Moving to Switzerland, handled from door to door

Where we move clients to Switzerland from

Other origins we cover

• France → Switzerland
• Belgium → Switzerland
• Netherlands → Switzerland
• Luxembourg → Switzerland
• Germany → Switzerland
• Austria → Switzerland
• Ireland → Switzerland
• United Kingdom → Switzerland
• Spain → Switzerland
• Portugal → Switzerland
• Italy → Switzerland
• Greece → Switzerland

Customs & paperwork into Switzerland

Moving from an EU country

Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, so a move from any EU country involves an export on the EU side and an import into Switzerland. We handle both formalities at the border.

EU and EFTA citizens do not need to show a residence permit at customs: an employment contract, a lease or a confirmation of deregistration from your previous country is enough to prove your move.

Duty-free household effects

Your household effects — furniture, personal belongings, collections, pets and vehicles — enter Switzerland free of duty and VAT when you transfer your domicile there. To qualify:

• you are transferring your domicile to Switzerland;
• you have personally used your belongings for at least 6 months abroad before the move;
• you will continue to use them yourself in Switzerland.

Your goods are declared on Swiss customs form 18.44, the declaration and application for clearance of household effects, signed and presented with your inventory.

Household effects are cleared at commercial customs offices, open on working days only. A removal truck arriving at the border on a Saturday will wait until Monday — we plan crossings accordingly.

Any later shipments must be declared together with the first one.

Goods for a holiday home follow different, more restrictive rules.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Valid passport or ID card
• Swiss customs form 18.44, completed and signed
• A list of the household effects you are importing
• Proof of your transfer of domicile: residence permit or its assurance, or for EU/EFTA citizens an employment contract, lease or deregistration certificate
• Proof of housing in Switzerland (lease or purchase contract)

Some items need a separate declaration even when duty-free, such as alcohol and tobacco above the allowances. We review your inventory before departure.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles Cars and motorbikes are duty-free as household effects if you have used them for at least 6 months abroad and will keep using them in Switzerland. They must be listed on form 18.44, then pass a technical inspection and be registered in your canton.
• Alcohol and tobacco Only small quantities are duty-free. Larger quantities are taxed and must be declared.
• Firearms and protected species Weapons, ammunition and items made from protected species need permits. Tell us before packing.
• Pets Pets are part of your household effects. They need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport or official health certificate, depending on the country of origin.

How a move to Switzerland works

1. Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in Switzerland and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
2. Survey and planning. Your coordinator rechecks the volume, locks the transport mode and lists the customs rules you fall under on your way to Switzerland.
3. Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Switzerland.
4. Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to Switzerland.
5. Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into Switzerland end to end (Swiss form 18.44 and border clearance).
6. Delivery and set-up. Delivery to your new home, unpacking and furniture reassembly if included in your quote.

A single point of contact handles your move to Switzerland from estimate to delivery.

Modes and typical door-to-door times

Expect the figures below as indicative door-to-door windows; season, addresses and customs clearance can all shift them.

Door-to-door transit times are indicative. Switzerland has no seaport: containers arrive in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg or Genoa and continue by road or rail.

How the price of your move to Switzerland is calculated

We price every move to Switzerland with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:

• Volume — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
• Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to Switzerland, not a bird-flight shortcut.
• Transport mode — shared load, dedicated truck, sea container (shared or exclusive) or air freight.
• Services — everything beyond pure transport: packing, dismantling, crating, short-term storage, extra legs by ferry.
• Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
• Customs — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to Switzerland that cross a customs border.
• Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

For road moves inside Europe, the estimator returns a starting price in two minutes. Sea freight, air freight and any move that crosses a customs border go through a written quote, delivered within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs duties when moving to Switzerland from the EU?

Not if you are moving your domicile and have used your belongings for at least 6 months. Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, so the move must still be declared at the border on form 18.44.

What is form 18.44?

It is the Swiss customs declaration for household effects. You sign it, attach your inventory and proof of your move, and it allows your belongings to enter free of duty and VAT.

Can my removal truck cross the border at any time?

No. Household effects are cleared at commercial customs offices on working days only. We schedule the crossing so your truck is not held over a weekend.

Do EU citizens need a residence permit to clear their belongings?

No. EU and EFTA citizens can prove their move with an employment contract, a lease or a deregistration certificate from their previous country.

Can I bring my car to Switzerland?

Yes, duty-free, if you have used it for at least 6 months abroad. It must be listed on form 18.44, then inspected and registered in your canton.

How long does a move to Switzerland take?

From neighbouring countries, a dedicated truck usually delivers within a few days, plus border clearance. From North America, allow six to twelve weeks by sea container via a European port.