Useful information for Australians living in Switzerland or returning to Australia:
Smartraveller.gov.au – Everything you need to know before you go. We recommend that you check the travel advice for the countries you plan to visit and subscribe to receive travel advice updates.
Visa, Work and Residency Permit Requirements
We are unable to provide information, assistance or advice concerning visa, work, residency permit requirements for Switzerland or the Schengen area.
For Switzerland contact the local Cantonal immigration and employment market authorities:
- Swiss Migration Offices by Canton - Cantonal immigration and employment market authorities
- Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – Entry requirements, Short-stay calculator and Long-term stays
- Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Information regarding entry into Switzerland and residence
- Swiss Consulate in Sydney may also be able to assist you with your enquiry
Schengen area and more country specific information can be found on the European Commission website:
- Schengen area
- Entry/Exit System (EES) – Will start on 12 October 2025, EES is for all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling for ‘short stay’ in or out of the Schengen Area. ‘Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES - Short-stay visa calculator
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – Travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter Europe starting last quarter of 2026.
- Key differences between ETIAS and the EES
Registering a Birth in Switzerland
We recommend that you contact the Swiss Civil Registry Office or hospital/maternity clinic where your child will be born for information on how to preregister the birth. The Swiss Civil Registry Office will provide you with a list of original and recently issued documents that they require in order to register the birth and process the official birth certificate (international version called Extract).
IMPORTANT: The Swiss Civil Registry Office usually require that you provide original documents for the parents and siblings (i.e. birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates) and they must be a recently issued certificate (less than 6 months). They might also require that the original documents be legalised with an apostille.
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Australian issued documents can be legalised by our office – see our Notarial Services ‘Legalisations’ page for information.
- Foreign issued documents must be legalised by the issuing county/authority. Contact the issuing country/authority for information on having your documents reissued and legalised.
For more information on registering a birth in Switzerland visit the Swiss Confederation website CH.CH for easy answers to life in Switzerland:
Born, Married or Deceased in Australia
The Australian Consulate and Embassy do not issue Australian birth, marriage or death certificates. These certificates are issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in the state or territory in Australia where the event took place. There is a fee involved, but you can apply for a new certificate online:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
The RBDM may require that you provide certified true copies of your original documents to send to them when you order a new certificate. Australian and foreign documents for use in Australia can be certified by our office – see our Notarial Services ‘Certifying photographs and true copies of documents’ page for information.
Note: Overseas births cannot be registered in Australia. Your child is not automatically an Australian citizen when they are born overseas. You must first a apply for Australian citizenship. After your child has received citizenship, you can apply for an Australian passport.
Australian Citizenship Applications
For all children born overseas, you cannot apply for an Australian passport (this includes an emergency passport) for your child until you apply for and receive their Australian citizenship certificate (or the email confirming citizenship was ‘Acquired’).
Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website where you will find instructions, application forms and a list of frequently asked questions, including:
- Become an Australian citizen by descent – Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas
- Australian citizenship – Evidence of citizenship and certificates
- Apply for citizenship - ImmiAccount
- Citizenship processing times
Citizenship Application Form 1195 ID Verification - Please note that Passport Officers at the Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland CANNOT sign and/or verify your child’s ID on this form. For detailed information on who can assist, please see the instructions and list of professional categories mentioned on the application form or contact the Department of Home Affairs for advice.
Have Questions? We do not have a service or attached agency in Switzerland who can answer questions concerning citizenship. For detailed information, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website or phone the Home Affairs Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196. The Global Service call centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm - European business hours (excluding Australian National Public holidays). Need further assistance? See the ‘Contact us’ page for the Department of Home Affairs.
Australian Passport Application and/or Urgent Travel
Visit the Passport Services section of our website for full details on how to apply for your child’s first Australian passport. Print the checklist in step 6 on our website and follow the simple step-by-step instructions.
Need to Travel Urgently?
If you have urgent travel planned or your child requires valid ID for residency, please inform the Department of Home Affairs when you lodge your child’s citizenship application. A passport (including an emergency passport) cannot be issued for your child until you receive confirmation of their Australian citizenship (either the original certificate or the email confirming citizenship was ‘Acquired’).
