Neu in Bern
Die ersten 30 Tage, mit Frist und QuelleWhat this app does
Moving to Bern: checklist for the first 30 days
Your first 30 days in Bern: registration, health insurance, Serafe, waste, school, German, emergencies. Every deadline with an official source and the date it was checked.
New in Bern is a checklist for your first 30 days after moving to Bern. Nine items are listed in the order they come up, each with a deadline or timing, a short explanation and a link to the official source. The topics are registering with the city, health insurance, Serafe, waste, school and kindergarten, German, the initial-rent form, neighbours and the Aare.
A few examples: you must register within 14 days of moving in, via the eUmzugCH portal or in person at the residents’ office, Predigergasse 5. Basic health insurance must be taken out within three months of taking up residence. Household waste only goes out in the city’s official fee bag. An excessive initial rent can be challenged at the conciliation authority within 30 days of taking over the flat.
How it works: tick off each item once it is done, and a bar shows your progress. Your ticks are saved only in your browser. If you pick your move-in date and tap “Download calendar”, you get the deadlines and reminders as a calendar file on your phone. The file is made on your device, nothing is sent.
The information comes from official pages of the city, the canton and the Confederation, such as bern.ch, the FOPH and serafe.ch, and was checked against the linked source on 25 Sept 2026. Deadlines and amounts can change; the linked source then prevails, not this page. It is not legal advice and is available in German, French and English.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register in Bern?
14 days after moving in. You can register via the eUmzugCH portal or in person at the residents’ office, Predigergasse 5.
By when do I have to take out health insurance in Switzerland?
Within three months of taking up residence. Cover is then backdated to your arrival; if you are late, cover only starts from enrolment and, if the delay is not excusable, a premium surcharge applies.
Do I have to register with Serafe myself?
No. The residents’ office reports your household to Serafe every month. If you move in together, have the households merged so you do not pay twice.
When does my child have to start kindergarten in Bern?
Kindergarten is compulsory from the year the child turns four by 31 July; children start in August. Families moving in register directly with the City of Bern’s Schulamt.
What are the emergency numbers in Bern?
144 ambulance, 117 police, 118 fire brigade and 1414 Rega.
Also in Bärn Kit: Finding a flat in Bern · Learning German in Bern · Bern for free · Bern market calendar
In the blog: New in Bern: the first steps after moving
Part of Bärn Kit: free tools for Bern, no account needed.