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You have just received your notice of termination or your contract is expiring shortly. What now? The most important action in the first few days: registering with the Regional Employment Centre (RAV). Anyone who waits too long risks losing daily allowances.

Rule of thumb: RAV registration as early as possible — ideally in the month before your job search begins. Every day counts.

What is the RAV?

The Regional Employment Centre (RAV) is the government authority that supports job seekers in Switzerland. It is part of the system of arbeit.swiss and the public employment service (OAV). Each canton has its own RAV network — you register with the RAV in your canton of residence.

The RAV has two main tasks:

1. Job placement: Support with your job search
2. Verification of eligibility: Checking whether you fulfill your obligations (job application efforts, forms)

Parallel to the RAV, there is the Unemployment Fund (ALK), which pays out your daily allowances. The RAV and ALK are separate bodies — this often causes confusion.

The Right Time: When to Register?

This is one of the most common mistakes: registering too late.

The official rule:

• Register with the RAV on the first day of unemployment — at the latest on the first day after the notice period expires.
• Better: Register during your notice period as soon as you know you are losing your job.
• The earliest possible registration is on the 1st of your last month of work.

Anyone who registers late may lose daily allowances for waiting days. The first daily allowances are calculated from the registration date at the earliest.

What You Need for Registration

Before you go to the RAV, you should have the following documents ready:

1. Identity document (Swiss passport, ID card, or foreign national identity card)
2. Notice of termination from your employer (or your own resignation letter)
3. Salary certificates for the last 12 months (to calculate insured earnings)
4. AHV card (if available)
5. Bank details (IBAN) for the payout of daily allowances
6. Current CV — the more professional, the better

Tip: Your RAV advisor will assess your CV immediately. With a modern, RAV-compliant CV from PARAT, you will make a professional impression from day one.

How Does the Registration Process Work?

Step 1: Online Pre-registration (Recommended)

Many cantons offer online pre-registration via Job-Room (job-room.ch). You create a profile there and register as a job seeker. Afterward, you will receive an appointment at the RAV.

Not all cantons have the same digital infrastructure — check arbeit.swiss for your nearest RAV.

Step 2: Initial Interview at the RAV

During the first in-person interview, the following happens:

• Verification of your eligibility (contribution period, waiting period)
• Determination of the minimum number of monthly job application efforts (varies depending on situation and canton: usually 8–12)
• Explanation of the PAB form (proof of personal work-seeking efforts)
• Scheduling of the next appointment

Step 3: Registration with the Unemployment Fund

Parallel to registering with the RAV, you must also register with the Unemployment Fund (ALK) of your canton or industry. The ALK reviews your claim for daily allowances and pays them out.

You can obtain the relevant forms from the RAV or directly from the Unemployment Fund.

What Has Changed with ASAL 2.0?

Since early 2026, the new payment system ASAL 2.0 has been operational. SECO recommends that all insured persons submit their information electronically via the Job-Room instead of on paper.

At launch, there were significant technical issues — SECO officially communicated this. However, payouts were secured: By the end of January 2026, around 363 million francs in unemployment benefits had been paid out.

If you had or are having problems with ASAL 2.0: Contact your Unemployment Fund directly and document everything in writing.

Common Mistakes During RAV Registration

1. Registering too late
Every lost day = potentially a lost daily allowance claim.

2. CV not ready
Your RAV advisor will want to see it immediately. An incomplete or outdated CV instantly leaves a bad impression.

3. Wrong fund / office
RAV (placement) and ALK (payment) are two separate bodies. Many register only with the RAV but forget the ALK.

4. Previous job application efforts not documented
If you have already sent out job applications before registering, bring them with you as proof. This strengthens your position.

PARAT: Ready for Your First RAV Interview

The initial RAV interview often sets the tone for your relationship with your advisor. Anyone who shows up well-prepared — with a professional CV, structured application documents, and a clear plan — is treated differently.

With PARAT, you can create your RAV-compliant CV in just a few minutes, store all applications centrally, and have all proof ready at the press of a button at the end of the month via ZIP export.

Start now for free — no subscription required.

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This is part 2 of 5 in the "Understanding the Swiss System" series. Continue with: ALV Daily Allowances 2026: How Your Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated.