Second path · Switzerland
How does moving to Switzerland as an IT professional work?
In short
With a passport from an EU country, you enter without a visa. With an employment contract of at least one year or unlimited, you receive the B residence permit for five years. You register with your municipality within 14 days of arrival, before your first working day. You take out health insurance yourself, no later than three months after moving. It is charged per person, not by salary.
Sources: SEM, entry without a visa, SEM, permit B EU/EFTA, SEM, FAQ on free movement, FOPH, compulsory insurance
after arrival: the deadline for registering with your municipality, before your first working day.
Bring an identity card or passport and a written confirmation of employment from your employer.
Source: SEM, FAQ on free movement, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
What applies to EU citizens
- Permit: with an employment contract of at least 365 days or unlimited, you receive the B residence permit. It is valid for five years and is extended by five years if the conditions are still met (State Secretariat for Migration).
- Registration: within 14 days of arrival and before starting the job, with your municipality of residence (State Secretariat for Migration).
- Health insurance: compulsory for everyone resident in Switzerland, no later than three months after moving. You choose the insurer freely. If you are late, you pay a premium surcharge (Federal Office of Public Health).
- Taxes: without a C settlement permit and without a Swiss passport, you pay withholding tax, which your employer deducts from your salary. From CHF 120,000 gross salary a year, the canton of Zurich adds a subsequent ordinary assessment (Cantonal Tax Office Zurich).
The calculation for Zurich
| Gross salary | 100,000 |
|---|---|
| AHV, IV and EO (old age, disability, income compensation), your share | minus 5,300 |
| Unemployment insurance, your share | minus 1,100 |
| Pension fund, legal minimum, your share | minus 2,249 |
| Withholding tax, tariff A0N | minus 9,482 |
| Net | 81,869, on average about 6,822 per month |
| Rent for a two-room flat, twelve months | minus 17,088 to 19,860 |
| Health insurance, average adult premium, twelve months | minus 5,584 |
| Left after rent and health insurance | 56,426 to 59,198 |
Calculated on 26 October 2026 with the IseeIT comparison calculator: age 30, single, no children, no church tax. The rent starts at the median of existing tenancies in the city of Zurich, CHF 1,424 net per month (reference date 1 April 2024). New contracts are usually more expensive. Health insurance is the average adult premium for 2026 across Switzerland, CHF 465.30 per month. Open this calculation in the comparison calculator.
Three views of this station
IT professional
“Is Switzerland still worth it once rent and health insurance are paid?”
What helps: Your own calculation in the comparison calculator, with Zurich, Basel or Lausanne and your offer.
Partner
“And health insurance for me and the children?”
What helps: In Switzerland every person is insured individually, children included, and the premium is per person. There is no contribution-free family cover like in German statutory health insurance.
Company
“Can our new team member start on day one?”
What helps: Yes, if the registration with the municipality is done beforehand. For that, they need your written confirmation of employment.
How we work at this station
- For you
- Candidates are introduced to Swiss employers through SECO-licensed recruitment agencies in Switzerland. We prepare you, forward your application and remain your point of contact.
- Cost
- Free for you. Always.
Not in our hands: The canton grants the permit, and the employer decides on hiring.
How does moving to Germany as an IT professional work?
Calculate your own path
With your city and your salary: comparison calculator. Talk your path through with us: write to us. Who we are: home page.
Sources
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), entry without a visa, last changed 09/01/2026, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- SEM, permit B EU/EFTA (residence permit), last changed 01/01/2022, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- SEM, FAQ on free movement for EU/EFTA citizens, last changed 06/07/2026, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), health insurance: compulsory insurance for persons resident in Switzerland (Art. 3 KVG), retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- Cantonal Tax Office Zurich, persons subject to withholding tax (valid for payments due from 1 January 2026), retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- IseeIT comparison calculator, Zurich example, CHF 100,000 gross, age 30, two rooms, calculated on 26 October 2026, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- City of Zurich, statistics: rents 2024, median two-room flat CHF 1,424 net per month, reference date 1 April 2024, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- FOPH, media release of 23 September 2025: premiums 2026, average adult premium CHF 465.30 per month, retrieved on 26 October 2026.