Within 14 days of arrival in Switzerland and before beginning their studies, foreign students must register with the relevant municipal immigration authority in Switzerland.
Exchange students
Depending on the local authority, exchange students attending Bern University of Applied Sciences must submit the following documents for registration:
- Copy of a valid travel document (passport or ID card)
- Confirmation of university admission or Erasmus/SEMP programme confirmation
- Passport photo(s)
- Copy of marriage certificate (if married)
- Proof of adequate financial means (does NOT apply to Erasmus/SEMP students)
- Lease/sublease (only required for students from non-EU/EFTA countries)
- Copy of visa authorisation (only for students from countries requiring a visa)
Registration for exchange students in the city of Bern
Exchange students at Bern University of Applied Sciences who are going to live in the city of Bern during their stay must submit the registration documents by post within 14 days. The completed registration form and the documents listed on the registration form must be sent to the following address:
Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei der Stadt Bern
Predigergasse 5
Postfach
3000 Bern 7
Full degree students
Depending on the local authority, if you are planning on completing an entire degree programme at Bern University of Applied Sciences, you must submit the following documents for registration:
Registration for EU/EFTA-nationals
- Confirmation of admission to Bern University of Applied Sciences
- Personal application
- Proof of adequate financial means (at least CHF 1,500.00 per month)
- Valid travel document (copy of passport or ID card) issued by your home country
- Up-to-date passport photos
- Copy of lease or, if subletting, sublease with copy of main lease (optional)
- Copy of marriage/civil partnership certificate (if married/in a civil partnership)
- Form: Registration form for EU-EFTA nations. This form only applies to the city of Bern
- Form: Application form (formation and education). This form only applies to the city of Bern
- Form: Financial resources EU/EFTA (formation and education). This form only applies to the city of Bern.
Registration for non-EU/EFTA nationals (non-member states)
As the visa application has already been checked by the immigration authorities and non-EU/EFTA students are in possession of a visa or a visa confirmation, these must register in person or send the documents by post, to the relevant municipal authority within 14 days of arrival. You must bring a valid travel document issued by your home country, with the affixed visa and the documents you submitted in order to obtain the visa.
Full degree students in the city of Bern
Full degree students at Bern University of Applied Sciences, who are going to live in the city of Bern during their stay, must submit the registration documents by post within 14 days. The completed registration form and the documents listed hereafter, must be sent to the following address:
Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei der Stadt Bern
Predigergasse 5
Postfach
3000 Bern 7
Forms EU/EFTA-nationals (NOT ERASMUS/SEMP)
Same procedure as following chapter ‘Full degree students’ > ‘Registration for EU/EFTA-nationals’.
Forms non-EU/EFTA nationals (non-member states)
- Form: Registration form for Non-EU EFTA citizens. This form only applies to the city of Bern
- Copy of passport
- Copy of entry visa and entry stamp
- Copy of family register (if married or registered partnership)
- Rental contract (if subletting, additional confirmation of the property administration)
Fees
The costs vary depending on the local authority. EU/EFTA students pay around CHF 100 for registration and residence permit, non-EU/EFTA nationals pay around CHF 270 for the visa authorisation, registration and residence permit plus the collection of biometric data.
Local authorities
Contact the relevant local authority to find out exactly which documents you will need to present and what fees you will have to pay.
For different places of residence, contact the relevant authority’s residence services/residents’ registration office.