Once your child receives their Australian citizenship certificate (or the email confirming citizenship was ‘Acquired’) then an emergency passport can be issued within 2 business days for them to travel while the new ordinary passport is being processed. Contact our office by email for information - [email protected]
Moving overseas
If you are moving overseas, we recommend that you contact the relevant authorities in Australia to let them know:
- Australian Electoral Commission – Overseas or going overseas
- Services Australia – Going overseas
- Australian Taxation Office – Going overseas can affect your residency and the tax you pay
National Police Certificate
A National Police Certificate (NPC) is a summary of your offender history in Australia. It's sometimes called a national police check. You might need a national police check for things such as:
- recruitment and job applications
- volunteer and not-for-profit positions
- working with children or vulnerable groups
- licensing or registration scheme applications
- work-related checks due to legislation or regulations
- Australian citizenship and permanent residence applications
- visa applications for some countries
- working overseas.
Please visit the Australian Federal Police (AFP) website for information on how to apply for a National Police Check – Apply for a National Police Certificate. If you require an apostille on the police check, please see the Notarial Services 'Legalisations' page of our website.
Returning to Australia
If you intend to leave Switzerland permanently, you should notify the Swiss and Australian authorities before you move. You will have to deregister with your local Cantonal immigration and employment market authorities and advise your health insurance, bank, the Swiss pension insurance if you are in receipt of a pension, and other relevant authorities. You may also be required to fill in a tax return for that year in both Switzerland and Australia.
You should contact Services Australia to discuss access to Medicare and other benefit payments or concession cards you may be entitled to.
Financial and Social Services in Australia
- Services Australia – my Gov
Australian Tax Office (ATO)
Voting in Australia
- Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
Customs and Quarantine for Australia
- Australian Border Force
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Therapeutic Goods Administration
Australian Dual Nationals
Australians who hold dual or multiple nationalities should leave and enter Australia using their valid Australian passport. (A visa will not be issued to an Australian citizen in their foreign passport - Visit the Passport Services page of our website for information on how to apply for an Australian Passport). If you are an Australian dual national and have questions regarding entry and exit requirements for Australia, please visit:
- Travelling as a dual citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Advice for dual nationals | Smartraveller
- Travel documents (abf.gov.au)
Important - It is the responsibility of the passport holder to ensure their travel document is suitable for entry, transit and exit and for any ongoing travel including visa requirements and passport validity. Some airlines and countries (including transit countries) will have different requirements. Check with your airline and any countries that you will be visiting/transiting during your trip to determine if they have different passport validity and entry requirements. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they meet entry requirements.
Note: Your child is not automatically an Australian citizen when they are born overseas. You must lodge a citizenship by descent application with the Department of Home Affairs if you wish your child to become an Australian citizen.
Marriage in Switzerland
Marriages are not performed at Australian Embassies or Missions overseas. To be legally married, a marriage in Switzerland must take place at a Civil Registry Office.
In order to get married in Switzerland, you must meet certain requirements and submit an official marriage application to the civil register office, and they will explain how to prepare for the ceremony. Visit the Swiss Confederation website CH.CH - Getting married where you will find detailed information, including:
- Contact details for all civil registry offices in Switzerland.
- How to obtain a visa for the purpose of marriage.
Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)
For marriage in Switzerland the Australian citizen must apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI), you must complete the form in full then sign and lodge the CNI application form in-person at the Australian Consulate in Geneva (not available in Bern).
The CNI does not state that a person is single, but only that - provided you have made a truthful statement on the application - there are no laws prohibiting an Australian national marrying in the country where you want to marry. We conduct no verifying checks in relation to issuing the certificate and this is clearly stated on the certificate as well. The CNI declaration letter (in English and French) is then prepared and sent by mail to you to provide to the civil registry office where you plan to marry.
- Download the CNI application Form: Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
- Further information on CNIs can be found on Smartraveller: Going overseas to get married?
Both parties to the marriage must fill in their details and the person (Australian only) lodge the CNI application in-person to have their signature witnessed by an authorised witness in Australia or consular staff at an Australian Embassy/Consulate overseas. If both parties are Australian citizens, then two CNI applications must be completed, one for each person. See our Notarial Services page ‘Getting married in Switzerland or Australia’ for information on how to schedule an in-person appointment.
