Since Brexit, moving from the UK to Switzerland is no longer a formality — British citizens are now third-country nationals, subject to quotas and employer sponsorship. Add a rental market that works nothing like Britain's, and the first weeks can be bruising. Here's what actually changes.
The permit: the part that changed most
Before 2021, a British citizen could move under free movement. Now, a Swiss employer must apply on your behalf and demonstrate that the role couldn't be filled locally or from the EU/EFTA, against an annual federal quota. In practice: your job offer comes first, and your employer drives the permit. Don't sign a lease or book a move before the permit is confirmed — that sequencing catches people out.
UK citizens already resident in Switzerland before the end of 2020 keep their rights under the Citizens' Rights Agreement — a different track entirely.
No NHS: health insurance is private and compulsory
This is the biggest cultural adjustment. Swiss basic insurance (LAMal) is bought individually from a private insurer, mandatory within three months of arrival, and costs roughly CHF 300–500 per adult per month — per person, including children. You choose an annual deductible (franchise), and you pay out of pocket up to that amount. Nothing is “free at the point of use”. Cover is retroactive to your arrival date, so compare carefully rather than rushing.
The rental market: nothing like Britain
- No estate-agent-arranged furnished flats: Swiss rentals are unfurnished, and genuinely empty — no light fixtures, no curtains, sometimes no white goods (the full picture here).
- The deposit is bigger: up to three months' rent, blocked in a bank account in your name — not one month as is common in the UK (how it works).
- You apply, and you compete: an application file with proof of income, a debt-collection extract and sometimes a personal letter. Popular flats receive dozens of files.
- Notice periods are long: typically three months, on fixed quarterly dates — leaving is not as flexible as in Britain.
Your furniture: shipping from the UK is now a customs export
Post-Brexit, a UK–Switzerland removal is a full third-country customs movement in both directions. Personal effects still enter duty-free when you transfer residence, but the paperwork is heavier and hauliers price accordingly. Expect several weeks door to door, plus storage on arrival if your flat isn't ready.
The honest question is whether a British three-piece suite is worth that. UK furniture also tends to be larger than Swiss flats forgive — and your plugs won't fit. Many arrivals now ship only what carries sentimental value and furnish locally. Our rent-or-buy calculator puts numbers on the choice.
FAQ
Can I move to Switzerland without a job offer?
Not straightforwardly. Post-Brexit, British citizens generally need an employer-sponsored permit. Independent means, study and family reunification are separate routes with their own conditions.
Is Swiss tax lower than UK tax?
Headline rates are usually lower, and vary enormously by canton and commune. But compare net-net: LAMal premiums, mandatory pension contributions and higher living costs change the picture substantially.
Should I keep my UK property?
A question for your accountant rather than us — but note it affects your Swiss tax return, as worldwide assets are declared even when taxed abroad.
See also our complete guide to moving to Switzerland and the one-week Geneva setup checklist.
Furnish your Swiss flat in days rather than waiting on a container: rental from 1 month, delivery and assembly included — and 50% of rent deducted if you buy.
See our expat packsFurnish my home →