I've read as many threads as possible but need some clarification on one thing.

I went to the Police station today at Clarastrasse to get a residence permit so i can park outside my apartment in Basle. They told me i had to first register the car at Zoll Schweizer Weil-am-Rhein.

Has anyone who lives in Basle done this and know the procedure?

I could simply get in a taxi from Novartis campus at lunchtime and go up there but i'm not sure if there is any process (don't want to turn up and have a wasted journey etc).

I'm at Novartis for 4mths and i brought my UK registered RH drive car over to simply bring all my clothes and personal effects for my flat. So i do not intend to eventually get Swiss plates etc.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Regards

Selina

Did you tell the Police, that you are only here for 4 months?

no i did not tell the police - the person i saw was on a German speaker and i do not speak German. Though i suspect that they could see that info from the work permit document i showed her.

I hope you don`t mind me saying, It`s best to the explain situation clearly to the local authorites such as the police, thus not causing you to run around in circles.

Guess what OP, you are expected to tell customs/police/council you're here for more than 3 months (90 days) and therefore register as a temporary Swiss resident, they'll then expect you to import as a migrant resident even temporarily your effects including your car (even if for less than one year in total).

Then if you're story doesn't match between the Police, Council and Customs ....expect fines. They communicate with each other (with your passport number as reference).

The critical question is are you staying more than 3 months but less than a year?

If so then you can import your UK car for a year and keep your UK license, insurance, tax, MOT, emissions etc but you must fill out a form @ customs and get an exemption. Otherwise they'll apply CH rules and you'll start getting invoices and compliance notices under local rules.

Did you get a receipt of your application for a residence permit when you went to the Police/Gemeinde? You'll need a copy of this to re-import your car legally once registered. The clock will then start from this date. Under exceptional circumstances it's possible to extend the waiver for the vehicle for up to 2 years and keep UK plates, MOT etc.

However you will need a Swiss motorway vignette to drive on the motorway each year regardless. In addition you'll need to exchange your EU license for a Swiss one before being here a year to be allowed to continue to drive. (If you think that's bad you would only have 6 months in Germany moving there from here).

The exception is if you're working for a special status employer like the BIS, UN etc. where you don't qualify as a full resident in any case and therefore have a special i permit (eg Li, Bi, Ci).

Go to www.ch.ch for more info in english. www.bs.ch has some english info too for new arrivals.

i've literally just made the first enquiry as per my original message to the police to inform them i want a resident parking permit.

In her broken English the official informed me that the UK car needs to be registered first at the border control (Zoll). Then i was to come back to the police station with whatever paperwork the Zoll place give me. Then i can apply for parking permit.

If you are here working for Novartis, they should be able to help you out here I would have thought. Should save you a lot of bother. Novartis have a number of people (through Crown Relocation) that help employees settle in. They would have sorted out your temporary residence permit, surely? If so, go back to them and explain the situation and see if they can help you.

This is the correct and proper procedure (although there is nothing to stop you ignoring it and just driving around). You register your car at the border, and for a fee of CHF 25 they will give you a document which you can flash around for things like parking permits etc.. Then when you leave Switzerland with your car, hand the document back in at the border and they will make a note of your exit date.

Thank you everyone this has enlightened me more on the process to follow.

To one of the responders. I'm working only as a contractor at Novartis so not officially employed by them but i do take your point and i could contact the who is handling my contract with Novartis.

I'll head up to the Zoll and just register the car.

Thank you. You have all been very kind.

Regards

Selina

I think the form you require is 15.4. I had a UK car in Basel back in the day when I was originally only staying for a few months. The customs guys at the St. Louis border said I didn't need one for such short stays, but I said I needed a parking permit. It was about 20 francs.

I got the 15.4 form and took it back to the Clarastrasse police station. They then made a copy of my V5 Log Book (they were surprised how big it was compared to their Fahrzeugausweis books) and then issued me with the usual blue parking permit with my UK registration number printed on it. Don't forget it only works in blue zones in your postcode.

Now big brother knows where you live (or at least who owns your car)!

it cost me 90CHF to get permit today, 60CHF for permit and 20CHF as i have UK no plates!