New in Switzerland: Insurance, Tax & Pension — free consultation
Register health insurance, optimize Säule 3a, set up home & liability cover, correct your withholding tax — the complete guide for your first 90 days. FINMA-certified advisors. English & German. Independent. Free.
Robert Kolar
Health Insurance Specialist
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No obligation · 15 min · Free
Quick answer
New arrivals must enroll in basic health insurance (KVG) within three months — that is the only legal requirement. Personal liability + home contents are de-facto standard (often required by landlords). A Säule 3a account delivers significant tax savings from year one. If you earn above CHF 120,000, a tax return is mandatory; otherwise a voluntary tariff correction usually pays off. A 30-minute free consultation clarifies your situation.
1. Health insurance — mandatory from day one
Basic-coverage benefits are identical at every Swiss insurer (set by federal law). Differences: premiums (canton, 30–40% spread), models (family doctor / HMO / Telmed), and service quality. A family-doctor model with CHF 2,500 deductible is typically the cheapest setup for healthy adults. Coverage starts retroactively at your municipal registration date.
All health insurance topics2. Säule 3a — tax savings from year one
Up to CHF 7,056 per year is fully deductible from taxable income (2026). At a 30% marginal rate, that is around CHF 2,100 in direct tax savings. A flexible securities-based 3a with low fees (TER < 0.5%) and multiple accounts for staggered withdrawals usually beats bank or insurance variants.
All Säule 3a topics3. Home & liability — the Swiss standard
Not legally mandatory but de-facto required: many landlords ask for proof of personal liability cover. Combined home + liability typically costs CHF 150–250 per year. Recommended: liability with at least CHF 5M coverage; home contents at replacement value.
4. Withholding tax & tax optimization
Foreign workers without C-permit are taxed at source. Above CHF 120,000 gross, you must file a return; below, request a voluntary tariff correction (TOU) by 31 March of the following year to claim Säule 3a, commute, and health-insurance deductions.
Frequently asked
Which insurances do I actually need as a new arrival in Switzerland?
Only basic health insurance (KVG) is mandatory — every resident must register within three months. Strongly recommended: personal liability and home contents insurance (de-facto standard, often required by landlords) and a Säule 3a account for tax savings. Life, supplementary, and legal-protection insurance are situational.
How long do I have to choose a health insurer?
Three months from your municipal registration date. Coverage applies retroactively to the registration date. Miss the deadline and your canton will assign you to a provider — usually not in your favour. Start the comparison in week one.
Is Säule 3a worth it in my first year in Switzerland?
Yes — Säule 3a is one of the most efficient tax savings for new arrivals. Up to CHF 7,056 per year (2026) is fully deductible. At a 30% marginal tax rate, that is roughly CHF 2,100 in direct tax savings annually.
Do I have to file a tax return or is withholding tax enough?
Earnings above CHF 120,000 gross trigger automatic ordinary assessment in the following year — return is mandatory. Below that, you can request a voluntary tariff correction (TOU) by 31 March of the next year to claim Säule 3a, commute, and health-insurance deductions. Almost always worth it.
Which Swiss health insurer is cheapest?
Basic-coverage benefits are identical by law. Premiums vary by canton (often 30–40%), and by model (family doctor / HMO / Telmed) and provider service. A family-doctor model with CHF 2,500 deductible is typically the cheapest setup for healthy adults.
Personal advice instead of form-filling
30 minutes · English or German · FINMA-certified · free · no obligation. We cover health insurance, Säule 3a, home/liability and tax in one session.
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