New in Brig-Glis: Town Office Districts and Daily Life in the Upper Valais
Brig-Glis Guide
Arriving in Brig-Glis, the Centre of the Upper Valais
The first few weeks
Brig-Glis is the economic centre of the German-speaking Upper Valais and was Alpine Town of the Year in 2008. Brig owes its role to the Simplon Tunnel, opened in 1906: the station is where the Bern – Milan long-distance line crosses the Chur – Zermatt narrow-gauge railway with the Glacier Express. Its landmark is the Stockalper Palace in the old town. Together with Naters, Termen and Ried-Brig, the municipality forms an agglomeration of around 30,000 inhabitants.
Around 80 per cent of the population work in the service sector; the Société Suisse des Explosifs produces in Gamsen, and Lonza has its plant in neighbouring Visp. We are not a Valais company but come from Berlin and handle your home removal right to your new door. The route, Alpine crossing and customs are described on the page Moving Berlin – Brig; registration, household waste and daily life on site are explained further down in this guide.
Request a Move to Brig
Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Plan early, especially if your start date at a new job is fixed: after a survey, we give you a fixed price for the roughly 986 km to Brig, and who takes care of the customs declaration is stated in the quote. Storage or furniture assembly appear as separate items in the quote, and your belongings are covered under the HGB. Call us directly on 01625978461.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
What We Take On – and What Is Up to You in Brig-Glis
Transport from Berlin, paperwork on your side
We have no branch in Switzerland; instead we drive by lorry from Berlin-Moabit, around 986 km to the Upper Valais – about 14.5 hours by lorry including breaks, so with two drivers or an overnight stop. We clarify access, floor and stairwell in advance; in the car-free core of the old town, a solution is needed for the last few metres. For your belongings we accept liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB, § 451e: €620 per m³). You handle registration, health insurance and permits yourself; we set the delivery day so that it all fits.
Packing Service
Storage
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
Six Steps After Moving into Brig-Glis
What needs doing after moving to Brig-Glis, in a sensible order – from the town office to household waste. The municipality does not list fees; ask at the town office at Alte Simplonstrasse 28. Deregister at your previous place of residence beforehand.
Report Arrival Within 14 Days
Take out health insurance
Apply for a permit
Parking in the Old Town
Waste by Chip
Re-register your car
Little Furniture to the Upper Valais? Shared Load
With a shared load, your belongings share the load space with other consignments heading for Switzerland. When you enquire, we will tell you whether a trip to the Valais is currently planned; liability under the HGB applies here too.
What
Newcomers to Brig-Glis Should Know
Whether it is a new job in Brig or neighbouring Visp, a return to the Valais or a change of home for the mountains – in the first two weeks, what counts is deregistering at your old place, registering at the town office and health insurance. Then come permits, number plates and the waste chip. When flat hunting, it is worth looking at Glis, with lots of new buildings, as well as the old town; the town office will tell you which school is responsible for your children. We take care of storage or furniture assembly on request.
Choosing a district
Planning moving day
Businesses and special cases
Frequently Asked Questions from Newcomers to Brig-Glis
Brig, Glis, Brigerbad – Where Newcomers Live
The municipality of Brig-Glis was formed on 1 January 1973 from Brig, Glis with the hamlet of Gamsen, and Brigerbad; since then a great deal has been built, especially in Glis. Brig is the historic centre with the old town, the Stockalper Palace and the station; according to the municipality, the old town has a car-free core. Brigerbad is known for its thermal springs, which were already known in Roman times.
The municipality extends from the valley floor at 678 metres up to the Spitzhorli west of the Simplon Pass. The Saltina river flows through the town and last flooded the town centre in 1993; since 1997, a lifting bridge has mitigated the problem. Which district suits you depends on your commute, school and budget – before you commit, also take a look at the access and stairwell.
Flat Hunting, Work and School in Brig
We deliberately do not quote specific rents here, because they depend heavily on location, condition and size. Search early via the large property portals and letting agencies, and keep proof of income and a debt enforcement extract (Betreibungsauszug) ready. For registration, the municipality will later need a copy of the tenancy agreement.
