A child is born. This is what you must do

Reporting the birth, health insurance, money after the birth and counselling for parents. The first steps in Luzern.

Congratulations! After the birth there are a few steps. Most are simple. Here you see what is important in Luzern.

Reporting the birth

Your child is born in the hospital? Then the hospital reports the birth to the civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt). You do not have to do anything. You get the birth certificate by post.

For a birth at home you report it yourself. You do this within 3 days at the civil registry office. The midwife can also do this.

The Regionales Zivilstandsamt Luzern is at Obergrundstrasse 1. Phone: 041 208 82 31. Appointments only by registration.

Not married?

The father can acknowledge the child. This is called acknowledgement of paternity (Vaterschaftsanerkennung). This is possible before or after the birth at the civil registry office. It costs CHF 75 plus possible additional fees.

Health insurance for the baby

Register your baby with a health insurance (Krankenkasse). Ideally before the birth. At the latest 3 months after the birth.

Money after the birth

You may be entitled to money. Here you check this:

  • Maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsentschädigung): Mothers who have worked get money for 14 weeks. Ask your employer or the compensation office (Ausgleichskasse, WAS Luzern).
  • Family allowances (Familienzulagen, Kinderzulage): Money per child, every month. More in the entry «Family allowances».
  • Birth allowance (Geburtszulage): Kanton Luzern pays money once at the birth. Ask the WAS Luzern.

Counselling for parents

The parent counselling service (Mütter- und Väterberatung) helps you for free. For example with questions about breastfeeding, sleeping and development. Kasernenplatz 3, Luzern. Phone: 041 208 73 33.

What you can do now

  1. Check if the birth certificate has arrived by post.
  2. Register your baby with the health insurance.
  3. Report the birth to your employer. Ask about maternity benefit and child allowance.
  4. Contact the Mütter- und Väterberatung: 041 208 73 33.
  5. Ask the Amt für Migration what you must do for the permit of the baby.

Stadt Luzern, Regionales Zivilstandsamt: Geburt und Anerkennung (2026-09-21)

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