How many days do you have to register with your municipality in Switzerland?
14 days in 25 of the 26 cantons, but 8 days in the canton of Vaud. The deadline runs from your arrival, not from your first day at work.
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The deadline in each of the 26 cantons
| Canton | Deadline | Where to register | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
 Aargau | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Appenzell Innerrhoden | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Basel-Landschaft | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Basel-Stadt | 14 days | Einwohneramt (residents’ office) of the canton of Basel-Stadt | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Bern | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Fribourg | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Geneva | 14 days | Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM) | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Glarus | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Grisons | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Jura | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Lucerne | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Neuchâtel | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Nidwalden | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Obwalden | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Schaffhausen | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Schwyz | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Solothurn | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 St. Gallen | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Thurgau | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Ticino | 14 days | Ufficio della migrazione (permit application) | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Uri | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Valais | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Vaud | 8 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Zug | 14 days | Amt für Migration (migration office) of the canton of Zug | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
 Zurich | 14 days | Residents’ registration office of your municipality | Source checked on 16 September 2026 |
Deadlines and authorities taken from the cantonal laws and websites in the Source column; most recent check on 16 September 2026.
Why the canton of Vaud is shorter
Cantonal deadline of 8 days, shorter than the 14 days set by federal law for EU/EFTA nationals.
Documents to bring
- Valid passport or ID card (every member of the household)
- Signed employment contract or confirmation of employment
- Tenancy agreement or proof of accommodation
- Civil status documents (marriage, children’s birth) depending on your situation
- Recent passport photo (often required)
Each municipality may ask for other documents: check its website before you go.
Who has to register
Registration is compulsory for any stay of more than 3 months; your spouse or partner and children are registered at the same time as you. It is the first step when you move: the confirmation the municipality gives you is then asked for in other steps, such as opening a bank account. Your arrival also starts the 3-month deadline for health insurance (Health insurance: start date).
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do I have to register with my municipality?
14 days in 25 cantons, 8 days in the canton of Vaud. The deadline counts from your arrival.
Does the deadline run from my arrival or from my first day at work?
From your arrival, meaning when you move into the municipality, even if your employment contract starts later.
Where do I register?
In most cantons, at your municipality’s residents’ registration office. Some cantons centralise registration, such as Geneva with the OCPM: the table shows the office in each canton.
What documents should I bring?
Valid passport or ID card (every member of the household); signed employment contract or confirmation of employment; tenancy agreement or proof of accommodation; civil status documents (marriage, children’s birth) depending on your situation; recent passport photo (often required). Each municipality may ask for other documents.