Relocating to Ticino in 2025: What You Need to Know Before Making the Move

Knotted
Jun 23
3 min read

Relocating to Switzerland is already a complex process. But relocating to Ticino, the Italian-speaking region in the south of the country, comes with its own unique characteristics — culturally, fiscalmente, e amministrativamente.

Ticino is not Zurich. It's a region where Swiss rules meet Italian rhythms. A place where you’ll find breathtaking views, excellent public services, and real quality of life — but also systems and procedures that aren’t always intuitive for newcomers.

From applying for the right residence permit, to accessing the flat tax regime, to choosing the right school for your children, the process is not just bureaucratic — it’s strategic. And many international families, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals underestimate how local knowledge can shape the entire experience.

Why Relocating to Ticino Isn’t Plug-and-Play

Many people assume that once you decide to move to Switzerland, things fall into place quickly. In reality, each canton has its own procedures, expectations and network logic. In Ticino, in particular:

Cantonal tax authorities handle forfait fiscal negotiations directly — and first impressions matter.
Real estate opportunities are not always online — and good properties go fast through word of mouth.
Banking relationships often require a personal introduction and a properly structured case, especially for clients with international income or crypto assets.
The public and international school landscape in Lugano requires more than just paperwork — it’s about timing, positioning and knowing who to speak to.

Add to that a multilingual environment where institutions often communicate in Italian, German and dialect, and it becomes clear: even the most successful individuals can feel lost without local help.

A Smarter Way to Approach Relocation

So what’s the right way to approach relocation to Ticino in 2025?

It starts with a clear pre-move strategy. Before any documents are filed or any boxes packed, it's essential to understand the structure of your income, assets, company setup and family needs — and how they interact with Swiss residence options.

Next, a relocation plan should include:

Permit selection and preparation (employment, self-employment, forfait fiscal)
Real estate search with local intelligence (rent vs buy, trusted agents, negotiation)
Banking onboarding (especially for HNWIs, crypto entrepreneurs or company owners)
Tax planning (canton-specific rules, timelines, documentation)
Family integration (school admissions, pediatricians, local services)
And perhaps most importantly: a cultural and institutional orientation, to help you act and communicate effectively in your new environment.

Without this, it’s easy to end up with delays, missed opportunities or frustrating outcomes — even with good intentions and resources.

Where Knotted Comes In

At this point, many people ask: “But who can actually help me do all this, and do it right?”

That’s exactly why Knotted was created.

We are not a call center. We are not a foreign agency reselling contacts in Switzerland.We are a small team of professionals who live and work in Ticino, in places like Mendrisio, Lugano and Locarno. We’ve been expats ourselves — and now we help others build lives here with confidence and clarity.

Our work is not about pushing packages. It’s about building trust, mapping out complex needs, and coordinating everything — from residence permits to real estate, from bank accounts to tax negotiations, from school registrations to business structures.

We take on a limited number of clients each year, because this work deserves attention and detail. And when we work together, we’re with you every step of the way — in your language, and in theirs.