Leaving Switzerland? Here are 10 things you need to do before you go

All journeys come to an end, and if you're facing the end of your time living in Switzerland then you're also facing a mountain of admin. Moving countries is never a small task, but it can be made manageable with careful planning.

Here is a list to help you get organised and feeling ready to leave. It's not all chores either - you've got to make time to enjoy your last few months here!

1. Cancel your subscriptions and contracts

The world runs on automatic payments and renewals, so make sure you are on top of what contracts you need to terminate before leaving Switzerland. If you're going to close your bank account, you need to be sure no one is going to try to take any more money from it.

The best way to approach this is to go through your last 12 months of bank statements (fun, right?) and make a note of every automatic debit that appears. That gives you the list of everything that needs to be cancelled.

The earlier you start this, the better, as some contracts will have long notice periods, and no one likes paying for a service they can't use.

The most common things to cancel are:

• Insurance: Health, personal and contents or building
• Internet, phone and streaming services
• Gym memberships
• Public transport cards
• Utilities: Gas, water and electricity

3. Deregister with the Gemeinde

When you moved to Switzerland, you needed to register with your local commune. Now that you're leaving, you need to deregister with them. You can do this from 30 days prior to your departure, and you normally need to visit the administration office where you registered.

Your local Gemeinde will confirm exactly what you need in order to deregister, but usually you will need to take:

• Your passport (for EU/EFTA nationals, an identity card is also sufficient)
• Foreigner's ID card (if available)
• Confirmation of registration/receipt of documents (if available)
• 20 Swiss francs for a deregistration confirmation

4. Settle your taxes

A final tango with the Swiss tax authorities will be required before you leave. Often, your local Gemeinde will notify the tax office of your imminent departure, but sometimes you may need to contact them directly yourself. You'll need to file a final tax return, so make sure you keep documents relating to your ingoings and outgoings to hand.

Once this is all settled, you will be issued a tax clearance certificate, which confirms that you have settled your recent residence tax obligations. Of course, if you intend to continue to hold assets within Switzerland, taxes may still be due in future years. It's important to consult with a tax specialist in such cases.

5. Close your bank account

Once you're sure that no more payments will be made into or out of your Swiss bank account, you can close it. It's important to already have a new bank account set up in your next location in order to transfer over your balance. For this reason, and for those final income payments that can take time to arrive, many expats choose to keep their Swiss bank account for at least a few months after moving.

Most bank account providers will let you do this, although they may charge you additional non-resident fees to do so, so talk to your bank well in advance in case you want to change to a bank that will let you keep hold of your account.

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6. Check your pension and social security contributions

If you've been working in Switzerland, find out what the options are for your pension. While AHV/AVS can't be transferred to another country, that might be possible for second and third pillar pensions. 

You need to take a look at what you have accrued, consider any costs involved with moving the money out of Switzerland, and decide whether to keep it where it is or try to take it with you.

7. Sort through your belongings

Moving is always a great chance for a clearout. Do you have stuff that you've barely touched since you arrived in the country? Then seriously consider whether you really want to go to the effort of packing it, shipping it and then finding a place for it in your new home.

The same goes for Swiss-specific items. Will you need such warm winter clothing in your new country, or that winter sports equipment? You can sell furniture and items via Anibis.ch or Facebook groups, or donate to local charities like Caritas or Emmaüs.

8. Have one last Swiss hurrah

Can you remember all the things you were excited about experiencing when you first moved to Switzerland? Have you had the chance to do them all? Take this opportunity to Swiss-out, as it were. Take a final panoramic train journey through the mountains, share fondue with friends, or go for a final hike through the Lavaux vineyards or the peaks of Zermatt.

Taking plenty of photos is a great way to help you remember what you loved about your time here. These don't have to be of the big things either; there are plenty of pictures of the Matterhorn available online, but there probably isn't one of your favourite bakery or the view from that park bench you loved to sit on.

9. Host a goodbye gathering

Don't forget about the people while you're dealing with the paperwork. Say tschüss with style. Invite your local friends, coworkers, and neighbours for an apero or dinner. It’s a chance to thank them and to exchange contact details before you go.

10. Reflect and plan ahead

Take a moment to reflect on what you've learned, what you’ll miss, and what you’re excited about. Then, make a plan and a budget for your arrival in your next country. A smooth landing begins with a thoughtful departure.

Leaving Switzerland doesn’t have to be stressful. With a bit of planning, your farewell can be as rewarding as your time here.