Moving from Switzerland – Cologne
Moving from Switzerland to Cologne: your moving company for your move to Cologne
From Switzerland to Cologne: transport, inventory list for customs and assembly at your destination – quote within 24 hours.
4.8 out of 5 · 181 Google reviewsASTAG standardOver 500 moves per year
20% new-customer discountQuote in 24hInsurance Included
4.8 / 5 Google181 reviews
ASTAG standardSwiss industry standard
Quote within 24 hoursfree & without obligation
No Saturday surchargeSame price Mon–Sat
Cologne at a glance
Moving from Switzerland to Cologne: what you should know about Cologne
Moving from Switzerland to Cologne means planning two things at once: moving out here and moving into a city with its own authorities, zones and deadlines – 573 kilometres away.
Cologne lies on the Rhine in the Cologne Lowland and is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Source: de.wikipedia.org)
- State
- Germany
- Distance from Zurich
- 573 km by road, pure driving time around 5.9 hours (Source: router.project-osrm.org)
- City districts
- 9, including Innenstadt, Rodenkirchen, Lindenthal, Ehrenfeld, Nippes, Chorweiler, Porz, Kalk (Source: de.wikipedia.org)
- Vehicle zone
- Cologne low-emission zone
What makes a move to Cologne special
- Good to know: Furniture moves on Sundays and public holidays are generally prohibited under the NRW Public Holidays Act. (Source: stadt-koeln.de)
- Good to know: Cologne has four inland ports on the Rhine. (Source: de.wikipedia.org)
Process
How your move from Switzerland to Cologne works – 6 steps
Survey and quote
By WhatsApp video in around 20–25 minutes or on site. You will receive the quote for your move to Cologne within 24 hours.
Inventory list and export from Switzerland
For export, Swiss customs only require an inventory list with your address in Switzerland and in Cologne. We help you prepare it.
Secure parking in Cologne
How and how early to apply for a space for the removal van in Cologne is explained below in the section Parking on moving day. We schedule the date so that the deadline is met.
Moving from Switzerland to Cologne: transport over 573 km
According to the route planner, the pure driving time from Zurich is around 5.9 hours.
Import into Germany
We summarise the conditions German customs sets for duty-free import on the page Moving to Germany come together.
Unpacking, assembly and end-of-tenancy cleaning
In Cologne, we carry furniture and boxes into the right rooms and assemble the furniture. In Switzerland, our team can also take care of end-of-tenancy cleaning with a handover guarantee on request.
Parking on moving day
Special parking permit for your move in Cologne
Applications go to the City of Cologne's department for «Verkehrsgewerbliche Genehmigungsverfahren und Ausnahmegenehmigung nach StVO» (Willy-Brandt-Platz 3), online via the service portal and at least three weeks before the date. The signs must be in place four days, i.e. 96 hours, beforehand. For moves, the first day costs 28 to 36 euros and each additional day 14 to 18 euros. (Source: stadt-koeln.de) To the city's application or information page.
During the survey, we will tell you the deadline for submitting the application.
Access with the removal van
Cologne low-emission zone: what applies to the removal van
Cologne's low-emission zone has existed since 2008 and was last extended on 1 October 2019. It covers 137 km² – on the left bank of the Rhine up to the Militärring, on the right bank including Mülheim, Kalk and Stammheim. Only vehicles with a green sticker may enter. (Source: stadt-koeln.de)
Since 1 July 2024, vehicles with a technically permissible total mass of more than 3.5 tonnes have generally been subject to tolls in Germany; vehicles of craft businesses are exempt under certain conditions. On Sundays and public holidays, lorries with a permissible total weight of over 7.5 tonnes may not drive from midnight to 10 pm for commercial or paid goods transport (§ 30 (3) StVO). (Source: balm.bund.de)
After moving in
After the move: registering in Cologne
Anyone moving into a home in Germany must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 Federal Registration Act). (Source: lxgesetze.de) In Cologne, you have 14 days from moving in to register. You can choose any of the city's nine customer centres – Mondays and Wednesdays without an appointment, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with an appointment; registration is also possible online and is free of charge in all cases. (Source: stadt-koeln.de) Appointments and city information.
In Switzerland, you deregister with your municipality of residence before moving abroad. It is best to arrange international mail forwarding early.
Less volume, lower costs
Disposal before your move to Cologne
Every cubic metre that does not travel to Cologne saves loading space. We dispose of furniture you are not taking with you in Switzerland before the move, for CHF 65.– per m³ plus labour.
