Published on 31 August 2026

Death

The death of a Swiss citizen, of their spouse or of their registered partner must be reported to the Swiss representation abroad so that the data in the various Swiss registers can be updated.

In the case of a death abroad, the foreign authorities do not automatically forward the death certificate to the Swiss representation. You therefore need to submit the required documents to your Swiss representation. The civil status authority in Switzerland is in charge of entering the information on the death in its register.

The death of someone entered in the Register of the Swiss Abroad in Switzerland must also be reported to the Swiss representation.

• Death abroad

  If the death occurs abroad, this must be entered in the Swiss civil status register. This updating of the register is free of charge.

  Please submit the following documents and information to the Swiss representation responsible for the place of residence of the deceased:

  • original death certificate
  • Swiss identity documents of the deceased (passport and identity card). The voided documents can be returned for commemorative purposes if the family requests this when submitting them.
  • contact information for reaching a member of the surviving family

  Important: Documents certified by a notary public will not be accepted.

  Obtaining U.S. Vital Records
  

  Transcripts of death records are issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the capital of the state in which the death occurred.

  US vital records

  Cayman Islands Civil Status Documents
  

  Please note that all documents of civil status issued in the Cayman Island require an Apostille.

  For information contact the Authorities of the Cayman Islands

  Obtaining civil status documents from countries other than Switzerland and the USA

  Foreign civil status documents must be legalized by the Swiss diplomatic or consular representation responsible for that state. The requirements are very different from one country to the other. To find out which documents will have to be submitted, consult the webpage of the responsible Swiss representation or ask your Swiss representation in the United States.

  Photocopies are not accepted.

  The original documents are submitted to the civil status authority concerned in Switzerland and must not be older than six months. They will not be returned. Photocopies are not accepted. Additional documents may be required if necessary.

  The cost of a thorough verification, should it be necessary, of the foreign civil status documents by a lawyer approved by the Swiss representation are at your expense.

• Death in Switzerland

  A death in Switzerland must be reported to the Swiss representation abroad so that the data in the Register of the Swiss Abroad can be updated. This updating is free of charge.

  Please submit the following documents and information to the Swiss representation responsible for the place of residence of the deceased:

  • photocopy of the Swiss death certificate
  • Swiss identity documents of the deceased (passport and identity card), if these have not already been voided by a passport office in Switzerland. The voided documents can be returned for commemorative purposes if the family requests this when submitting them.
  • contact information for reaching a member of the surviving family

• Ordering a death certificate

  Regarding deaths abroad, the civil status authority of the place abroad where the death occurred is in charge of issuing the death certificate.

  Click here to order a certificate for a death that occurred in Switzerland:

  Ordering Swiss civil status documents

• Changing your surname back to your birth name

  If you were married or civil partnered with the deceased and had changed your surname when you married or registered your partnership, you can change your surname back to your birth name by contacting the Swiss representation abroad.

  If you make this change, you will also have to ask the appropriate authorities to renew certain official documents (passport, identity card, driving licence, etc.).

  Applying for an identity document