Assistance abroad

Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals who get into difficulties when abroad can request advice and assistance from the Swiss embassy or general consulate.

Consular protection extended by Swiss embassies and consulates chiefly comprises services which cannot be provided by means of travel insurance. If you are intending to travel abroad, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) recommends you take out insurance covering additional costs that may arise in connection with rescue, medical treatment, repatriation and legal protection.

Consular protection cannot take effect until the affected person has exhausted every means of helping himself. If an emergency occurs, with the aid of the person seeking assistance the embassy or consulate clarifies the possibilities for support. The representation relies on constructive cooperation with the affected persons. Ultimately they make decisions and act independently and on their own responsibility.

The assistance provided by the FDFA depends on individual needs, local conditions and the legal situation. It includes the following services:

• issuing a temporary travel document to people who have lost their passports or identity cards
• assisting with the transfer abroad of funds from Switzerland
• notifying rescue services
• providing repayable advances for the trip home or medical treatment
• arranging contact with doctors, hospitals or emergency services, visiting the sick or injured person in hospital if necessary and possible
• organising repatriation
• in the event of death, notifying the family of the deceased; arranging the return or burial or cremation of their remains.
• if a person has been arrested: inform his family; arrange a court-appointed counsel and, if necessary, an official interpreter to defend the rights of the detainee; provide addresses of private law firms; visit the detainee in prison; campaign for the humane treatment and respect for basic rights of the person during his imprisonment.

The FDFA cannot:

• issue a passport at a foreign airport or apply for an entry or exit visa
• issue copies of driving licences and vehicle registration documents
• act as branches of travel agencies, health insurers or banks
• make police enquires and investigations
• provide medical care / treatment, give medical advice
• meet the costs of rescue operations, repatriation, or repatriating sick or deceased persons
• advance cash for the payment of debts and fines
• get detainees released from prison
• intervene in legal proceedings abroad
• take measures that violate legal norms of the host country

Reimbursement of outgoings and fees

Representative offices abroad are legally obliged to charge for consular protection services:

• Fees on the basis of the time involved (CHF 150.- per hour): In the case of accident, illness, death or arrest, the first 4 working hours gratis; assistance provided to victims of serious crime is free of charge; in the case of indigence, the fees can be waived.
• Outgoings must be reimbursed to the representative office. Because the costs of rescue, medical treatment, repatriation for health reasons, in the event of death or for lawyer’s fees are very high in an unexpected legal dispute, the FDFA strongly recommends that you take out travel insurance.