Government of Canada services and information in Bern, Switzerland

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

Refer to International adoption.

Refer to Birth abroad.

Please consult ch.ch: Birth.

Complete your application for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship online. Should the system direct you to apply through the Embassy of Canada in Bern, please write to BernConsular@international.gc.ca to receive detailed instructions on how to apply in these rare cases.

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 www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/criminal-record-and-vulnerable-sector-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 abroad.

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 office provides the following notarial services, by appointment only, 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 for notarial services may only be confirmed after a consular officer has vetted that we are able to provide the intended services. Some notarial services are performed by registered mail.

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 mission by a service provider, please include their email among the attachments in your reply. Do not forget to also include a phone number where we may reach you if we have questions.

The following services may be offered:

Authentication/Attestation (certify that the signature on a document, the position of the official having placed it and the seal are genuine):

• Documents issued in Canada must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa before the office will certify the documents (fees apply).

• Witness a signature on a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad form (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):

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

Witnessing a signature (consular officer witnesses that someone places a signature before them):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a witnessed signature (fees apply).

Note: Prepare all documents but do not sign them. Sign the documents before sending them in if you are directed to do so by the consular officer or, in rare cases, when you are in front of the consular officer at the booked appointment.

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 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.

• Submit visa applications and study and work permits to a visa application centre (VAC). Book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a VAC.
• Submit permanent residence applications and documents to a visa office.
• Submit applications to overcome criminal inadmissibility to a visa office.

Refer to Elections (voting from abroad).