You are required to register at the Residents’ registration office (Contrôle des habitants) in the municipality where you live within 14 days after your arrival in Switzerland. It takes a few months to receive your residence permit, it is therefore important to apply as soon as possible and to inform the municipality of any change of address so that the permit can be sent to you by mail.
This also applies to Swiss citizen coming from another canton.
Appointments
If you live in Lausanne, you need to make an appointment with the Contrôle des habitants before going to the office.
Procedures vary in other municipalities: We recommend checking your municipality’s website before going. Searching for the name of your municipality together with Contrôle des habitants or Office de la population will usually take you to the relevant page. Unless otherwise stated, you can generally go directly to the office during opening hours.
In Vaud, you can find the contact details of your municipality’s Residents’ Registration Office on the AVDCH website.
If you are unsure which municipality your address belongs to, you can check it here: https://www.housing-stat.ch/fr/data/query/adrtoegid.html.
Documents
The documents required depend on your nationality, personal situation and municipality. You will typically be asked to provide some or all of the following:
- A valid passport; EU/EFTA citizens may also be able to use a valid national identity card.
- Passport-format photograph(s).
- Your birth certificate and, if applicable, your marriage certificate. A certified translation may be required if the original document is not in French, German or Italian.
- Your rental agreement or other proof of accommodation. If you are staying with someone else, an accommodation certificate (attestation d’hébergement / attestation du logeur) may be required.
- Your EPFL employment contract or an employment/HR certificate provided by EPFL.
Costs
As of September 2026, the Canton of Vaud indicates the following general fees for residence permits:
- EU/EFTA citizens: approximately CHF 70 for the residence permit.
- Citizens of other countries: approximately CHF 122 for a biometric residence permit, depending on the type of permit.
In addition, the municipality normally charges a registration fee. The amount varies by municipality and is generally around CHF 15–30.
Fees may vary depending on your individual situation.
Proof of registration / residence
When you register, ask whether you can obtain a certificate or declaration of residence (attestation / déclaration de résidence). This document confirms that you are registered as a resident of the municipality and can be useful while you are waiting for your residence permit. For example, it should allow you to get a mobile phone and set up a bank account. The certificate is separate from your residence permit and usually involves an additional fee. The price and processing time depend on the municipality, and it may not be issued immediately.