Removals to Switzerland
Removals to Switzerland are the most particular move in our European range, for one reason: Switzerland isn’t in the EU, so it runs its own customs system rather than the process you’d meet moving to France or Germany. Add Alpine access, car-free resorts and precise Swiss building rules across Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Zug, and the planning matters. Britannia Sandersteads has run European moves as a family-run firm since 1972 — here’s how removals to Switzerland actually work, what affects the cost, and the questions worth answering before you book.
What's Included in Our Switzerland Removals Service
A move to Switzerland goes entirely by road — loaded in the UK and driven across France or Germany to your Swiss address, since there’s no coastline to ferry into. It’s one of the more involved routes in our European removals service because of the non-EU customs step, so we handle it end to end with our own crew and trusted Swiss delivery partners across the German-, French- and Italian-speaking cantons. The standard at collection in Surrey is the standard at delivery in Zurich or Geneva.
How removals to Switzerland work
Key Information
Customs: outside the EU
Switzerland’s biggest difference is that it isn’t in the EU, so it runs its own customs system — separate from both the UK and the EU. Your goods clear Swiss customs on arrival, and a detailed, valued inventory is central to that. We prepare it and advise on the duty-relief position, and point you to the Swiss customs authority for the exact rules.
Access in the cities and the Alps
Swiss access splits two ways. In Zurich, Geneva and Basel, city-centre buildings often have restricted vehicle access and lifts that won’t take large furniture, so a smaller vehicle does the final leg. In the mountains, seasonal roads and car-free resorts like Zermatt mean goods transfer to compact electric vehicles or the railway for the last stretch. Tell us the address early.
Storage before shipping
With the customs step and a long road leg, Swiss timings can shift, and your apartment may not be free the day your goods arrive. We can hold everything in our own containerised storage at Godstone before departure, with no minimum period, and our Swiss partners can store it locally until your new home is ready.
What affects the cost of removals to Switzerland?
A Switzerland move is priced on the specifics, never a flat rate. The main factors:
The honest way to get a real figure is a quick, free survey.
Why Britannia Sandersteads for Switzerland
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How long do removals to Switzerland take?
It’s an all-road trip across France or Germany rather than a sea crossing, so timing depends on the destination canton, the service (dedicated or part-load) and our schedule. We confirm realistic dates at survey, and on a shared load delivery is a window rather than a fixed day.
How does the quote process work?
First comes a free video or in-home survey; with Switzerland’s customs step, getting the inventory and access right from the start matters. You then get a written, itemised quote — crew, vehicle, packing, the road transit, customs and any storage — so nothing surprises you after booking.
Do you pack for me, or do I pack myself?
As much or as little as you want: full pack, a part pack for the fragile and high-value items, or materials only. Everything delicate is export-wrapped for the long road journey and properly listed, so it also stands up to the customs inventory.
Is moving to Switzerland different from an EU country?
Yes, and it’s the main thing to plan for. Switzerland isn’t in the EU, so it runs its own customs system with a detailed, valued inventory and its own duty-relief rules — separate from both the UK and the EU. We prepare the inventory and handle the paperwork; for the exact rules, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security is the authority.
Can you deliver to an Alpine chalet or a car-free resort?
Yes — it’s routine for our Swiss partners. Where a full-size lorry can’t reach — a car-free resort like Zermatt, a narrow Alpine road, or a restricted city-centre street — goods transfer to a smaller or electric vehicle, or the mountain railway, for the final leg. Flag the address at survey so it’s arranged in advance.
Is my move insured in transit?
Cover is arranged as goods-in-transit insurance, separate from your UK home contents. High-value items are best declared and valued individually — which matters twice over here, since the Swiss customs inventory wants values too. We explain it all at quote stage.
Can you store my belongings before shipping?
Yes. If your dates don’t align, we store your belongings in our own containers at Godstone before the drive out, and our Swiss partners can hold them locally until your home is ready. There’s no fixed minimum period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Switzerland
We know moving raises questions. Here are the answers most people need.
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