Moving to Zurich — The Complete Expat Guide 2026

Moving to Zurich is one of the more paperwork-heavy relocations you can make in Europe, and one of the most rewarding once the boxes are ticked. Switzerland sits outside the EU but inside Schengen, so the rules that apply to you depend on your passport, your employer and whether your move is short-term secondment or a genuine relocation. Zurich itself is a compact, multilingual, high-income city where trams run on time, the lake is swimmable from June, and a two-bedroom flat in Kreis 4 can rent for what a whole house costs in most Australian capitals. This guide pulls together our continuing coverage for people planning a move to Zurich or settling in during their first year. We cover the practical mechanics — B and L permits, Anmeldung at the Kreisbüro, compulsory health insurance under KVG, the school choice between state and international, and the tax bill that lands once you are on the rolls — alongside the softer stuff: which Kreis suits your life, how to actually find a flat in a market where good listings vanish in a day, and where to meet people once you arrive. Start with the latest Zurich stories below, then use the topics list to dig into any single piece of the move.