees Serafe will be informed of your change of address by the municipality responsible for registering your new address. You don’t need to do anything.
3. Notifying the bank and Swiss Post of your change of address
Bank, PostFinance and asset manager
Some banks allow you to update your address via e-banking using your login or with a special form. You can also do this at the counter. To do this, remember to take a valid form of ID with you.
Also think about any credit card provider or other organisations with whom you have monetary or credit debts.
Swiss Post
Notify Swiss Post of your new postal address before you actually move. Arrange for Swiss Post to forward your mail to your new address for one year by placing a forwarding order, and your letters and parcels will be redirected to your new address for one year.
Good to know: If you wish, Swiss Post can forward your new address to third parties. These include banks or insurance companies, for example.
4. Notifying authorities of your change of address
De-register your old address at the residents’ registration office at the residents’ registration office. Depending on the commune, you may be able to de-register online. You’ll need the following to de-register:
Your personal details (details on your confirmation of registration, certificate of document receipt, or passport/identity card)
AHV number
Credit card, Postfinance card or Twint to pay any fees
For foreign citizens: passport or identity card and residence permit
Depending on the commune, additional documents may be required. In the new commune you’ll need to register in the new commune. In some cases, you can register online – at the same time as deregistering – at the same time as deregistering. The deadline for doing so is usually 14 days. If you miss the registration deadline, you may have to pay a fine.
If you report the move online, the commune of your old address will send your certificate of origin to the new commune. Otherwise, you need to take the certificate of origin to the residents’ registration office of your new commune and re-register there.
Do you need a parking card or parking permit? Obtain information from the new commune in good time.
Good to know: If you are a weekly resident, you cannot re-register online.
Persons from EU and EFTA member states
For citizens of the EU and EFTA countries who move, in accordance with the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, the same rules apply as for people with a Swiss passport. Generally, you can also register your change of residence online. online re-registration. Always take your ID or passport with you to the municipal authority or city council.
People from third countries
In some cases, people from countries outside the EU/EFTA can also re-register online – check with the relevant municipalities in good time.
If you change cantons, change of canton you usually have to go to the residents’ registration office. You also need to take your passport and residence permit for foreign nationals (if applicable) with you. If you are changing canton, you must also submit an application to the new canton before you move.
Attention: Do you want to become naturalised? Check with the residents’ registration office whether a move is possible. This is because some communes require that you have lived there for a certain period of time prior to naturalisation.
If you own a dog, you must also register its change of address. Since dogs are subject to tax, you are usually required to register the dog. The communes maintain registers for this purpose.
Good to know: Many cantons require a third-party liability insurance policy for animals for dogs.
Conscripts must inform their relevant line manager or district command of their change of address line manager or district command within 14 days within 14 days.
People performing civil service must report their new address to the responsible regional centre or enter the change online via the E-ZIVI portal.
If you are self-employed or are already retired, you must inform your OASI (AHV/AVS) compensation office .
Register your new address within 14 days to the Road Traffic Office.
If you move within the same canton, all you need to do is notify them – either in writing or online. If you change canton, you must register the car in the new canton. You can exchange the number plates either in person or by post.
Tax office
As a rule, you do not need to do anything here.
Schools
Here, the procedure you need to follow depends on the municipality.. In some municipalities, your child will be automatically allocated to a school and registered there. In other municipalities, you still have to register your child with the school administration.
5. Notifying energy suppliers of a change of address
Electricity, water, gas
Notify the relevant energy supplier of your new address. Find out about any registration deadlines from the providers directly. This way, you’ll prevent being charged the Being charged for electricity costs, that are incurred between the date the keys are handed over and the date the meter reading takes place. Some suppliers will let you update your address online.
6. Other necessary address changes
Inform other contacts of your new address via email, by post or via the relevant app.
Employer
Insurance companies (legal cover, travel insurance, pet insurance, etc.)
Private schools, childcare centres and nurseries
Doctor, dentist and veterinarian
Lawyer and accountant
Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
Service subscriptions
Clubs and associations
Friends, relatives and acquaintances
Beneficiary organisations, for example Rega or Swiss Paraplegic Foundation
7. Frequently asked questions about changing your address when moving
You have to report your change of address to many different places The relevant public authorities are:
Residents’ registration office
School administration (depending on the municipality)
Road Traffic Office
Section chief or district command (for those doing military service)
Regional centre or E-ZIVI portal (for those performing community service)
OASI (AHV/AVS) compensation office (for pensioners or self-employed people)
You should also change your address with the following:
Insurance companies
Telecommunications providers
Banks and post office
Energy suppliers
Employer
Doctors
The Comparis moving checklist for changing address helps you ensure you don’t forget anything. Comparis moving checklist for changing address from Comparis helps ensure that you don’t forget anything.
How much a change of address at the post office costs depends on the desired services and the number of persons it depends on. A change of address without a forwarding order is free of charge.
The prices for mail forwarding can be found in the table below. They only apply if you place the forwarding order online. If you arrange the order at the counter, you will pay an additional twelve francs.
| Scope | Type of service | Description of service | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Mail forwarding | 6 months | 35 francs |
| 12 months | 45 francs | ||
| 18 months | 55 francs | ||
| Surcharges | Additional person (per person, irrespective of duration) | 15 francs | |
| Express order (by 11 p.m. the evening before) | 10 francs | ||
| Forwarded packages (per package) | 8 francs | ||
| Abroad | Mail forwarding | 12 months | 90 francs |
| Surcharges | Additional person (per person, irrespective of duration) | 15 francs | |
| Express order (by 11 p.m. the evening before) | 10 francs |
Important: Swiss Post cannot forward certain types of mail using the mail forwarding service. It’s best to check the Swiss Post website, to find out which ones these are and whether you are affected.
How you can notify a change of address varies depending on the provider and the service.. You can often already report your change of address online – in many cases, you can even complete the process of re-registering with your municipality online – in many cases, you can even change your address with your municipality via eMoving.
However, it is also possible that you may need to re-register personally, by telephone or by email to change your address. Find out about your options from the relevant authority or the provider.
Which documents you need to change your address is dependent on the provider. A simple notification is often sufficient. Contact your providers to find out what documents you need.
For changing your address online with the municipality you usually need the following documents:
Personal details (Details on your confirmation of registration, certificate of document receipt, or passport/identity card)
AHV number
Credit card, PostFinance Card or TWINT to pay any fees
For foreign citizens: Passport or identity card and residence permit
If you register in person at the Residents’ Registration Office, the documents required may vary. Before your visit, find out which documents you need.
This article was first published on 23.08.2019
