Anyone moving into an apartment or room in Zurich must register with the city within 14 days of moving in (registration obligation). The good news: as your landlord, we take care of part of this for you. What’s important to know is that registration consists of two separate steps – one is our responsibility, one is yours.
Overview: Who Does What?
| Step | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Move-in notification (Einzugsanzeige) | We as the landlord (using your details) | Reporting your move-in to the registration office |
| 2. Personal registration | You as the tenant | Online via eUmzugCH or in person with an appointment |
Both steps are required by law (Act on Registration and Population Registers, MERG). The move-in notification does not replace your personal registration – this is stated explicitly on the city’s official form.
Step 1: Send the Move-in Notification to Us
As your landlord, we are legally required to report your move-in to the City of Zurich within 14 days. To allow us to do this for you, please proceed as follows:
- Download the City of Zurich move-in notification form (PDF, in German).
- Fill in the form completely: move-in date, surname, first name, date of birth, marital status, place of origin or nationality, profession, employer and your contact details. Tick whether you are an apartment tenant (“Wohnungsmieter/in”), room tenant (“Zimmermieter/in”) or subtenant (“Untermieter/in”). If anything is unclear, we are happy to help with the German terms.
- Send the completed form by e-mail to einzugsanzeige@apartments.zuerich.
We then add the landlord’s details (official apartment number, address, signature) and submit the move-in notification to the City of Zurich registration office (Personenmeldeamt). You will receive a confirmation from us once this is done.
Step 2: Your Personal Registration with the City
In addition to the move-in notification, you must register yourself within 14 days with the City of Zurich. How this works depends on where you are moving from:
Moving from Another Swiss Municipality
- First, deregister with your previous municipality of residence – without deregistering there, you cannot register in Zurich.
- The easiest way to register is online via eUmzugCH – conveniently from home, no appointment needed. You can also re-register family members and, if needed, obtain a provisional parking permit at the same time.
- Alternatively, register in person at the registration office: since May 2026, an appointment is mandatory. Book your appointment via the City of Zurich move-in page.
What you need: passport or identity card, rental or sublease agreement (you will receive this from us), health insurance card and a fee of CHF 40 per adult. Foreign nationals additionally: residence permit (if available) and civil status documents.
Moving from Abroad
- Registration takes place in person at the Personenmeldeamt Zürich Süd registration office – and only with an appointment. Book your appointment via the City of Zurich move-in page.
- For families, all family members must appear in person at the appointment.
What you need: passport (for EU/EFTA nationals, an identity card is sufficient), rental or sublease agreement, confirmation of residence permit or visa authorisation (if available), civil status documents (marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates), health insurance card, plus a fee of CHF 40 and immigration office fees depending on the type of permit.
Deadlines and Costs at a Glance
- Deadline: 14 days from the actual move-in date – both for the move-in notification (our duty) and your personal registration (your duty). Registration before moving in is not possible.
- Costs: CHF 40 per adult; foreign nationals additionally pay immigration office fees.
- If you miss the deadline, additional fees and fines may apply – for tenants as well as landlords.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m only staying a few weeks – do I need to register? If you are staying as a tourist or business traveller without moving your residence to Zurich, you do not need to register. However, as soon as you take up residence (e.g. for a long-term stay or when starting a job), the registration obligation applies. If in doubt, ask us or contact the registration office directly.
I’m keeping my main residence elsewhere (weekly resident)? A secondary residence or weekly stay (“Wochenaufenthalt”) in Zurich must also be registered. The city explains the details on its website.
Where do I get the rental agreement for registration? You will receive the rental or sublease agreement from us at the latest when you move in. If you need it again for registration, just drop us a line.
Questions about the process? Write to us at einzugsanzeige@apartments.zuerich – we are happy to help.
As of June 2026. The current requirements of the City of Zurich are authoritative.