News release

• Registration and voting for Swiss citizens
• Issue of Swiss passports
• Registration of births, marriages, divorces and deaths
• Legalisation of signatures on documents required by Swiss authorities
• Assistance to Swiss citizens in case of accidents, deaths, serious illness, thefts and other hardship situations. Arrange for repatriation in case of urgent need
• In case of arrest: visit as soon as possible, procuration of lawyer upon request, advice on local procedures, notification of next-of-kin if desired

For matters pertaining to the voluntary old-age, survivors and disability insurance scheme for Swiss citizens residing abroad (AHV/IV - AVS/AI), please contact the AHV/AVS-office in Geneva.

Please note that help and assistance to dual Canadian/Swiss nationals may be limited.

• Obtain employment or accommodation
• Supply funds for payment of bills
• Certify notarial acts
• Provide legal advice
• Intervene in pending law-suits
• Provide interpretation or translation services

The number of Swiss who take the plunge to live abroad is growing year by year. For those prepared to take this step, there are a great many obstacles and questions to be resolved. How do I exercise my political rights from abroad? Whom do I contact when I need a new Swiss passport? Which media report comprehensively on Swiss affairs and can be accessed from abroad? The answers to these and many other questions about living abroad are contained in the new “Advice for Swiss Abroad”.

 All publications of the Service for Swiss Abroad