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Are you planning a move to Bern, Switzerland, from the UK? The Capital of Switzerland has a lot to offer from historic buildings, a strong economy, and a love of bears. Yes, you heard that right, the city has had a continuous population of bears in a special park, and also the animal is the symbol of the city. But first, you’ll need the know-how to help you move there, and Sirelo has you covered! So, read our guide for moving costs, an essential checklist, and even free removal quotes!
As with any move, the first step in planning your move to the City of Fountains, from the UK will be assessing the cost. This can be a difficult feat, but fortunately you’ve come to Sirelo, and we’ve done the groundwork. From our calculations, an average 3-bed home removal to Bern can cost between £2,200 – £3,100. It’s a pretty decent price!
There are a few factors that will influence the cost of your international move to Bern. One of the factors that will have the great effect is the volume of your move, for which we have a great volume calculator! To exemplify the effect of volume, we’ve estimated the cost of moving to Bern, Switzerland, from London, UK, for different household sizes.
| Household size | Time | Estimate |
| 1-bed flat | 9-11 days | £1,400 – £1,900 |
| 3-bed house | 2-4 days | £2,200 – £3,100 |
| 5-bed house | 2-4 days | £3,700 – £5,000 |
One thing to note is that these prices are based on road transport. Other options do exist, it’s just road transport is the most reasonable choice. It’s possible to transport by plane, which is very quick, but can cost between £3,900 – £5,400. Furthermore, it’s only an option for small moves. Additionally, there is the option for sea shipping, but this is expensive and can take up to 8 weeks. So, that’s likely a no.
We mentioned in passing that there were multiple factors that would affect the cost of removals to Bern. Now, we’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the international removal costs, other than volume, that will be most pertinent:
If you’re wondering whether there is a better way to receive removal quotes from companies than scouring the internet, we’re glad to tell you there is! Just fill in the form below and you’ll receive removal quotes from up to 5 removals companies. Simple, and it’s completely free!
Moving will be as easy as you are prepared. Thus, if your hope is to move to the City of Fountains with minimal stress, then pay attention to this next section and maybe even check out our comprehensive moving abroad checklist. Take the first step on the right foot! 😉
If you are fortunate enough to be the holder of an EU/EEA passport, then great news, you can move to Bern without any requirements. So, enjoy making Bern the next place that you can call home!
If the above doesn’t apply to you, don’t give up hope, yet! You can skill move to Bern, you will just need a work permit, which requires a high skill job and an employer to apply on your behalf, or a long-term visa, which requires proof of funds and can be acquired through the Swiss embassy.
For easy moving process, be sure to sort out all your documents well in advance. Keep them safe and even make duplicates!
If there’s one thing you should do when packing, it is start early, at least one month. Furthermore, you should approach it in an as organised manner as possible. If you feel in need of help, you can consult Sirelo’s expert packing guide to avoid any disasters!
Furthermore, when moving your household goods to Bern, they’ll need to pass the Swiss border. If there’s one thing you can say about the border control, they are very thorough. You’ll need to make a meticulous list of everything you are bringing into the country!
Don’t believe us? You can read more on the Swiss government’s page for moving household effects.
✔️Health Insurance
Switzerland has a great healthcare system, and when you’re moving to Bern, you won’t immediately be able to use the state option with a way to pay for it. Thus, it’s a good idea to have a GHIC or avail of private health insurance. You might also keep it so you can enjoy the great private option as well!
Nobody loves tax and if you don’t want to pay in two countries, inform HMRC that you are leaving to live abroad.
✔️Register
As a British citizen you have to register with the local authority within 8 days of arrival. You can do this in the Einwohnerkontrolle. For more information on the registration process you can look at the Bern city website.
To register you will need the following things:
✔️ Banking
Unless you happen to be a fan of losing money to conversion fees and trying long distance communication with your bank, opening an account with a local bank seems like a great idea. Some of the big banks in the area are:
An international move doesn’t have to mean leaving your furry friend behind! If you would like to move to Bern with your pet just be sure that they have:
✔️ Learn German
While Switzerland has three national languages, which is a lot for one country, Bern falls into the German speaking region of the country. So, a good level of Germany will definitely help! However, you should be aware that Swiss German and traditional German differ so you should be aware of that!
Moving to Bern, or just Switzerland, can be a very difficult task without a job. You’ll need it to support your new life, but also to obtain a work permit to enter the country, if you’re coming from outside the EU/EEA.
So, one of your priorities should be to secure a job, especially a high-skills or managerial position, before you start planning your move. Below are some sites to start your job search:
The working culture in Switzerland and Bern in general is very hard working. They tend to arrive early and work hard. The good news is that the quality of life in Switzerland is amongst the best in the world, not least because employers look after employees with high wages and long holidays (the legal minimum is 4 weeks holiday per year)!
Additionally, although contracts might be slightly longer (42 hours p/w as opposed to 40 back home) people do tend to leave quite promptly something unheard of for many workers in London.
Well, this is the end of the article. We hope you enjoyed reading it and are sure that you’ve learned some very useful things for your move to Bern, Switzerland. And now is time to put this new knowledge to good use and start your new life!
While we think you’re ready, you might feel better with reading some more about moving, that why we linked some articles below that you might find valuable. So, give them a read and good luck with your move!
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