Your First Weeks in Zug: Registration Health Insurance, Taxes and Daily Life
Newcomer's Guide to Zug
Arriving in Zug: Authorities, Daily Life, Leisure
The first few weeks
The name Zug goes back to the old fishing rights on the lake – today the town on Lake Zug is a place of work: just over 32,000 inhabitants are matched by around 40,000 jobs, and 37.5 per cent of the population do not hold a Swiss passport. So if you are new, you will meet many other newcomers and an administration that has clear rules for arrivals from abroad. The old town with the Zytturm (clock tower) lies right on the lake, and the station is the hub for the Stadtbahn (light rail), S-Bahn and the buses of Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe. As for location: Zug is the capital of the canton of the same name and lies 23 km as the crow flies south of Zurich, between the lakeshore and the Zugerberg.
This guide collects what needs doing in the first weeks: registration with the cantonal Migration Office, Swiss basic health insurance, taxes, flat hunting, waste and buses. We set off from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and take care of the transport at a fixed price after a survey; your belongings are covered under the HGB. How we drive the route is explained under Moving Berlin – Zug; on request, our home removal service includes packing and assembly. The City of Zug's official information on registration and housing can be found further down.
Plan Your Transport to Zug Early
Enquire without obligation on 01625978461
In a town with a high cost of living, a clear price counts: after the survey, we give you a fixed price for your transport to Zug that takes volume, floor, access and date into account. Whether it's a flat in the old town or in Oberwil – call us or request a quote online.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Four Things Newcomers to Zug Should Know
Registration, Insurance, Taxes, Buses
If you move from Germany to Zug, you experience four differences right at the start: for foreign nationals, registration goes through the cantonal Migration Office, not directly through the town hall. You choose your health insurer yourself and take out the policy within three months. The canton's tax administration provides information on tax liability and tax rates after arrival. And instead of a car, the Stadtbahn is often enough. We take care of transport; we are liable for your belongings under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre, and additional insurance is available.
Registration
Health insurance
Taxes
Bus and rail
Your Checklist for the First Weeks in Zug
After moving into Zug, there are a few appointments to keep. These six points help you keep the order – from the first day to the first full month in your new flat. We calculate the transport itself in advance at a fixed price.
Week 1: Register
Week 1: deregister in Berlin
Months 1–3: health insurance
Secure a Flat
Waste
Discover the city
Shared Load for a Fresh Start in Zug
What
Newcomers to Zug Should Clarify Early
Besides registration, everyday questions come up in the first weeks: which school is responsible for my child, how do I get to work, where do I park? School allocation depends on where you live, and the City of Zug can provide information. If you are starting at Siemens, V-Zug or in public administration, you will often travel by Stadtbahn or bus; if you park a car overnight on public land, you need a permit from the town. We take care of the move itself – as a home removal or as a shared load. That's how your start in your new Zug flat succeeds.
Find Your Neighbourhood
Organise the Move-In
Companies and Special Cases
Questions About Living in Zug
Where Newcomers Live in Zug: Old Town, Lorzenebene, Oberwil
The old town with the Zytturm, Kolinplatz and the lakeshore is the historic heart of the town; parking spaces are scarce here, and no-vehicle zones are the rule. North of the centre, in the Lorzenebene, many houses have been built in recent years, close to the station and to Baar, with which Zug has almost grown together. Oberwil and Räbmatt in the south are quieter, by the water.
A lot has also been built on the slopes of the Zugerberg; the Zugerbergbahn runs up the mountain itself from Schönegg, which can be reached by bus line 11 from the station. For commuters, proximity to one of the seven SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) stations within the town matters. View possible flats at different times of day before you sign.
Work, Commuting and Costs in Zug
Zug is a place of work: according to Wikipedia, the town counts around 40,000 jobs and about 12,000 registered companies. The largest employer is Siemens building technology, the second largest the canton; on top of that come V-Zug, the town administration and the Zuger Kantonalbank. Glencore has its operational headquarters in neighbouring Baar, and many blockchain companies have earned the region the name Crypto Valley. The canton's low tax rates are offset by a high cost of living.
