Residential records office

The residential records office handles everything relating to domicile and looks after municipal censuses of first and second homes and businesses.

Tasks and activities

• recording arrivals and departures and changes of address
• holding and filing all documentation on residents and former residents
• registering all changes in civil status, births, deaths, changes in residential status, naturalisations, changes of surname, changes of documents, changes of profession, employer, document expiries, acknowledgements
• issuing personal certificates such as: certificates of domicile, residence, good conduct, family declaration, life, civic and civil rights, information
• issuing permits to stay
• monitoring buildings and economic activities
• drawing up the electoral register with registrations and deletions
• organising municipal, cantonal and federal votes and municipal, cantonal and federal elections
• checking the signatures of initiatives and referendums
• preparing the annual population movement statistics

Identity documents

In order to obtain a passport or an identity card you need to contact one of the registration centres, by appointment only and independently of your domicile.

Appointments can be booked on the website www.ti.ch/passaporti

or by telephoning the Punto Città di Lugano (car park entrance, Via Balestra 4): 058 / 866 64 64.

Arriving in the municipality

For people who intend to become domiciled in the municipality, it is mandatory to attend the residential records office in person within eight days of arrival.

Documents to be shown:

• Passport or identity card
• Police permits (for foreign citizens only)
• Declaration of health insurance with a recognised company
• Copy of lease (for tenants)
• Military service book (if active).

Leaving the municipality

People wishing to move away from the municipality and transfer their domicile are required to report changes by means of the departure notification. The latter must be submitted by handing it in to the residential records office in person within eight days of departure; or by post.

It is mandatory to provide the exact destination address, whether in Switzerland or abroad.

Swiss citizens must also contact the Head of the Military Department with their relative military service book.

Departure notification forms can be obtained from the residential records office or downloaded from the internet.

Provisions for tenants

All landlords must notify the residential records office about the arrival and departure of tenants by completing the relevant form.

Change of address within the municipality

Changes of address within the municipality must be reported to the residential records office within eight days of the change of address.

Issuance of certificates

The residential records office issues the following certificates:

• Certificate of good conduct
• Declaration of family status
• Permit to stay
• Certificate of domicile or residence
• Certificate of life
• Certificate of voting rights

As provided for by Municipal Decree, a registration fee must be paid for each document.

→ Request a certificate

Criminal records

A criminal record extract can be obtained:

• Through the federal administration online system by visiting the website www.casellario.admin.ch
• From the post office