21 October 2026 · Journal
Relocating to Zurich with children: what to plan first
School places, a home, permits and childcare all arrive in the same few months. What families should settle first, and in which order.
Every year, families arrive in Zurich from London, Dubai, New York and beyond. The city makes a strong first impression: the lake, the schools, the sense that everything works. What is less visible from the outside is how much has to be decided in the first months, and how closely each decision depends on the next.
School comes first. International and bilingual schools in and around Zurich often have waiting lists, and places for the new school year are usually allocated well in advance. Visits, assessments, previous school reports and references take time to arrange, which is why most families start the conversation long before the move itself.
The home follows the school. Travel times shape daily life with children more than almost anything else, so the neighbourhood is best chosen once the school is clear, whether that is the city, the lakeside towns of the Gold Coast or Zug. The rental market moves quickly, and applications ask for documents that new arrivals often do not yet have.
Then comes the administration that cannot wait: registering with the local municipality shortly after arrival, residence permits, Swiss health insurance for every member of the family, a bank account and, for many, the exchange of driving licences. Each step tends to need a document from the one before.
Childcare and help at home are often the last piece to fall into place and the first to be missed. The right nanny, household support and after-school activities take time to find, and most families need them from the very first week.
That is where our work sits. We act as one point of contact for the family, coordinate trusted specialists for schools, property, relocation and administration, and keep the timeline together so that nothing waits on something else. Every step is confirmed in writing, and every decision stays with the family.
The move itself lasts a few weeks. Settling in takes longer. For many families, the most useful support is the one that continues afterwards: the first ski season, the first school holidays, guests visiting from abroad and the everyday details of a new life in Switzerland.
