Moving days in Switzerland: what you need to know

Am I entitled to a day off for moving?

Yes, you are entitled to a day off for your move. Swiss law requires employers to grant time off for special occasions, and moving falls under this category. According to Swiss labour law (CO Art. 329, Para. 3), you have the right to take one day off when relocating.

However, your employer is not obligated to grant you leave on your preferred date. Therefore, it's best to discuss your moving day with your employer as early as possible, especially if you plan to hire a moving company. Otherwise, you might have to cancel your booking at the last minute.

Good to know: you don’t have to move exactly on your day off. You can also use the time to pack everything calmly or to set up your new home.

Am I entitled to my salary on moving day?

Whether you get paid on your moving day depends on your collective labour agreement, employment contract, and whether you're on a monthly or hourly wage.

• Employees with a monthly salary usually receive their regular pay, as the absence is considered paid working time.

• Employees with an hourly wage are only entitled to pay if the move is involuntary and they haven’t exceeded their annual permitted absence (Art. 324a OR). An example of an involuntary move would be an eviction.

In the first year of employment, the maximum permitted absence is three weeks. After that, it depends on the duration of the employment and individual agreements with supervisors. This includes other absence reasons such as illness, pregnancy, or military service (but not vacation days).

When are the official moving days in Switzerland?

To plan your move effectively, it's essential to know the official moving dates in your canton or municipality, as they can vary.

Important: The termination dates specified in your rental contract always take priority. The official local moving dates only apply if your contract does not specify a termination date. Additionally, you must consider the notice period: If you want to move before it expires, you’ll need to terminate your lease outside the usual schedule.

Moving day regulations by canton in Switzerland

Below, we’ve compiled the official moving day regulations for each canton.

Moving days at the end of every month

• Glarus
• Jura (some municipalities have fewer moving days)
• Ticino (some municipalities have fewer moving days)

Moving Days at the end of every month (except December 31st)

• Appenzell Outer-Rhodes
• Appenzell Inner-Rhodes
• Basel Country
• Basel City
• Bern (some municipalities have fewer moving days)
• Schaffhausen
• Schwyz
• St. Gallen
• Thurgovia (some municipalities have fewer moving days)
• Uri

Moving days on March 31st, June 30th, and September 30th

• Aargau
• Fribourg
• Grisons (some municipalities have fewer moving days)
• Neuchâtel
• Nidwalden
• Obwalden
• Solothurn (some municipalities have more moving days)
• Zug
• Zurich (some municipalities have fewer moving days)

Moving days on July 1st and October 1st

• Vaud (some municipalities have more moving days)

No fixed moving dates

In the following cantons, you can terminate your rental contract at the end of any month, as long as you adhere to the minimum notice period:

• Geneva
• Lucerne
• Valais

What do official moving dates mean for your move?

It's important to keep track of official moving dates, as they can impact your moving schedule and costs. Moving on an official date means that more rental apartments will be available. With a higher supply, rental prices are often lower.

However, demand for cleaning services, moving companies, and removal vans is also higher around these dates. If you plan to move on an official moving day, make sure to book early to avoid availability issues.