Single Status Certificate (or No Record of Marriage)
We do not issue statements of address confirmation, civil status and/or statutory declarations for use within Switzerland. All Swiss cantonal registration offices have been advised of this, but some continue to request these statements. We recommend that you check with the civil registry office if they will allow you to make a sworn declaration, confirming the required information, with a Swiss public notary.
An Australian single status certificate isissued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in the applicant’s home state in Australia and is only available to Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents. The certificate will provide evidence that you are single. There is a fee involved, but you can apply online:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Marriage in Australia
For marriage in Australia both parties to the marriage must complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) application form and have their signature witnessed by an authorised witness in Australia or a Consular Officer overseas. This service is available at the Australian Consulate in Geneva, by appointment. See our Notarial Services page ‘Getting married in Switzerland or Australia’ for information on how to schedule an in-person appointment.
Section 42 of the Marriage Act 1961 (the Marriage Act) requires that a marriage shall not be solemnised unless a notice in writing of the intended marriage is given to the authorised celebrant solemnising the marriage at least 1 month (but no more than 18 months) before your wedding.
- Download the Notice of Intended Marriage application form: Notice of Intended Marriage
- Further information on getting married in Australia can be found on the Attorney-General’s Department website: Rules to get married in Australia
Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland are unable to provide confidential information concerning Australian citizens or residents of Australia without their prior written consent.
Find someone in Australia
We suggest that you visit the National Library of Australia website which has a list of resources and organisations to help you locate your family or friends in Australia. There are several tools and directories available that allow you to independently search for friends and family.
Find someone in Switzerland
The Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland are unable to provide information, legal advice or assist with locating a Swiss citizen in Switzerland. We suggest that you contact a Swiss lawyer who may be able to assist or provide information on which authorities to contact.
We can direct you to the Swiss Bar Association website where you can search for a lawyer by canton, language, and area of specialisation.
Alternatively, you could contact the Swiss Consulate in Sydney who might be able to assist you or provide additional information.
English-Speaking Lawyers and Notaries
The Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland are unable to provide legal advice or become involved in Swiss legal proceedings. We can direct you to the following websites:
- The Swiss Bar Association - where you can search for a lawyer by canton, language, and area of specialisation.
- Fédération Suisse des Notaires - where you can search for a Swiss Notary by canton and language.
- The Swiss Federal Office of Justice - The FOJ is responsible for legislative matters pertaining to constitutional and administrative law, private law and criminal law.
Further information on what help we may provide and what we can’t do for Australians overseas can be found on Smartraveller - Consular Service Charter.
Translation Services and Sworn Translators
The Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland are unable to provide translation services or recommendation on translation companies, however we can provide you with the following information:
- National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interprets (NAATI) - Australia’s national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia.
- Swiss Association of Sworn Translators (ASTJ) - The Association brings together experts in no less than 30 languages authorized by the authorities to establish written translations that require official certification. For this purpose, the sworn translators hold an official stamp of the State.
- Sworn Translators registered in Geneva. Check with your local cantonal authority to see if they provide a list of registered sworn translators.
- There are also many translation companies and individuals that are registered in Switzerland as sworn translators. Check with the translation company or individual to confirm that they are registered in Switzerland before requesting their services.
Official translations completed by a Swiss registered sworn translator are accepted in Australia.
Most Swiss issued documents/certificates can be reissued as an international version (called Extract) showing English which is faster and less expensive than having the document translated. Please contact the Swiss civil registry office where the event took place for information on how to order a new international version of your document/certificate.
The above information is general in nature. We advise you to check with the requesting authority for further information and advice on the types of translators/translation services accepted.
The Australian Consulate and Embassy in Switzerland are unable to recommend English-speaking doctors, dentists or other medical professionals, however we can direct you to the following websites:
- OneDoc – For all Switzerland where you can search and book a medical or dental appointment online by speciality, location and language spoken.
Below is a list of public hospitals in Switzerland by canton. Most Swiss hospitals have English-speaking staff:
Geneva
Zurich
- University Hospital in Zurich (USZ)
- Stadtspital Zürich Triemli
- Stadtspital Waid
- Kinderspital Zürich (University Children's Hospital Zurich)
Vaud
Valais
Lucerne
Basel
Grison
Ticino
St Gallen
Further information on what help we may provide and what we can’t do for Australians overseas can be found on Smartraveller - Consular Service Charter.