Fantastic Valais

The Rhône valley links major centres including Monthey, Martigny, Sion, Sierre, Visp and Brig, while side valleys lead to very different Alpine settings. Compare your daily destinations, local language and year-round services before selecting a base. A mountain view is only one part of a long-term housing decision.

French and German are the canton’s official languages. French predominates in Lower and Central Valais, while German and local dialects are used in Upper Valais. Check the language of your municipality, school and workplace directly when planning your move.

Compare the centres along the Rhône valley with hillside communities and mountain villages. Consider your work or study journey, access to schools and healthcare, housing available for permanent residence and the practicalities of winter travel. Local routines differ significantly across the canton.

Valais combines tourism and agriculture with industry, energy, life sciences and technology. Research and higher education add to this mix, including activity around the Energypolis campus in Sion. Match a business or study location to the relevant facilities, language and transport connections.

Rail services connect the principal valley centres, while regional trains, buses and mountain transport serve other destinations. Check the last connection to your home as well as the mainline journey. For hillside or mountain addresses, test ordinary weekday travel and consider seasonal access.

Valais and Wallis name the same canton; Sion is its capital. Resort and valley names do not always tell you which municipality is responsible for your address. Start with the municipal residents’ office for local registration and services, then use the relevant cantonal authority for specialist questions.

Moving to Valais starts with choosing your municipality and checking the language and services available locally. Plan around your workplace, school and year-round transport, then confirm the requirements that apply to your situation. This checklist helps organise your first 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 the Rhône valley centres with hillside and mountain communities. Check the local language, commute, schools and childcare, and whether the accommodation is suitable for permanent residence.

For temporary housing, confirm whether you can use the address for registration. Ask about winter access and transport at the times you will actually travel.

Contact the residents’ registration office of your municipality before arrival. Ask about deadlines, appointments and the documents required for each household member.

The canton’s Population and Migration Service provides information on entry and residence. Confirm work and residence requirements for your individual circumstances with the responsible authority.

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 the cantonal entry and residence information for administrative matters.

The regional Living and Working in Valais guide offers further orientation. Explore Valais’s local destinations before narrowing your housing search, and agree any relocation services and fees in writing.

Compare these valley centres and their surrounding municipalities against your work, study and family needs. Look at station access, local buses, schools and services at the actual address. A home on the hillside can mean a different daily journey from one near the town centre.

Consider the Upper Valais centres if your daily destinations are in this part of the canton. Check local German-language requirements, your complete commute and the housing available for year-round residence. Compare nearby villages carefully rather than assuming every address has the same connections.

Mountain communities can suit a permanent move when work, school and services fit the location. Check winter access, the last public transport connection, parking arrangements and year-round housing. Visit beyond peak holiday periods and plan how your household would manage an ordinary working week.

Valais’s economy includes industrial and life-sciences activities, energy, technology, tourism and agriculture. The canton’s towns and mountain destinations support different kinds of enterprise, from production and research to services for residents and visitors.

The regional economic overview introduces local innovation and business networks.

Compare the Rhône valley centres with more specialised mountain locations against your customers, workforce, premises and logistics. Consider language, delivery access and seasonal demand. A visitor business and a year-round industrial or professional service company may need different surroundings.

Explore Valais’s training and research environment for regional education and innovation connections.

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