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Together In Switzerland

All Things Swiss

Relocating To Switzerland: What To Bring With You

Zoe| Expat

Relocating anywhere can be a little daunting with everything you need to take, which is why we have come up with a guide to help with what you need when relocating to Switzerland. From practical items like medicine to sentimental items like your childhood teddy, everything can be important. However other items like household goods can be left behind, sold or given to charity, since it will be must easier to relocate without them.

If you are wondering how to move to Switzerland permanently, you may also want to check our other post on how we personally did it. But for here, we want to focus on the packing and moving items aspect!

Relocating To Switzerland: Required Items

We’ve summarised what required items is best to relocate with in to 4 main categories; practical items, sentimental items, clothing and shoes, and documents.

1. Practical Items

For practical items, these are items that you or others may need on a short term basis like in your first week onwards. Of course this should include items that you may use also on a daily basis, such as medicine or your phone charger.

Other practical items can include:

  • medicine (for you or your pets)
  • all necessary electronics + chargers
  • plug adapter
  • toiletries/make up
  • study/language books
  • the Switzerland lonely planet guide
  • Swiss currency
Moving to Switzerland with practical items (sunglasses, toiletries, phone charger)

2. Sentimental Items

Items that are sentimental to you should definitely be brought with you when relocating to Switzerland. These items are already cherished items that mean dearly to you, so they do not need to be left behind.

Some sentimental items that you may have are:

  • personal souvenirs from past travels
  • house accessories
  • photographs
  • gifts you’ve received from friends or family
  • some childhood books
  • your pet’s favourite toys
book, photos and souvenirs (sentimental items) that you should move to Switzerland with

3. Clothing and shoes

Clothes and shoes are pretty important to take with you, since you will of course need these also in Switzerland. However keep in mind that you do not need all of your clothes that you own. When relocating, it’s the best time to have full clean out of what clothes you actually use, items you may use still depending on the seasons and items that you wont need any more if they do not fit.

Keep in mind the following:

  • summer/winter clothes
  • swimwear
  • your favourite items
  • fitness clothes
  • timeless but practical clothing items

If you want more information on relocating to Switzerland, check our personal experiences on these other blogposts:

‘Moving To Switzerland in 2022: Everything You Need To Know‘

‘Crossing The German To Swiss Border Customs: Our Personal Experience‘

pink dress, hat, sunglasses and shoes

4. Documents

For relocating to Switzerland, it will be very important to bring all your important and valid documents. This can be for yourself, but also copies of these for all of those joining you too, including documentation for your pets. Keep in mind that you may also have to get legally translated, certified copies of certain documents too based on the Swiss canton that you will be moving to.

Documentation for your relocation:

  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate
  • passport / ID card
  • Swiss contract
  • drivers license
  • visa (if applicable)
  • pet passport
  • vaccination book

Top Tip: We recommend that you use a filing organiser for all your documents, which can be easy to keep in a backpack when crossing the border controls and keeping with you if relocating by flying.

passports, sunglasses, money and a Swiss tour guide book

Relocating To Switzerland: items to sell Or Donate

So if you have the space and money for transportation, you can of course take a bit of everything that you own. However for those who don’t wish to take too much with them.

We can advise to not bring the following items:

  • books
  • furniture
  • plants
  • food and drink
  • unwanted clothes

These are simply best not to bring as it does cost more with more items that you bring. If you have large furniture such as beds or wardrobes, it might work out cheaper to leave these behind and buy new or 2nd hand ones when you arrive instead. For food, drinks and plants, its worth also checking what you can officially bring, since there are also import rules for these.

We can highly recommend selling or donating any items you do not wish to bring, which will then help others as well. Most cities and locations have a selling group on Facebook for quick sales, else to use some local websites that allow you to sell items too. For donating, most 2nd hand and charity shops allow you drop items off daily, but some can even offer pick up for larger items too.

Relocating To Switzerland: Final Tips

For your move to Switzerland, we wanted to finalise this post with some final tips that we believe help best to make it a smooth process.

  • Make sure all documents (such as passport and driving licence) are valid and not expiring as soon as you get there, as it might be best to renew before you leave.
  • Sort as much as you can in advance > This is best if you wish to sell items before you leave, as it gives you plenty of time to sell and also send the items to the buyers.
  • Make lists to stay organised > Whether its a to do list, list of inventory items, list of items to donate or a list of food you wish to eat before leaving, staying organised is best!
Relocating to Switzerland list of what you need to bring with you!
Relocating to Switzerland list of what you need to bring with you!
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Ciao, I’m Zoe!

Zoe Together In Switzerland

I’m a native Brit-turned-Dutch expat living in Ticino, Switzerland with my boyfriend and kitty cat since 2022.

Our site highlights our most fun adventures and experiences while exploring local life in Switzerland.

