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Verified rules

Having a child

Birth registration, health insurance within 3 months, family allowance and parental leave.

Civena’s verified rule set covers 5 steps for this situation. Which of them apply depends on your canton, commune, permit and household.

Rules checked against official sources on 23 September 2026.

Work out my steps

Short answer

What you may have to do

After the move

  1. Birth registration with the civil register office

    Municipality: MunicipalityDeadline: Within 3 days of birth

    The birth must be registered within three days at the civil register office of the place of birth. Normally the hospital, birth centre or midwife does this; you only need to act if no professional was present.

    Authority: Civil register office of the place of birth (ch.ch, opens in a new tab)

  2. Take out basic health insurance for your baby

    Federal: FederalDeadline: Within 3 months of birth

    Insure your baby within three months of birth; cover then applies retroactively from birth. Supplementary insurance is best arranged before the birth.

    Authority: ch.ch – Swiss authorities online (ch.ch, opens in a new tab)

  3. Apply for family allowance

    Federal: Federal

    Family allowance is not paid automatically. Employees apply through their employer; self-employed people apply to their family allowance fund. Claims can be made up to five years retroactively.

    Authority: ch.ch – Swiss authorities online (ch.ch, opens in a new tab)

  4. If you gave birth: maternity allowance

    Federal: Federal

    Maternity leave lasts 14 weeks, with an allowance of 80% of earnings up to CHF 220 per day, if you were AHV-insured for 9 months and worked 5 months before the birth.

    Authority: ch.ch – Swiss authorities online (ch.ch, opens in a new tab)

  5. Other parent: take the 2-week leave within 6 months

    Federal: FederalDeadline: Within 6 months of birth

    The other parent’s leave is two weeks (14 daily allowances), paid at 80% up to CHF 220 per day, and must be taken within six months of the birth.

    Authority: ch.ch – Swiss authorities online (ch.ch, opens in a new tab)

Official starting points

Frequently asked questions

What do I have to do: Having a child?
Depending on your situation, the steps include: Take out basic health insurance for your baby; Apply for family allowance; If you gave birth: maternity allowance; Other parent: take the 2-week leave within 6 months.
Take out basic health insurance for your baby: what is the deadline?
Within 3 months of birth. KVG Art. 3: insurance within three months of birth.
Other parent: take the 2-week leave within 6 months: what is the deadline?
Within 6 months of birth. ch.ch: co-parental leave.