If you are staying in Zurich for only a few days, you mainly need accommodation, a public transport ticket and a sense of orientation. If you stay longer, a few Swiss everyday topics become important: registration, health insurance, banking, payments, insurance and official mail.
This article is for people who live in Zurich for several months or permanently: expats, relocation cases, people starting a new job, project workers on longer assignments or anyone using a temporary apartment before finding a longer-term solution.
Registration with the city: remember the 14-day deadline
If you move to Zurich, you must register your arrival. According to the Canton of Zurich, newcomers must register with their municipality of residence within 14 days of moving into their new home. Registration is only possible once you have actually moved in.
If you move to Zurich from another Swiss municipality, registration may be possible online or by appointment, depending on the situation. If you move from abroad, registration is done in person and by appointment only. Book early, especially if you need documents for work, studies or a residence permit.
For registration, you should have your ID, rental contract or confirmation of residence and, depending on your situation, additional documents ready. Requirements can vary, so it is worth checking the official website before your appointment.
Health insurance: do not wait until the last moment
Mandatory health insurance in Switzerland is not automatically handled by your employer. Anyone settling in Switzerland must take out health insurance within three months after taking up residence, according to the Federal Office of Public Health.
Basic insurance covers legally defined benefits at every insurer, but premiums, models, deductibles and service differ. New arrivals should compare different models early. Important points include the deductible, family doctor model, telemedicine model and accident coverage.
If you are employed and work more than eight hours per week for the same employer, accident insurance is often covered through your employer. Clarify this before excluding accident coverage from your health insurance.
Even if three months sounds like plenty of time, the insurance applies retroactively from the start of residence, and premiums are due accordingly. It is worth dealing with this early.
Swiss bank account and euros: check multi-currency options
For salary payments, rent, health insurance and many contracts, a Swiss bank account is practical or even necessary. If you also deal with euros frequently, do not only look at account fees. Exchange rates and foreign currency fees matter too.
One interesting option is Alpian. According to Alpian, the account is free and offers a Swiss IBAN with four currencies: CHF, EUR, GBP and USD. This is especially useful if you regularly exchange euros and Swiss francs, receive payments in both currencies or want to keep money ready for travel and international payments.
The main advantage is the multi-currency account: you do not need to open a separate account for every currency. You can hold, exchange, receive and spend CHF, EUR, GBP and USD in one app. According to Alpian, exchange-rate markups for these major currencies are 0.2% on weekdays and 0.5% at weekends. For people with income, bills or family in the euro area, this can make a noticeable difference in everyday life.
Alpian is also more than a payment account. The app also includes saving, investing and Pillar 3a. Alpian says its investment mandates start from CHF 2,000, and its Pillar 3a is integrated as a digital pension solution using BlackRock funds. This can be interesting if you plan to stay in Switzerland longer and want to combine banking, currency exchange, retirement saving and investing in one app. As always, investment and pension decisions should fit your personal situation and involve risk.
Personal note: if you would like to try Alpian, you can use the code PCZBG7 when opening the account. According to the current Alpian referral programme, new clients receive CHF 25 after depositing CHF 500, plus CHF 75 in investment fee credits once they start investing. Check the conditions directly in the app or on the Alpian website before opening the account, as such offers can change.
App download: https://onelink.to/download-alpian
TWINT: almost essential in everyday life
In Switzerland, TWINT is used very often. TWINT is a payment app for smartphones and works at many checkouts, in online shops, for parking, at vending machines and between private individuals. If someone in Switzerland says “I’ll TWINT it to you”, they usually mean a quick phone-to-phone payment.
Many Swiss banks have their own TWINT app. If you do not yet have a Swiss bank account, TWINT Prepaid can be a temporary option. You top up credit instead of linking a bank account directly. Registration still requires personal details, a residential address and identity verification.
Our tip: set up TWINT once your Swiss phone number, address and banking setup are clear. In everyday life, it is often faster than card or cash, especially for small amounts, shared bills or payments between private people.
Personal liability and household contents insurance
Personal liability insurance is not always legally required in Switzerland, but it is highly sensible. It can cover damage you cause to other people or to property that belongs to someone else. In rental situations, it is especially relevant because damage to an apartment, furniture or the building can quickly become expensive.
Household contents insurance covers your own belongings, for example in the event of fire, water damage, burglary or theft. If you live in a furnished apartment, make a clear distinction: what belongs to you, what belongs to the apartment, what is covered by the landlord and what you are responsible for yourself?
For longer stays, a combined personal liability and household contents policy is often worth checking. Look at coverage, deductible, glass breakage, theft outside the home and whether furnished rental properties are sufficiently covered.
Mobile plan, address and official mail
A Swiss phone number makes many things easier: bank account, TWINT, delivery services, two-factor logins, doctor’s appointments and contact with authorities. For the start, prepaid or eSIM is often enough. If you stay longer, compare monthly subscriptions, roaming, cancellation terms and network coverage.
For a quick eSIM solution, Digital Republic can be interesting. According to the provider, the Flat Mobile Swiss subscription starts at CHF 13 per month, has no minimum contract term and includes unlimited data, calls and SMS in Switzerland. This is practical during the transition period; for longer stays, also compare roaming, network coverage and your actual usage.
Your official address is also important. Your name must be correctly displayed on the letterbox and often on the doorbell. Otherwise, important mail may not be delivered. This can include letters from the city, health insurer, bank, Serafe or insurance companies.
If you live temporarily in a furnished apartment, clarify whether and how your name can be added to the letterbox. For official registration and bank documents, a reliable delivery address is important.
Serafe: do not be surprised if a bill arrives later
Many newcomers are surprised by mail from Serafe. This is the Swiss radio and television fee per household. It generally applies per household and does not depend on whether you watch traditional television. The bill often arrives automatically after registration.
If you live in a shared apartment, stay only temporarily or are unsure whether someone in the household already pays, check the details carefully. If you have questions, it is better to contact Serafe or the property management directly than to ignore the bill.
First 30 days: a pragmatic order
Day 1 to 7: secure your accommodation, book your registration appointment if needed, set up SBB Mobile or ZVV, buy Zuri-Sacks and organise a reachable phone number.
Week 1 to 4: compare health insurers, open a Swiss bank account, set up TWINT and check personal liability and household contents insurance. If you are moving from abroad, keep residence and work documents in view.
After that: check Serafe, longer-term mobile or public transport subscriptions, letterbox and doorbell labels, insurance details and all contracts with cancellation periods. The sooner these things are properly set up, the calmer everyday life becomes.
Staying longer, starting easier
The start in Zurich is easier if you do not have to solve every topic at the same time. A furnished apartment can make the transition much smoother: furniture, kitchen, Wi-Fi, laundry and basic equipment are already there while you handle registration, banking, health insurance and other policies step by step.
Apartments Zurich is therefore especially useful for people who are newly arriving but do not want to organise a long-term apartment, furniture and all Swiss contracts at once.