Fantastic Graubünden

Switzerland’s largest canton by area includes urban centres, working valleys and mountain destinations. Chur is the cantonal capital, but there is no single pattern for life across the region. Choose a base around your work, language needs, schools and year-round access rather than distance on a map alone.

German, Romansh and Italian are the canton’s official languages. Their use varies by municipality and valley; do not assume the same school or administrative language everywhere. Ask your local authority and school directly, and look for language courses suited to the community where you will live.

Compare Chur and the Rhine valley with Surselva, the Prättigau and Davos, the Engadin and the southern valleys. Assess the complete journey to work or study, access to services and the housing available for year-round use. A holiday base and a practical permanent home can meet different needs.

Tourism is an important part of Graubünden’s economy, alongside services, local enterprise and agriculture. Business conditions differ between regional centres and visitor destinations. For training or further study, check the location, language and timetable of the course as carefully as the subject.

Railways and buses connect many towns and valleys, but mountain geography shapes daily travel. Check the full route, connections, late services and seasonal road conditions. A short distance across a mountain may require a much longer journey than the map suggests.

Graubünden is also known as Grisons, Grischun and Grigioni. Valley and tourism-region names do not replace the municipality responsible for your address. Begin with your municipal office for registration and local services, and use the canton’s information to find the appropriate specialist authority.

Moving to Graubünden starts with selecting your municipality, understanding the local language and checking the requirements for your situation. Plan around year-round travel and the services your household needs. The checklist below helps you organise the practical steps.

Check which entry, residence and work requirements apply to your nationality and reason for moving. Do not assume that an employment offer or rental agreement alone gives you permission to live and work in Switzerland.

Prepare passports, employment or study documents, civil-status certificates and any existing residence permits. Ask the relevant authority whether translations or additional documents are needed.

Official starting point: Moving to Switzerland.

Compare your shortlisted community with the places you will travel to every week. Check school language, childcare, shops, transport frequency and winter access before committing to a home.

Confirm whether the accommodation is suitable for year-round residence and whether you can use the address for registration. Ask your municipality about local arrangements.

Contact the residents’ registration office of your municipality before arrival. Ask about deadlines, appointments and the documents needed for your situation.

The cantonal Integration Graubünden information service can help you find orientation and the appropriate contacts. Confirm residence and work requirements with the responsible authority separately.

Prepare an inventory before shipping your household goods. When transferring your residence to Switzerland, belongings you have personally used for at least six months and will continue to use may qualify for duty-free import.

Customs documentation and proof of your move are required. If using a removal company, agree who will prepare the paperwork and handle customs clearance. Check vehicles and pets separately.

Official instructions and forms: Swiss moving and customs guidance.

Clarify your Swiss health-insurance obligations early, including the enrolment deadline, start date of cover and whether an exemption applies to your situation.

Ask your employer about accident cover. Review personal liability and household insurance separately, and check any insurance requirements in your tenancy agreement.

Contact the local school authority before the move to discuss enrolment, school placement and language support. Have previous school reports and relevant documents ready.

Arrange childcare separately from school registration. Ask providers about availability, schedules and fees before committing to your work and commuting arrangements.

Once your address is confirmed, organise electricity, internet and mobile services. Check local waste and recycling arrangements, update your postal address and choose a suitable public transport ticket.

If you drive, check the requirements for your foreign driving licence and vehicle. Keep copies of registrations, applications and insurance confirmations together so you can follow up easily.

Start with your municipality and Integration Graubünden for practical orientation, language learning and local contacts.

Explore Graubünden Tourism to get to know the regions, and the canton’s Office for Economy and Tourism for business questions. Confirm official requirements and agree relocation services and fees in writing.

Start with Chur and the communities around the Rhine valley if access to regional services and onward travel matters to your routine. Compare the exact address, station access and your work or study journey. Check local schools, childcare and housing costs for your household.

These regions offer different combinations of towns, villages and visitor destinations. Check language, year-round housing and travel at the times you need it. If your work follows the tourism season, compare employment patterns and childcare arrangements before choosing a permanent base.

The Engadin, Val Müstair, Bregaglia, Valposchiavo and the Moesa valleys have distinct local settings and language traditions. Compare a complete week of journeys and services, including winter access. Visit beyond the holiday season and confirm which municipality and school serve your address.

Tourism plays an important role in Graubünden, while regional services, agriculture and other local businesses support everyday life across the valleys. A visitor-focused enterprise and a company serving a year-round customer base can have very different operating needs.

The canton’s Graubünden overview introduces its linguistic, geographic and economic diversity.

Compare access to customers, employees, suppliers and suitable premises across Chur and the Rhine valley, regional centres and mountain destinations. Account for seasonal demand, travel times and the language used by your clients. Check permitted use and reliable year-round access before taking premises.

The Office for Economy and Tourism is a cantonal contact for existing and new businesses in Graubünden.

For the wider national context, continue to our Business in Switzerland guide. It complements this regional overview with general Swiss information.