Hi, looking for some advice from people who've been here longer.

I'm employed with a B permit until 2021. But I'm going on a 6-month work placement outside Switzerland this summer (my Swiss contract is still valid and continuing during this placement).

It doesn't make sense for me to continue renting my Swiss apartment for this 6 month period when I won't be in the country. But I'm concerned about the legalities/admin issues around having no fixed address in Switzerland.

From what I understand, my current address should always to be listed in my B permit; but what about when that current address is one outside Switzerland? Same goes for my health insurance and bank - both expect Swiss addresses, I think, but I won't have one for this 6 month period. And then there's the de-registrations/re-registration rules when moving communes (theoretically, when I return after the placement, I won't necessarily be renting an apartment in the same area as before, and I don't want there to be an issue here either).

I'm just confused about how best to handle this and what preparations to make before leaving for placement. I don't want to break any rules or make things difficult, but equally I'd like to avoid renting a Swiss apartment for 6 months just for the sake of having a 'base' here.

Has anyone done / dealt with anything similar? Any advice appreciated.

For your mail you can ask the post office to hold it for you until you get back.

Good to know, thanks! That would make the health insurance/bank issues easier to manage.

Still concerned about what to tell the Swiss officials re. my B permit when the address I have on there stops being my 'current address'. Technically I'll have moved house, but to one abroad...

You are better off sub letting you apartment and keeping the address. You must be back before 6 months.

Go talk to the migration office to be sure you do things correctly.

If the stay away is limited to 5 months and 27 days, your only problem is your mail. You can update your address when you return.
Migration office will probably say that the permit will be cancelled for a stay away of 6 months or more.
If the permit is cancelled though before you leave, then you don't have to pay health insurance.

Get your company to sort it out or at the very least, help you