Post in Switzerland

The national postal service of Switzerland, Swiss Post, is a fully state-owned company that has been operating since 1849. The postal service in Switzerland is highly efficient and effective in transporting packages and letters. Here's what you need to know about post in Switzerland.

Who runs the post office in Switzerland?

Swiss Post is a company controlled by the government that is responsible for the delivery of letters and packages throughout Switzerland. Although other delivery companies do exist in Switzerland, the majority of personal packages and letters are sent through the national system.

Alongside postage, Swiss Post has also branched out into several other services, operating some public transport in rural areas, as well as banking.

How to find your nearest post office

With over 2.000 branches in all cantons of Switzerland, the post office network is always close by. These branches typically operate between 8am to 12pm then 2pm to 6pm and will be able to help you with sending letters and parcels. You can find your nearest post office here.

Postboxes

If you have already bought stamps from your local post office, you can use the several thousand postboxes scattered throughout Switzerland to send letters. Postboxes are usually emptied twice a day, with the time post is picked up listed on the front of the box. Postboxes can only take letters, although packages can be delivered in several choice locations, typically within the cities of Switzerland.

Your personal postbox

Finally, every type of housing in Switzerland is given a personal postbox. These boxes have two sections: a slot used for letters and a larger container below for small packages. You may have to specify whether you want to have your package delivered to the postbox or your front door, as the package door cannot usually be locked securely.

How to avoid advertisements in my postbox in Switzerland

It can be annoying to receive spam post or advertisements through your letterbox. By law, anyone can post any sort of advertising document to you if there is no sign requesting otherwise. Therefore, most Swiss put a decorative message on the front of their letterbox in order to avoid this type of post. Some of the most common labels that can stop unnecessary letters are:

• Kein Rückgabe
• Kein Bewerbung

Sending a letter in Switzerland

If you need to send a letter to work, the bank or a member of your family, it is important to know how to send a letter in Switzerland and how much postage costs. Post in Switzerland is reliable and will be able to send your letter quickly, if it is addressed correctly.

Swiss address format

Due to the number of similar-sounding places in Switzerland, it is vital that you include all the information on the front of the letter. Usually, people tend to put the address of the recipient on the top left of the letter, with the stamp on the right. The Swiss address format you should use for your letter is:

• Full name
• Street name and house number
• Postcode (PLZ) and name of town or city
• Canton
• Switzerland

An example address could be:

• Katrin Burgermeister
• Oberbergstrasse 1
• 8124 Maur
• Zurich
• Switzerland

Ocassionally, Strasse (street) is abbreviated to Str.

Postage cost for a postcard or letter within Switzerland

The cost of sending a postcard or letter within Switzerland is as follows:

Max dimensions (cm)	Max weight (g)	Cost (Swiss francs)
17.6 x 25 x 2	100	1
17.6 x 25 x 2	500	1,40
25 x 35.5 x 2	1.000	2

Sending packages in Switzerland

Swiss Post also offers a parcel sending service. Sending a parcel domestically is charged by its size and overall weight. If you already know the size and weight of what you are posting, it is normally cheaper to purchase the appropriate stamps online, although you will still have to drop the package off at your local post office.

Price of sending a parcel within Switzerland

The cost of sending a parcel within Switzerland is as follows:

Max dimensions (cm)	Max weight (g)	Cost (Swiss francs)
17.6 x 25 x 5	100	3
17.6 x 25 x 5	500	3,40
100 x 60 x 60	2.000	8,50
100 x 60 x 60	10.000	11,50
100 x 60 x 60	30.000	20,50
Large or Bulky items	30.000	49,50

International post

The cost of sending a letter or parcel abroad depends largely on how far the package has to travel. There is no standard price for European post and international post, with the price changing per destination. You can find out how much sending your letter or parcel will cost using the official postage cost calculator.

Secure postage

As well as regular stamps and parcels, Swiss Post also offers a system of secure postage. This is where post or parcels are tracked during transit and the letter or package has to be signed for at the end destination. This can be useful for high-value packages or personal letters. Normally, these services cost an extra 5 to 50 Swiss francs.

Fast parcel and letter delivery in Switzerland

If you need your parcel or letter to reach its destination quickly, Swiss Post offers a system of next day and fast delivery services. These services will ensure that your mail will arrive within the desired timeframe. The availability of these offers is determined by the type of package you are sending and where you are sending it to. Some of the main services provided are:

• Same-day delivery for letters (60-600 Swiss francs) and parcels (100-1.000 Swiss francs).
• Two to three working day delivery for letters (8-300 Swiss francs) and parcels (50-1.000 Swiss francs).

Do you have to pay customs tax on packages going to Switzerland?

Much like importing a vehicle, any package or letter that arrives in Switzerland that contains a valued good that is not yet in your possession is taxed accordingly. This is important to know as, due to Swiss taxes, some goods purchased from abroad may cost more when shipped to Switzerland.

It is always important to check with your seller whether this cost is included in the stated price. The majority of packages to Switzerland with a value of 65 Swiss francs or more are charged VAT at 8,1 percent of the package's value.