New to Lausanne

Draft. This text has not yet been reviewed.

Moving to a new country comes with a long list of forms and decisions. These guides cover the essentials for people settling in Lausanne and the surrounding area, link to the official sources, and point you to people at Westlake who will be glad to help.

Your first months at a glance

  1. Within 14 days
    Register your arrival

    The City of Lausanne states that you must announce your arrival within 14 days. If you live in another commune, follow its procedure.

  2. In your first weeks
    Save the emergency numbers and find a doctor

    144 for an ambulance, 0848 133 133 for the on-call doctors’ line in Vaud.

  3. Within three months
    Take out health insurance

    If you insure within this period, cover is backdated to the day you took up residence.

  4. Within 12 months
    Exchange your driving licence

    Foreign licences must be exchanged within 12 months of arriving in Vaud.

  5. By 31 March
    Check your tax situation

    If you are taxed at source, this is the deadline to ask for an ordinary assessment for the previous year.

Paperwork

Registering your arrivalWhere to register, what to bring and the 14-day deadline.Read →Residence permitsL, B, C and G permits, and what happens if your job ends.Read →TaxesTax at source, when a tax return is compulsory and the 31 March deadline.Read →Health insuranceCompulsory for everyone, with three months to take out basic cover.Read →

Settling in

Renting a homeWhat a lease should contain, the three-month limit on deposits and how to give notice.Read →Doctors and emergenciesEmergency numbers, the on-call doctors’ line and how pharmacies can help.Read →Schools and childcareHow schooling works in Vaud, including for children who do not speak French.Read →Getting aroundMobilis zones, tl tickets and passes.Read →Everyday lifeRubbish bags, the radio and TV fee, your driving licence and free help from the City.Read →Learning FrenchWhere to find courses in Lausanne.Read →

Find your place at Westlake

Moving is easier with friends. We would love to help you settle in.

Visiting on a SundayWhat a Sunday is like, and how to find us.Find out →Home groupsGroups across the greater Lausanne area, meeting mid-week or at the end of the week.Find out →Students and young adultsDinner and Bible study every Thursday at 7pm.Find out →Children and youthSunday groups for every age, plus youth on Friday nights.Find out →The Ark PlaygroupFridays in term time for parents and carers of children aged 0-4.Find out →French-speaking ministryA French-language service on the first Sunday of every month.Find out →

Talk to someone

If you are new to the area and would like to talk to someone at Westlake, get in touch. We meet on Sundays at 10:00 at Rue Catherine Colomb 6, 1022 Chavannes-près-Renens.

Get in touch Where to find us

This is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so please check the official sources linked in each guide before you act. Last checked: 30 October 2026.

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