Immigration without a visa
Citizens from EU/EFTA countries
If you are a citizen of an EU/EFTA country, you do not need to do anything special before entering Switzerland.
However, you are obliged to register with the Residence Registration Office («Einwohnerkontrolle») at your new place of residence within 14 days of your arrival in Switzerland and to apply for a residence permit.
Citizens from:
Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK
If you meet the above mentioned requirements you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. In principle, you are allowed to enter Switzerland and apply for your residence permit at your new place of residence within 14 days of your arrival.
However, for the Canton of Zurich, it is recommended that you apply for an assurance of the residence permit ("Zusicherung zur Aufenthaltsbewilligung") 2-3 months before the expected date of entry. Submit the same documents as students with a visa requirement (but instead of the visa form, submit the external page application for an entry permit, 1st page) via the external page contact form.
If you meet the above mentioned requirements you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. However, for the Canton of Basel-Stadt an assurance of residence permit (Zusicherung zur Aufenthaltsbewilligung) must be applied for 2-3 months before the estimated entry date.
Submit the external page listed documents (under section "Submission of an application") in one PDF via external page contact form (only available in German).
Please note: The information on this page is meant for information purposes only. No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. The rules and regulations may have changed in the meantime. For legally binding information please contact the website of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration or ask at the Swiss diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) at your place of residence.