Your starting phase
To help you prepare for your new role at ETH, please take a look at our "New Faculty Timeline Guide".
Professors who are either EU or EFTA citizens (excluding EU2-countries) can enter Switzerland after their appointment without having to report their entry or apply for a visa beforehand. Nevertheless, they have to register their change of residence in person (adults) in the district office (Kreisbüro) of their district (city of Zurich) or at the residents’ registration office of their place of residence (communities) within 14 days after moving to Switzerland.
Professors from third countries and EU2-countries need a visa in order to enter and work in Switzerland. We will get in touch with you timely before you take up office at ETH Zurich in order to put together all the necessary documents.
Professors appointed by the ETH Board receive the settlement permit (permit C). Spouses and children under the age of twelve receive the same permit. Children over the age of twelve receive the residence permit (permit B).
Professors from third countries and EU2-countries receive the permit in credit card format (biometric card), which also includes the Schengen visa. This means that you can travel freely throughout the Schengen zone with your passport and your aliens permit. Should you accidentally receive a permit B from the district office or the residents’ registration office, please let us know, so that we can take all the necessary steps to correct this mistake.
Before taking up office at ETH Zurich, you will receive an email from us, containing all relevant information regarding your entry on office. You will be asked to send us your passport photo electronically, which will be used for your identification card, the so-called ETH card. I will only take a few days to issue the card. If you do not have an address in Switzerland at that time, you can either pick up your ETH card at our offices or have it sent to you after your move to Zurich.
As an employee of ETH Zurich, you are entitled to a free half-fare travel card of SBB, which authorises you to use public transportation across Switzerland at half price, or an SBB General abonnement (GA) at a reduced price (by 15%). We will send you the necessary information in due time.
(Please note that you can only access this information with your ETH user name and password.)
Before taking up office, you will receive the application form for family allowances. You can also send us your application including all enclosures after taking up office. In any case, the allowances will be paid retroactively for the whole period. If your eligibility for family allowances changes during your term at ETH Zurich, please let Human Resources know by means of the amendment form for family allowances.