If you need to legalise your signature on a document which you must submit to an authority or institution in Switzerland – for example an authorisation for submission to a land register or commercial register, you need to come in person during opening hours to the counter of the Swiss representation with a valid identification document (ID) and the document on which your signature is to be affixed. The Swiss representations reserve the right to request additional supporting documents if necessary.

If the authentification of your signature is required on a document intended for use in a third country (foreign authority) you will need to contact the foreign representation in this country responsible for your place of domicile for information on the procedures required for the legalisation of a signature. It may be the case however that the foreign authority which has requested authentification of your signature will recognise only legalisation carried out by its own embassy or consulate in the country in question.

In so far as banking is concerned, Swiss banks are required to follow the rules of the Agreement on the Swiss banks' code of conduct with regard to the exercise of due diligence (CDB), which requires them to verify the identity of a client by means of an official document such as a passport.

If the Swiss bank that concerns you has a subsidiary, a branch, a representative, a company in its banking group, or a financial intermediary in your country, it will be able to look after your banking needs directly. The headquarters of your bank in Switzerland will provide you with information on the various possibilities.

Agreement on the Swiss banks' code of conduct with regard to the exercise of due diligence (CDB)

Information concerning the legalisation of private signatures with regard to declarations concerning civil status will be found under the heading Civil Status on this website: