The move is complete, the boxes are unpacked, and you’ve settled into your new home. Congratulations! But an important step remains: your new address must be communicated to all important parties. Anyone who thinks it’s enough to just inform friends and family is mistaken. An incomplete address change can lead to missed mail, unnecessary fees, or even legal problems. With this checklist, you can ensure that your new address is correctly stored everywhere.
1. The “Must-Inform-Immediately” List: Authorities and Offices
These entities have top priority, as deadlines must be met here and important documents are affected.
- Resident Services / Municipal Administration: In Switzerland, registration in the new municipality of residence (and deregistration in the old one) is legally required, usually within 14 days of the move. Where possible, use the eUmzug Switzerland service or your municipality’s online counter for this.
- Road Traffic Office: If you change cantons, your vehicle must be re-registered within 14 days. You will receive new license plates in the process. Even within the same canton, changing the address on your vehicle registration document is mandatory.
- Health Insurance: Inform your health insurance company immediately. Premiums can vary by canton and municipality, and you generally have a deadline (often 3 months) to adjust or change your policy.
- Tax Office: Your new municipality is usually informed automatically once you have re-registered. However, check if you need to take active steps if you changed cantons during the year (keyword: influx principle).
- Employer: Indispensable for payroll and contact.
2. Finances and Contracts: For Smooth Processes
These entities ensure that your finances and contracts continue to run correctly.
- Banks / PostFinance: Inform all banks where you hold accounts or deposits.
- Insurances (excluding health insurance): Household insurance, liability insurance, life insurance, car insurance, etc. – the address must be up-to-date everywhere.
- Pension institutions (pension fund, 3rd pillar): Important for your retirement provisions.
- Credit card companies: So that statements and new cards are delivered correctly.
- Telecommunications providers (Internet, phone, TV): Clarify the transfer or new registration of your services. Confirm the new connection.
- Electricity, gas, water suppliers: Inform the providers at both the old and new addresses about meter readings and your move.
- Billag / Serafe (formerly Billag): For radio and television fees. Address changes can often be made online.
- Ongoing financing / Leasing contracts: Inform the providers about your new address.
3. Everyday and Personal: Don’t Lose Mail, Maintain Contacts
This category ensures that your daily life continues smoothly and that you remain reachable.
- Friends and Family: Most important for your loved ones! Send a moving card, an email, or a message via social media.
- Doctors, Dentists, Therapists: Inform your current doctors and, if necessary, have documents forwarded to your new doctor if you are changing.
- Pharmacies: For medication deliveries or prescriptions.
- Schools / Kindergartens / Daycare Centers: In addition to deregistration and registration, direct contact with the respective institution is also important.
- Associations and Clubs: For memberships and communication.
- Newspaper and magazine subscriptions: So that you continue to receive your favorite reading material.
- Online shops and delivery services: Update your delivery addresses in all online accounts you use (Amazon, Zalando, food delivery services, etc.).
- Favorite restaurants / shops (with loyalty cards): If you use loyalty cards or regular customer programs.
- Post mail forwarding service: Even if you have informed all parties, a mail forwarding order from the Post for the first 6-12 months is a good safeguard in case someone was forgotten.
Options for Digital Notifications: Fast and Efficient
The digital age makes address change management much easier:
- Email distribution list: Create a professional email with your new address and send it to friends, family, and acquaintances.
- Social Media: A post on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn can reach many friends and acquaintances simultaneously.
- Online customer portals: Many service providers offer the option to change your address directly in the customer login. Use this option to save time.
- Digital signature/scanner: If you need to submit documents, use a scanner or a scanner app to create digital copies.
- QR codes on moving cards: For tech-savvy friends, you can print a QR code on your moving card that leads directly to a website with your new address or contact details.
Informing about your new address is the last big step to fully complete your move. Take the time for this task and proceed systematically. A well-thought-out list and the use of digital helpers will save you a lot of trouble and ensure that you are fully connected in your new home from the start.