Consular Directorate
As a central contact point, the Consular Directorate provides client-friendly consular services worldwide. Within the Federal Administration, it fulfils a coordinating role as a central point of contact for Swiss nationals abroad. It supports Swiss representations abroad in preparing for crises, coordinates the management of crises abroad and is responsible for security matters.
The Consular Directorate (CD) establishes the basis for the consular services offered to Swiss nationals abroad and to other service users around the world. It provides information around the clock on all consular services via the FDFA Helpline, issues the FDFA's travel advice and offers further guidance and support. Based on the Swiss Abroad Act, the CD can provide consular protection to people who find themselves in an emergency abroad. In certain situations, it can also provide social assistance to Swiss nationals abroad.
The CD also coordinates matters relating to the Swiss abroad within the Federal Administration. To this end, it works closely with other federal units, cantonal bodies, foreign authorities and national and international partners.
The CD provides the external network with an efficient framework for visa matters, particularly in the areas of working tools, processes and quality assurance. It is responsible for outsourcing and acts as the interface to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
The CD supports the Swiss representations abroad in preparing for crises and coordinates the management of crises around the world that affect Swiss representations or citizens.
As a preventive measure, the CD also publishes the FDFA's travel advice, which focuses on politics and criminality with the aim of raising public awareness of possible risks when travelling abroad.
Finally, the CD is also responsible for the security of Swiss representations abroad and their staff and manages security incidents that affect them.
Links
- FDFA Helpline
- Online desk for Swiss nationals residing abroad
- Travel Admin
- Federal Act on Swiss Persons and Institutions Abroad (Swiss Abroad Act, SAA)
- Ordinance on Swiss Persons and Institutions Abroad (Swiss Abroad Ordinance, SAO)
- Passport and identity card for Swiss citizens living abroad
- Travel advice explained in brief
- The consular services of the FDFA
- Preparations for a stay abroad, emigration and repatriation
- Statistics on the Swiss Abroad
Documents
Contact
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Bern