With AWB Abfallwirtschaftsbetriebe Köln, bulky waste collection of up to 3 m³ is free of charge in the basic service, on a weekday set by AWB. You can book it online, via the hotline 0221/9 22 22 24 or by email. (Source: awbkoeln.de) To the bulky waste page.
Services
Moving company for Cologne: what we take care of
- Packing and protection: Furniture, glass and electronics packed securely for transport.
- Furniture assembly: Dismantling in Switzerland, reassembly in Cologne.
- Interim storage: from CHF 15.– per m³ per month if your apartment in Cologne is not ready yet.
- End-of-tenancy cleaning in Switzerland: with a handover guarantee for the apartment handover.
- Disposal: CHF 65.– per m³ plus labour.
Costs
How much does a move from Switzerland to Cologne cost?
We do not quote a fixed price for Cologne because every move is different. After the survey, we calculate the quote based on these factors:
- Volume: How many cubic metres are going determines the size of the vehicle.
- Route: 573 km from Zurich, pure driving time around 5.9 hours.
- Access: Floors, lift, carrying distances and whether a furniture lift is needed.
- Parking permit: Fees and signs according to Cologne's rules.
- Additional services: Packing, assembly, storage, end-of-tenancy cleaning, disposal.
Free quote · Cologne
Moving from Switzerland to Cologne: free quote on request
Your move to Cologne starts with just a few details. We check the volume and route and get back to you with your quote within 24 hours.
- Inventory list for customs we create it together with you.
- Quote within 24 hours – personally from our team.
- 20% new-customer discount on all services.
- End-of-tenancy cleaning in Switzerland with handover guarantee.
Free on-site survey
Moving to Cologne: survey by video or on site
The WhatsApp video survey takes around 20–25 minutes. Prefer in person? Choose «on site». You will receive your quote for Cologne within 24 hours.
- Takes approx. 20–25 minutes
- On site at your home or conveniently via WhatsApp video
- Quote within 24 hours – with a 20% new-customer discount
Prefer to call? 044 589 67 77 · WhatsApp
1Type of survey
2Choose a day
3Choose a time
4Your details
Please choose a day and time
Thank you – we have received your preferred appointment.We will confirm it by SMS or email. We have emailed you a copy.
Further destinations
More cities in Germany and other countries
Moving to another city in Germany
Moving from Switzerland to BerlinMoving from Switzerland to HamburgMoving from Switzerland to MunichMoving from Switzerland to FrankfurtAll info: moving to Germany
Moves to other countries
4.8181 Google reviewsGoogle Business Profile
Reviews
Moving company rated 4.8 out of 5 stars – for Cologne too
Swiss Umzüge & Entsorgung GmbH has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google (181 reviews). Read about our customers' experiences directly on our Google profile.
- Insurance Included
- Quote within 24 hours
- Free on-site survey
Related pages
More destinations around Cologne
The nearest cities in other countries, Germany's neighbouring countries and our starting points in Switzerland.
Nearby destinations in other countries
- Moving from Switzerland to Eindhoven around 117 km as the crow flies
- Moving from Switzerland to Utrecht around 180 km as the crow flies
- Moving from Switzerland to Rotterdam around 204 km as the crow flies
Germany's neighbouring countries
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about moving from Switzerland to Cologne
How far is a move from Switzerland to Cologne?
From Zurich it is 573 kilometres by road, with a pure driving time of around 5.9 hours. Breaks and customs clearance come on top.
Do I need a permit for the removal van in Cologne?
Where the van cannot park without problems, yes: apply for the special permit from the City of Cologne at least three weeks in advance.
Is the removal van allowed into Cologne city centre?
Only with a green sticker. On the left bank of the Rhine the zone extends to the Militärring, and on the right bank it includes districts such as Mülheim and Kalk.
Where and by when do I need to register in Cologne?
At one of Cologne's nine customer centres or online, within 14 days of moving in. On Mondays and Wednesdays no appointment is needed.
Are household goods from Switzerland duty-free in Germany?
Household effects can be imported into Germany free of duties if the customs requirements are met. We summarise the conditions on the page Moving to Germany.
How much does a move from Switzerland to Cologne cost?
That depends on volume, distance, access and additional services. After a free survey by video or on site, you receive your quote within 24 hours.
Read more
Related services and guides
Official authorities: BAZG: moving abroad · ch.ch: moving abroad · German customs: requirements for household goods
