Valais relocation checklist

First 90 days in Valais

1. Build a rental dossier — Valais is one of the easier markets but landlords still expect extrait des poursuites / Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references
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
3. Apply for your permit at the Service de la population et des migrations / Dienststelle für Bevölkerung und Migration in Sion — the office handles both language regions
4. Pick a LAMal / KVG insurer within 3 months — VS is below the national average on premiums
5. Open a Swiss bank account — Banque Cantonale du Valais / Walliser Kantonalbank (BCVs/WKB) is the local default and operates fully bilingually
6. Get a Mobilis abo (Lower Valais / Vaud network) or an Oberwalliser regional abo, or a GA if you cross the language line regularly
7. Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular VS tax return — the canton's e-filing is available in both French and German
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

Pick your stage in Valais

Taxes, housing and insurance in Valais

At an indicative gross salary of CHF 100,000 (single, no kids), the combined federal, cantonal and municipal income tax in Valais works out to roughly 23.0%. Bilingual (FR/DE). Sun-blessed Rhône valley. Seasonal tourism economy. Wine regions (Fendant, Petite Arvine) are world-class. Cantonal child deductions and family allowances apply on top of the federal allowance — for an exact figure for your household, use the official cantonal calculator linked above. Your real tax bill depends on the commune (each sets its own Steuerfuss / coefficient), your civil status, Pillar 3a contributions and any BVG buy-ins.

Valais's rental market splits sharply by sub-region. In Sion, Martigny and the Lower Valais cities, vacancy has historically been comfortable by Swiss standards — relatively relaxed. A 1-bedroom in Sion is broadly in line with the cantonal averages shown above, with 3-bedroom flats scaling proportionally. In the resort communes (Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Saas-Fee) the year-round market is dominated by short-term and seasonal lets and prices are wildly higher per square metre. Visp has tighter supply because of Lonza's hiring pull.

Adult standard premiums in canton Valais on the standard franchise are below the Swiss average. The canton has multiple premium regions reflecting the spread of population from the Lower Valais cities to the Alpine resort communes.