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Let's start the Weeeeeekend ♡ We have no plans Let's start the Weeeeeekend ♡ 
We have no plans yet, but a boat ride is always a lovely idea ☀️
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.#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #lakelugano #montesansalvatore #summerinlugano #summervibesonly #sᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ2023
All aboard! Exploring the world, one train ride at All aboard! Exploring the world, one train ride at a time... 🚂
We notice how much more touristic Lugano is becoming in the last few weeks, with the local tourist trains looking packed every time we see it!! 😬
We've not been on it ourselves, but it does seem like an easy, fun way to see the city while visiting for a day or weekend 🇨🇭
Have you been on it while visiting? ✌️
📍 Lugano, Switzerland 
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.#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #lakelugano  #summerinlugano #summervibesonly #summer2023☀️
Our month of May in 18 shots ❤️ We did so mu Our month of May in 18 shots ❤️ 
We did so much in May that I don't know how we did it 😅
To sum it up we...
- picked up our new car 🚗
- stayed in a wooden tiny home 
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- explored Viamala gorge 🌿
- drove 3 scenic Switzerland passes
- saw a huge rainbow 🌈
- dipped our toes in the lake
- explored new Ticino locations (Sonogno!) 🏠
- drank too many Aperol spritz to remember 🍹
- visited 3 waterfalls 💦
So grateful for living in Switzerland ❤️🇨🇭
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.#ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #swissexplorers #switzerlandcolors #switzerlandtourism #myswitzerland🇨🇭 #switzerlandmylove #visitswitzerland
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We're not used to every day being more than 20°c with storms in the evenings! ⚡
A good sign that hot summer days are coming! 
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We stopped here for a walk and lunch one day, which was already touristic for May, but still lovely. 
Restaurant tip: Albergo del Sole Ristorante Pizzeria 🍕
We went by car to Monza first for a car event. Then we drove back via Varenna and took the boat. It was very convenient back to Menaggio and then a 40minute drive back to Lugano. 🚘
We'll definitely return one day as you can visit the botanical gardens at Villa Monastero 🦋🌿
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#lakecomoitaly🇮🇹 #varennaitaly #varennalakecomo #lakecomolife #lakecomophotographer #lakecomoholidays #italia_super_pics #comolaketoday #togetherinswitzerland #varennaturismo #roadtripcouple #italyroadtrip #lakecomotravel
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.#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #lakelugano #montebre #hikinginswitzerland
Let's start the Weeeeeekend ♡ We have no plans Let's start the Weeeeeekend ♡ 
We have no plans yet, but a boat ride is always a lovely idea ☀️
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.#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #lakelugano #montesansalvatore #summerinlugano #summervibesonly #sᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ2023
Our month of May in 18 shots ❤️ We did so mu Our month of May in 18 shots ❤️ 
We did so much in May that I don't know how we did it 😅
To sum it up we...
- picked up our new car 🚗
- stayed in a wooden tiny home 
- visited 2 car shows (one in 🇩🇪 and one in 🇮🇹)
- explored Viamala gorge 🌿
- drove 3 scenic Switzerland passes
- saw a huge rainbow 🌈
- dipped our toes in the lake
- explored new Ticino locations (Sonogno!) 🏠
- drank too many Aperol spritz to remember 🍹
- visited 3 waterfalls 💦
So grateful for living in Switzerland ❤️🇨🇭
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.#ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #swissexplorers #switzerlandcolors #switzerlandtourism #myswitzerland🇨🇭 #switzerlandmylove #visitswitzerland
Rainy azalea flowers at Parco Ciani 🌸 📍 Lug Rainy azalea flowers at Parco Ciani 🌸
📍 Lugano, Switzerland 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #azaleas #azaleasinbloom #parcociani #parcocianilugano
Varenna 🇮🇹 A pretty little pitstop on Lake C Varenna 🇮🇹 A pretty little pitstop on Lake Como! 
We stopped here for a walk and lunch one day, which was already touristic for May, but still lovely. 
Restaurant tip: Albergo del Sole Ristorante Pizzeria 🍕
We went by car to Monza first for a car event. Then we drove back via Varenna and took the boat. It was very convenient back to Menaggio and then a 40minute drive back to Lugano. 🚘
We'll definitely return one day as you can visit the botanical gardens at Villa Monastero 🦋🌿
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#lakecomoitaly🇮🇹 #varennaitaly #varennalakecomo #lakecomolife #lakecomophotographer #lakecomoholidays #italia_super_pics #comolaketoday #togetherinswitzerland #varennaturismo #roadtripcouple #italyroadtrip #lakecomotravel
Walk with me in the rain 🌧️ . . . . . . . . . Walk with me in the rain 🌧️
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #rainymood☔️
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin
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We're excited to work less this week, with a long weekend ahead for a road trip! 🚘
I'll also be editing lots of our recent photos and videos, writing new blogposts and at one point probably eating pizza! 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganoregion #luganomycity  #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino  #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin

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