Government of Canada services and information in Bern, Switzerland

Please consult ch.ch: Adoption - who should I contact?

Refer to International adoption.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

Please consult ch.ch: Birth.

Complete your application for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship online.

In rare cases, the system may direct you to apply through the Embassy of Canada in Bern. You should then send us your application by registered mail, but are required to include a printout of the system's refusal with the application.

Delays for the issuance of Certificate of Canadian Citizenship are published online.

Failure to provide a complete application or the necessary documents may result in the rejection of your application.

You will find all relevant information by visiting Criminal record checks or by contacting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) directly:

Phone: Calls outside Canada 001-613-998-6362

Email: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Mail: Director General
Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services
RCMP, NPS Bldg.
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa ON
Canada K1A 0R2

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

This information is given on a non-official basis and is subject to change by the Swiss authorities. It is important to note that before a civil marriage can be performed, you must meet a number of legal requirements and submit an application to your local civil register office.

Please be advised that Canadian diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted under the law of Canada to solemnize marriages nor can they allow the solemnization of marriages in the diplomatic/consular premises.

Civil Marriage

For Civil Marriage a number of original documents must be produced. To obtain a complete list, you should contact the Civil Registry (Zivilstandesamt in German, Office de l’Etat civil in French, Ufficio dello stato civile in Italian) of the canton in which you want to get married or – if you are in Canada – the Swiss diplomatic representation responsible for your area.

For Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Swiss residence permit, you will be asked for a certificate of non-impediment to marriage. As Canadian law neither requires nor provides for the issuance of such a certificate, Swiss authorities frequently accept, as a substitute document, an affidavit or solemn declaration sworn before an official of the Embassy of Canada which confirms your civil status as “not married” and your place of residence. If you require such a document, you must make an appointment and appear in person at the Embassy of Canada during consular office hours with your valid Canadian passport.

Applicable fees can be paid with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

For Canadian citizens holding a valid Swiss residence permit this document must be obtained from the local Civil Registry Office.

Religious Marriage

You may also get married in a church, but only after the civil ceremony. For information, contact the church office of your place of residence.

Acknowledgement of Paternity - Naturalization

The same attestation as for civil marriage is required for acknowledgment of paternity and – if you are single - for naturalization. However, in both cases Canadian citizens holders or not of a valid Swiss residence permit must appear at the Embassy of Canada with a valid Canadian passport.

The Embassy provides notarial services by appointment or registered mail to Canadian citizens and, in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are intended for use in Canada. Note: Documents must be in English or French or accompanied by an official translation in English or French.

In-person appointments or per-mail arrangements for notarial services may only be confirmed after a consular officer has vetted that we are able to provide the intended services. Most services can be performed by registered mail.

Conversely, since January 11, 2024, some services are only available through the provincial vital statistics office in Canada or through the Authentication section of Global Affairs Canada.

Apostille

As of January 11, 2024, Canadian documents are authenticated with an apostille. The Embassy may authenticate certain documents issued by the Government of Canada or notarized in specific provinces and territories. The following documents may be eligible for authentication via apostille:

1. Documents issued by the Government of Canada
2. Vital statistics documents issued by all provinces and territories
3. Certain documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories:

• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• the Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon

If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, the Embassy can also assist no matter where it was originally issued.

Competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for authenticating all other documents issued or notarized in their respective provinces. These documents must be submitted to the competent authorities and will not be authenticated at the Embassy.

• Alberta: Ministry of Justice of Alberta
• British Columbia: Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia
• Ontario: Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario
• Quebec: Ministère de la Justice du Québec
• Saskatchewan: Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan

Visit Changes to authentications services in Canada for more information on how authentication services changed after the Apostille Convention took effect in Canada on January 11, 2024.

The following services may be offered at the Embassy in Bern:

Apostille/Authentication/Attestation (certify that the signature on a document, the position of the official having placed it and the seal are genuine) – these services are always available by registered mail:

• Documents issued in Canada must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa before the office will authenticate the documents (fees apply).
• Clients requiring information about authenticating documents while outside of Canada, refer to Authentication of documents.

Certified copy (certify that the document is a true copy of the original) – these services are always available by registered mail:

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification of which a copy must be certified as true (fees apply).

Witnessing a signature (consular officer witnesses that someone places a signature before them) – these services are always provided in person:

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Witness a signature on a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad form (fees apply).
• Government-issued forms and documents requiring a witnessed signature (fees apply).

Please send to BernConsular@international.gc.ca a complete scan of the document(s) on which you seek to have notarial services performed, as well as a description of those services. If you have been directed to our Embassy by a service provider, please include their email address in your message to us. Do not forget to also include a phone number where we may reach you if we have questions.

Note: Prepare all documents but do not sign them. Sign the documents when you are directed to do so by the consular officer.

Complete your passport application and pay your fee online. Include a copy of your online payment receipt. You can combine multiple applications in the same envelope and in the same payment. Passports sent in one envelope will be returned together in one envelope, along with all original documentation.

Mail your passport application by registered mail to:

Embassy of Canada
Consular Section
P.O. Box 234
CH-3000 Berne 6

We do not send receipt confirmations. We will only contact you if additional information is required. Processing times are 20 working days.

Please book an appointment only if we have asked you to present your documents in person. In-person appointments are only granted in exceptional circumstances, e.g. for emergency consular assistance. If this is the case, please contact us at BernConsular@international.gc.ca or 031 357 32 00.

Dual Canadian citizens require a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada.

Report a lost or stolen passport.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad and Retiring abroad.

If you are residing in Switzerland, you should submit your pension claim from Canada (including Quebec) to the Swiss compensation Office SCO.

Swiss compensation Office SCO Av. Edmond-Vaucher 18

P.O. Box 3100
1211 Geneva 2

Tel.: +41 58 461 91 11 telephone enquiries: 8h00 to 17h00
Fax: +41 22 795 97 05 / +41 22 795 97 06

www.zas.admin.ch

This information is given on a non-official basis and is subject to change by the Swiss authorities. It is important to note that before a civil marriage can be performed, you must meet a number of legal requirements and submit an application to your local civil register office.

Please be advised that Canadian diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted under the law of Canada to solemnize marriages nor can they allow the solemnization of marriages in the diplomatic/consular premises.

Civil Marriage

For Civil Marriage a number of original documents must be produced. To obtain a complete list, you should contact the Civil Registry (Zivilstandesamt in German, Office de l’Etat civil in French, Ufficio dello stato civile in Italian) of the canton in which you want to get married or – if you are in Canada – the Swiss diplomatic representation responsible for your area.

For Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Swiss residence permit, you will be asked for a certificate of non-impediment to marriage. As Canadian law neither requires nor provides for the issuance of such a certificate, Swiss authorities frequently accept, as a substitute document, an affidavit or solemn declaration sworn before an official of the Embassy of Canada which confirms your civil status as “not married” and your place of residence. If you require such a document, you must make an appointment and appear in person at the Embassy of Canada during consular office hours with your valid Canadian passport.

Applicable fees can be paid with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

For Canadian citizens holding a valid Swiss residence permit this document must be obtained from the local Civil Registry Office.

Religious Marriage

You may also get married in a church, but only after the civil ceremony. For information, contact the church office of your place of residence.

Acknowledgement of Paternity - Naturalization

The same attestation as for civil marriage is required for acknowledgment of paternity and – if you are single - for naturalization. However, in both cases Canadian citizens holders or not of a valid Swiss residence permit must appear at the Embassy of Canada with a valid Canadian passport.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.