Around 80 per cent of the population work in the service sector – including an SBB call centre, the “virtual station”. The Société Suisse des Explosifs, today a chemicals company, is based in Gamsen, and Lonza has its plants in neighbouring Visp. The St. Ursula Upper Valais secondary school has existed since 1661, and the Brig Süd schools say they look after around 2,300 children from Brig-Glis and neighbouring municipalities. The town office will tell you which school is responsible for your address.
How Much Does a Move to Brig Cost?
- €354 – starting price for one-room flats
- €609 – starting price for two-room flats
- €889 – starting price for three-room flats
- €1,309 – starting price for four-room flats
- Individual quote – for a house/villa
- €4.20/km – basis for long-distance moves
Book your free survey now.
What the price depends on
How expensive your move will be depends largely on the volume and the distance (from €4.20/km). The floor, lift and parking restriction zone also play a role. For extras such as furniture assembly or a shared load, we are happy to prepare a separate quote.
Services for the move to Switzerland
We offer you a complete all-round service for every type of move.
- House clearance – clearing made easy
- Company relocation – for smooth business operations
- Shared load – flexible and cost-conscious
- Home removal – reliable and personal
- Furniture transport – safely packed and delivered
- Move with assembly – everything from a single source
From Berlin to the Upper Valais – and Back
We plan moves from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21), without branches in other cities. It is around 986 km by road to Brig, about 14.5 hours by lorry including breaks – more than a driver's daily driving time. Places with their own page can be found in the locations overview, long routes under long-distance moves.
Registering in Brig-Glis: Town Office, Documents and Permits
According to the municipality, anyone moving to Brig-Glis should report their arrival within 14 days. Before that, you deregister with your previous municipality of residence. For registration, the municipality lists the original certificate of origin (Heimatschein), the health insurance card or policy of all family members and a copy of the tenancy agreement. The website does not list any fees. Swiss nationals use the eUmzug portal (eumzug.swiss); foreign nationals fill in an online form and upload the tenancy agreement and proof of health insurance (maximum 3 MB each).
In person, you can reach the town office at Alte Simplonstrasse 28, 3900 Brig, telephone +41 27 922 41 50. According to the municipality, it is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 12 and 14 to 17, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 13. If you need a residence or work permit, contact the town's foreign nationals' office, which forwards applications to the cantonal authorities; the application form is available online. According to the municipality, no permits are issued for stays of less than three months; these must be reported via the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration) website.
Weekly residents also submit their certificate of origin and questionnaire within 14 days. Note the spelling: we mean Brig-Glis in the Upper Valais. Our guide to customs and formalities explains the customs and import rules for your move to Switzerland.
Neighbourhoods in Brig-Glis: Brig, Glis, Brigerbad, Parking and Waste
According to the municipality, the town of Brig-Glis was formed on 1 January 1973 from Brig, Glis and Brigerbad. Brigerbad is known for its thermal springs, which were already known in Roman times. The municipality lies at 678 metres on the historic Simplon route. The Brig Süd schools say they look after around 2,300 children from Brig-Glis, Ried-Brig, Termen, Simplon and Gondo-Zwischbergen.
For parking, the municipality lists the Altstadt and Bahnhof car parks: the first 20 minutes are free, after which an hour costs CHF 0.80 between 7 am and 7 pm and CHF 0.40 at night. Monthly passes cost CHF 80 to 100; for the Bahnhof West and Rhonesand car parks it is CHF 50 a month, with a waiting list. For waste, the municipality uses a sorting system centred on the regional Ökohof; residual waste is charged by weight via a container chip, and registration is via the REVO website. The municipality publishes the waste calendar every year as a PDF. If you travel a lot by train: the town office sells a limited municipal saver day pass (Spartageskarte Gemeinde) only to residents of Brig-Glis; 2nd class with a half-fare travelcard (Halbtax) costs CHF 39 in the cheaper price band.
Further information is offered by our guides Moving to Brig and Long-distance move to Brig.
Related Articles