I will be arriving in January. I'm wondering what documents I will have to present when registering at the Gemeinde. Obviously, my passport with stamped entry visa, work contract. Will I have to show my marriage certificate and my child's birth certificate (husband and child to arrive a couple of months later)? Anything else? I'd like to be as well prepared as I can be, as the international move is stressful enough as it is.

As you are Non-EU, check with the gemeinde as to whether a certified translation of your marriage certificate is required. This may have an impact on your tax status and definately for your spouses dependant permit.

In our case we have a Thai certificate (we are both UK citizens) and they had a problem with it (but didn't communicate it) even though we had a certified translation. As a result Mama G was taxed as single for 20 months, and we didn't know there was a problem until I applied for my dependants permit... which was rejected the 1st time. It's all sorted now, and we got a refund of over paid tax, and I have my permit, but it was hassle you don't need.

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How do you know if a Frenchman has been in your garden.... your rubbish is gone, your dog is pregnant.... but at least your cabbages are pest free

I remember that I had to take proof of medical insurance too. I think they photocopied our insurance cards. And take a passport photo.

Don't forget the criminal background check. I had to go to the cop shop in Toronto to get the letter. Not sure if you need one for minors or not.

How can I get Swiss insurance before I register? My French insurance will be expiring with my work contract here.

Oops. What period does that cover? I've lived in three different countries since high school, so it might get complicated if I have to get the proof of no criminal record in each of those countries.

I recently went to register with the Gemeinde in zurich. They didn't ask for anything except my passport, work permit order and my tenancy contract. Having said that, I did bring a copy of my criminal record check and my employment contract along just in case. Also you will need passport sized photos, bring at least 4 although in my case he only took one. You don't need to bring any insurance certificate just yet, they give you 3 months to get a health insurance. In fact, I just got a letter from them to arrange for a health insurance cover.

We registered at the police station here (in Nidwalden) and they said we didn't have to register with the Gemeinde...that they forward the info.

3 months is the point wherby if you haven't bothered to arrange cover the gemeinde does it for you, with whoever they get it with, and you have to pay for it. It is also back dated to the day you arrived as it is compulsory to be insured from the date you start residency. So be responsible and take control, and get a good deal rather than having it picked for you. Check out www.comparis.ch for rates, and remember that children must also be insured, so waiting 3 months is just racking a sizeable bill.

All this talk of passport photos ... so many seem to be needed. Is it OK to use a colour printer and just cut up a sheet of A4 photo paper with cut&paste photos on it?

In the UK there are rules about background colour, the size, how much of the rectangle your face must fill etc. Anything similar for Switzerland?

Thanks! I'll dig out the UK rules and bring a sheet of A4 with face shots ready to cut out and hand over as required.

Hey OP, dont forget a copy of your tenancy agreement as well - on top of what the others have posted. I had to bring that when I registered at mine.