Hello all,

I'm planning to start working in Zurich soon (first week of August) and haven't organized housing yet (for various reasons, basically because there's been no time). I'm from England - so, as I understand it, before I start work, I need to go to a local office and apply for a residence permit.

I suspect I won't be able to find a good apartment to move into before I start, although I'll obviously try. So my question is: do I need to have signed a lease contract before then in order to apply for the residence permit? For example, would I still be able to apply for the permit and begin working while staying in a hotel initially?

Hopefully this question makes sense and hasn't been addressed elsewhere. Any help and/or suggested solutions to this problem would be appreciated!

Just give them your hotel or office address. Ask them which the prefer. Maybe both. Then when you change addresses you'll need to tell them.

An office address won't be accepted unless there are registered apartments there.

No. But sometimes they want it to send correspondence to.

Wouldn't they want to send things to where you live, rather than where you work?

Not necessarily. When I was working in relocation, more than once they used the business address for correspondence. Anyway, that is why I told the OP to ask the commune which they want. I'll bet they take both the addresses. He may even be asked for his work contract which will have the work address on it.

The point however is that he can and should register with a hotel, hostel, friend's house, wherever he is living and then change the address when he moves.

When I came to Switzerland, I stayed in a hotel for a week. Gave my friend's address to the Canton while registration (they need a letter from your friend saying he/she is ok with you using his/her address). Once you get a place on rent, you have to go to the Canton again and ask for change of address.

As for everything in Switzerland, each of these trips to the Canton costs money

Thanks everyone - I suppose I'll give them both the hotel and office address, and request they send correspondence to the office. Glad that I shouldn't have to worry about this part - just finding an apartment sounds like it will be a formidable task!