Long-distance move Berlin – Lausanne: route customs & schedule

As Switzerland is not in the EU, your household goods are declared at the border when moving to Lausanne. They remain duty-free as removal goods if you move your residence to Switzerland and have used the items yourself for at least six months. You present the completed and signed form 18.44, an inventory list and proof such as an employment or tenancy contract; the customs office decides whether this is sufficient. Newly bought items, alcohol and tobacco follow their own rules. After arrival, as an EU citizen you register within 14 days and before starting work at the Contrôle des habitants; with a job of at least one year you usually receive permit B. Within three months you take out health insurance under the Health Insurance Act (KVG).

Lausanne is the capital of the canton of Vaud and, after Zurich, Geneva and Basel, the fourth-largest city in Switzerland. The city lies on the northern shore of Lake Geneva and rises steeply from the lake – there are large differences in height between Ouchy on the shore and the upper town, which the M2 metro overcomes. The official language is French; contracts, forms and conversations with the property management are usually in French. Lausanne is the seat of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and the International Olympic Committee and has held the title “Olympic Capital” since 1994. Flats are in demand; we do not quote specific rents, because they depend heavily on location and condition. For the move, the hillside location matters most: we clarify access and carrying distances in advance.

Our rates at a glance: 1-room flat – from €354; 2-room flat – from €594; 3-room flat – from €909; 4-room flat – from €1,289; house/villa – individual quote; long-distance move – from €3.85/km. Contact us for a free survey.

Volume, distance and floor are the three key figures in calculating the price. We charge the route from €3.85/km, while a lift and a parking restriction zone are additional variables. Furniture assembly or a part load can also be added flexibly.

Large or small, private or business – we are your partner for the move.

• Clearance: Reliable clearance of properties of all kinds. Clearance
• Home move: Moves that take the load off you. Home move
• Furniture transport: Fast and safe when just one piece of furniture needs to travel. Furniture transport
• Company relocation: Your company moves, we take care of it. Company relocation
• Move with assembly: A comfortable move with a full assembly service. Move with assembly
• Part load: Share the transport and save real money. Part load

We plan long-distance moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21), including to Switzerland. More on long routes under Long-distance moves, and places with their own pages in the locations overview.

For the move to Lausanne, the rules of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) apply. According to the BAZG FAQ, no advance registration is needed: you declare the removal goods at the border during the opening hours of a customs office for commercial goods, usually Monday to Friday. Some large offices also open on Saturday mornings.

Important for preparation:

• Form 18.44 and proof of your change of residence, such as deregistration, employment and tenancy contracts. The customs office decides whether the documents are sufficient.
• If documents are missing, the customs office can carry out provisional clearance on request. For this, a security deposit must be lodged and you submit the documents within six months; the deposit is refunded minus a processing fee.
• Vehicle: If it has been used abroad for less than six months, it can be used duty-free for up to two years with a customs permit (form 15.30); after that it must be cleared through customs or exported. Swiss registration is handled by the cantonal road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt), usually within one year of the change of residence.
• Pets: They go on the list; the animal disease regulations of the FSVO (BLV) also apply.
• Weapons and protected items are subject to special rules (fedpol or BLV).

More on this in the customs guide for Switzerland and in the Lausanne guide.

In Lausanne, the Service du contrôle des habitants is responsible for registration and certificates (Rue du Port-Franc 18, telephone +41 21 315 31 33). According to the city, you must first book an appointment online (lausanne.ch/chrdv). Bring your ID to the appointment, plus the IDs of your spouse or minor children. For another adult you need your ID, a signed power of attorney and a copy of that person's ID. The city does not give a deadline for the arrival notification on the page we checked; ask the service.

According to the city, the Office de la circulation et du stationnement is the contact for parking and no-parking zones (Rue Saint-Martin 31, telephone +41 21 315 38 00, [email protected]). We did not find a dedicated page for removal vans there. We recommend arranging the parking space with the office early, and we check access during the survey.

For electricity and water, the city offers an arrival notification with the Services industriels (SiL). It is best to do this before your moving-in date. Our guide for newcomers to Lausanne describes how to settle into the city. For destinations in German-speaking Switzerland, you will find routes and tips under Frauenfeld.