Moving with a dog in Switzerland: costs, registration and checklist

Who to notify when you move with your dog

When moving within Switzerland, you update your own residence records and the address of the person keeping the dog. Under Article 17d(3) of the Animal Diseases Ordinance, address changes must be reported within ten days to the responsible office at the new place of residence. That office updates the AMICUS record.

Ask your new municipality how to register the dog locally. Ordinary resident registration or an eMoving notification does not guarantee that every dog-related step is completed everywhere in Switzerland. Also deregister the dog at your previous municipality and ask what confirmation you will receive. The local deadline for residents is separate from the dog-related deadline.

Documents and AMICUS: check the correct record

Have your AMICUS person ID, microchip number, pet passport or vaccination record, moving date and previous tax payment receipt ready. This is practical preparation, not an exhaustive list of documents required by every municipality.

If the dog stays with you, this is an address change. Do not simply use the procedure for transferring a dog to another keeper. Once the change has been processed, check the record and keep your telephone number and email address current in your AMICUS account too.

Use the moving calculator to compare annual costs

Choose your previous and new municipality in the moving calculator and use the same number of dogs on both sides. Start with the annual amounts. Their difference shows how your recurring dog tax changes after the move. This helps you plan your budget or compare several possible places to live.

Read the qualifications: a maximum amount remains a ceiling. A range may reflect different tariff conditions. If no clear tariff is published online for one municipality, a reliable difference cannot be calculated. An unknown amount is not CHF 0. Open the municipal page and ask the responsible office to confirm the tariff.

The annual comparison is not a bill for the year of your move. It does not automatically divide tax into monthly amounts or subtract a hoped-for refund. It also excludes removal companies, furniture transport, dog care and insurance premiums. Keep those costs separate, using your own quotes and confirmed amounts.

One-off registration, deregistration or administration fees may also apply. They are not included in the annual comparison. Ask the responsible offices to confirm the amounts.

Already paid: check refunds and the new bill

Ask the previous office whether a refund is available, whether you need to apply and what fees may be deducted. Show the new office your payment receipt and ask how tax already paid will be treated.

Rules differ: Zurich’s official brochure provides no dog-tax refund for moving away. Basel-Stadt describes a proportional refund on written application when deregistration deadlines are met, less an administration fee. Neither example is a rule for Switzerland as a whole.

Your vet, insurer and new local requirements

Tell your insurer your new address and check whether your cover meets the requirements for keeping a dog at the new location. The canton of Zurich, for example, requires liability cover of at least one million Swiss francs. Also check any cantonal training or permit requirements that may become relevant when moving in.

For continuity of care, arranging a veterinary contact and your existing records is useful. This is a practical recommendation. An ordinary address change does not automatically require an additional vet appointment or create a standard microchip replacement charge. Discuss any medical or registration questions with the practice.

Plan international moves separately

The steps above concern moves within Switzerland. An imported dog must have its identification checked and be registered by a vet within ten days of entry. Check the necessary documents and other entry conditions in the official FSVO guidance before travelling.

When you move abroad, the municipality records your departure in AMICUS. Dogs registered to your person ID at that point are consequently recorded as exported. Check the destination country’s requirements too. A holiday and a change of keeper are different cases and need their own checks.

Questions about the moving calculator