Adoption

Services and visa

All consular services and visa support for people resident in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon are provided by the Embassy of Switzerland in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Information can be found on the websites concerned:

Services – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon
Visa – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Online desk FDFA

Using the FDFA’s online consular services while abroad.

The relevant Swiss representation abroad can answer any questions concerning the FDFA’s online desk.

Please refer to the French page for country-specific information.

The adoption of your child must be reported to your Swiss representation abroad so that the data in the various Swiss registers can be updated.

The civil status authority in Switzerland is responsible for recognising the adoption according to Swiss law and for entering the corresponding information in the Swiss civil status register. Your Swiss representation will enter the information in the Register of the Swiss Abroad.

In order to do so, your representation needs certain documents from you.

The adoption of your child abroad must be entered into the various Swiss registers, whether or not it has taken place within or outside of the framework of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Hague Convention). This updating of the registers is free of charge.

Federal Office of Justice – What is the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Hague Convention)? (de, fr, it)

Normally, you must submit the following adoption documents to your Swiss representation with any necessary legalisations so that the representation can forward them to Switzerland:

original birth certificate of the child before adoption
original adoption decision mentioning the place where it was granted (if possible with a statement of enforceability)
original birth certificate of the child after adoption
if applicable, original certificate confirming that the child was adopted in accordance with the provisions of the 1993 Hague Convention within the meaning of Article 23 (Certificate of Conformity of Intercountry Adoption)

The DRC has not acceded to the Hague Convention on Adoption CLaH-93.

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.

Report the adoption of your child online:

Online desk

Information on Swiss citizenship is available at

Citizenship

Are your children Swiss or can they become Swiss? (PDF, 2 Pages, 321.2 kB, English)

A standard Swiss identity document can only be issued if the child's adoption has been entered in the Swiss civil status register, and if the adopted child's Swiss nationality has been confirmed by the civil status authority concerned. In case of emergency, please contact your Swiss representation.