Death abroad

To register a death which occurred abroad in the Swiss civil status register (Infostar), the following documents and information have to be submitted to the competent Swiss representation:

• death certificate - original
• Swiss identity documents (passport & identity card) for cancellation – at the written request of the family, the cancelled documents can be returned as mementos (please specify this when submitting the documents)
• address and contact details of the surviving relatives

Death in Malta:

• Att ta' mewt / Act of death

Please note:

All certificates of civil status issued in Malta have to be provided with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.

Most certificates of civil status can be requested with apostille online visiting the website of the Ministry for home affairs:

Certificates of civil status

The Swiss Embassy in Rome will only accept original documents (no photocopies) and only documents not older than six months.

Death in Switzerland

The competent Swiss representation must also be notified of the death in Switzerland of Swiss Abroad or their foreign spouses, in order to update the personal details in the register of the Swiss Abroad. The following documents and information have to be submitted to the competent Swiss representation:

• photocopy of Swiss death certificate (original not required)
• Swiss identity documents (passport & identity card) for cancellation, if they have not been cancelled already by a passport office in Switzerland – at the written request of the family, the cancelled documents can be returned as mementos (please specify this when submitting the documents)
• address and contact details of the surviving relatives