Full-service relocation in Lucerne

A move to Lucerne runs through several counters, each with its own hours. A residence permit application goes to the cantonal Amt für Migration on Form 1 for EU/EFTA nationals or Form 2 for other nationals, filed by the employer or the employee with the employment contract and a copy of the passport or ID (Canton of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026) (Canton of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026).

A vehicle brought along is registered at the cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt, Arsenalstrasse 45 in Kriens, whose counter is open Monday to Thursday from 07:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30 and on Friday from 07:30 to 16:30 (Canton of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026). Household effects are cleared on Form 18.44 at a customs office for commercial goods on weekdays (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026) (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026), and Swiss plates can follow up to one year after the move (BAZG, checked 21 Oct 2026). A foreign driving licence is exchanged within one year (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026).

School enrolment has a counter of its own. The Volksschule counter is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00 (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026), and the school office sits at Winkelriedstrasse 12a (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026). Kindergarten registration for the next school year closes on 31 January (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026).

New residents register with the Einwohnerdienste (residents' office) in the Customer Centre at Obergrundstrasse 1 within 14 days (1 Jan 2026) (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026). The counters are open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00, the fee is CHF 40, and people arriving from abroad register in person (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026). A Welcome Desk at the same address gives newcomers short consultations without an appointment on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (City of Lucerne, checked 21 Oct 2026). See registering at your commune.