For studying or working in Zurich and Lucerne, the railway helps: the InterRegio takes 25 minutes to both cities, and the Stadtbahn Zug connects Baar and Lucerne. In summer boats sail on Lake Zug, and the Zugerberg is a destination right on your doorstep. If you bring a car, you need a permit to park on public land between 10 pm and 7 am.
What Transport to Zug Costs
Plan your move with our guide prices: from €354 for a 1-room flat, from €584 for a 2-room flat, from €905 for a 3-room flat and from €1,269 for a 4-room flat. A house or villa is priced individually. For long-distance moves we start from €3.90/km. Feel free to use our free survey to discuss all the details.
Price Factors When Moving to Zug
Besides the volume of your belongings, the distance (from €3.90/km) plays a central role. Floor, lift and any parking restriction zone are also factored into the calculation. Additional services such as furniture assembly and a shared load can be added individually.
Our Services for Newcomers
Here you find an overview of all the services we provide for you.
Home move – Professional support for private individuals at every step.
Part load – Cheap and flexible for small quantities.
Clearance – We dispose of everything professionally and with environmental awareness.
Furniture transport – Professional transport for single pieces of furniture.
Move with assembly – Your furniture is professionally disassembled and assembled.
Company move – Tailor-made solutions for office and business moves.
From Berlin-Moabit to Switzerland
We set off from Berlin-Moabit and handle moves within Germany and abroad, including to Switzerland. Destinations with their own page are shown in the locations overview, and routes and distances under Long-Distance Moves.
Registering in Zug: Residents' Registration Office and Migration Office
The City of Zug's residents' registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle) is in the Stadthaus (town hall), Gubelstrasse 22, 6301 Zug (telephone +41 58 728 90 90). It is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1.30 pm to 5 pm. According to the town, registration is free of charge for both Swiss and foreign nationals.
As a German national, you count as a foreign national in Switzerland. For arrivals from abroad, the City of Zug sets out a separate route: you register with the cantonal Migration Office, which checks your documents and forwards the registration to the town. Swiss nationals report their move within 14 days, most easily via eUmzug.swiss when moving within Switzerland.
According to the town, registration requires an official ID (passport or ID card) for each person moving and proof of health insurance under the KVG (Federal Health Insurance Act). For unmarried parents with minor children, proof of custody or a divorce decree is also required.
Plan the order so that your tenancy agreement, proof of insurance and IDs are ready before moving day. Our notes on customs and formalities when moving to Switzerland complement this list, and the moving checklist for Switzerland helps with the order.
Housing and Taxes in Zug: What Newcomers Should Check in Advance
If you are looking for a flat in Zug, the town offers affordable flats. You are eligible if you meet the criteria: taxable assets may not exceed CHF 400,000, and taxable annual income may not exceed four times the annual net rent. Occupancy is also regulated; a 3.5-room flat, for example, requires at least two people. Applications are made via an online form from the town; the contact is the property department in the Stadthaus.
When it comes to tax, it pays to do your own calculation for your case. The canton of Zug's tax administration (Bahnhofstrasse 26, 6300 Zug) provides information on its website about the tax rates of the canton and the town of Zug and about tax liability after arrival. The Federal Tax Administration's tax calculator (swisstaxcalculator.estv.admin.ch) gives a first overview of your tax burden. Statements such as "lowest taxes in Switzerland" do not automatically apply to your personal situation: income, assets, marital status and place of residence are decisive.
When moving from Germany, customs also plays a role. According to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG), removal goods can be imported duty-free if your residence is moved to Switzerland and the items have been in personal use for at least six months. How a move to Switzerland works can be found in Moving to Switzerland: Costs and Planning.
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