Full-service relocation in Bern

A move to Bern from abroad runs through several public offices: the EMF for registration and the residence permit, the Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt at Schermenweg 5 for vehicles and driving licences, the federal customs administration for household goods, and the Schulamt for school places (City of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026) (Canton of Bern, Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt, checked 21 Oct 2026).

A foreign driving licence must be exchanged once a stay passes 12 months, for CHF 120, and the first application is handed in person at an office of the road traffic authority, at the residents' office or at a cantonal police station (Canton of Bern, Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt, checked 21 Oct 2026). A foreign car is registered only after an examination order, whose base fee is CHF 30 to 100, and a vehicle test (Canton of Bern, Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Household goods enter duty-free if the owner transfers residence to Switzerland and has used them for at least six months; the customs information line is +41 58 467 15 15 (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026). The Schulamt (+41 31 321 64 60) is the contact for school places (City of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Foreign nationals register at the Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei (EMF) at Predigergasse 5, whose counter is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00 and until 18.00 on Thursdays (City of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026). Registration is due within 14 days of arrival, by web form for EU/EFTA citizens and by posted paper form for other nationals (bern.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026). The cantonal tariff lists CHF 25 for entering the registration (Canton of Bern, checked 21 Oct 2026). See registering at your commune.