Valais relocation checklist

First 90 days in Valais

1. 1

   Build a rental dossier — Valais is one of the easier markets but landlords still expect extrait des poursuites / Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references

   Deadline

   Before arrival

   Responsible office

   You / previous commune (Extrait des poursuites / Betreibungsregisterauszug)

   Typical fee

   Extrait des poursuites / Betreibungsregisterauszug ~CHF 17

2. 2

   Register at the Contrôle des habitants / Einwohnerkontrolle of your commune within 14 days (Sion, Martigny, Sierre, Visp, Brig etc.) — Lower Valais communes operate in French, Upper Valais in German

   Deadline

   Within 14 days of arrival

   Responsible office

   Contrôle des habitants / Einwohnerkontrolle (bilingual canton)

   Typical fee

   ~CHF 20–60, varies by commune

3. 3

   Apply for your permit at the Service cantonal de la population et des migrations / Dienststelle für Bevölkerung und Migration in Sion — the office handles both language regions

   Deadline

   At/around registration

   Responsible office

   Service cantonal de la population et des migrations / Dienststelle für Bevölkerung und Migration in Sion

   Typical fee

   Set by the cantonal migration office — check its website for the current amount

4. 4

   Pick a LAMal / KVG insurer within 3 months — Valais is below the national average on premiums

   Deadline

   Within 3 months, backdated to arrival

   Responsible office

   Any KVG/LAMal insurer · priminfo.admin.ch

   Typical fee

   Premium varies by insurer, model and franchise

5. 5

   Open a Swiss bank account — Banque Cantonale du Valais / Walliser Kantonalbank (BCVs/WKB) is the local default and operates fully bilingually

   Deadline

   First 2 weeks (needed for salary and rent)

   Responsible office

   Any Swiss bank — cantonal bank, PostFinance or a digital bank

   Typical fee

   CHF 0–5/month account fee

6. 6

   Get a Mobilis abo (Lower Valais / Vaud network) or an Oberwalliser regional abo, or a GA if you cross the language line regularly

   Deadline

   Before your first commuting month

   Responsible office

   SBB · regional transport network

   Typical fee

   Halbtax CHF 190/year · GA 2nd class from CHF 3,995/year

7. 7

   Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular Valais tax return — the canton's e-filing is available in both French and German

   Deadline

   Filed the spring after the tax year (extensions on request)

   Responsible office

   Cantonal tax administration

   Typical fee

   Free to file

8. 8

   If you have school-age kids, the school language follows the commune — French communes use the Plan d'études romand (PER), German communes use Lehrplan 21. Choose housing accordingly

   Deadline

   Once your registration is confirmed

   Responsible office

   Your commune / the relevant cantonal office

   Typical fee

   Varies — usually free to enquire

Pick your stage in Valais

Taxes, housing and insurance in Valais

Budget-wise, Valais sits at roughly 23.0% combined income tax on CHF 100,000 gross, with adult health insurance averaging about CHF 340/month. The full breakdown — commune-level tax spread, rents, insurance and where to live — is in the Moving to Valais guide.