News overview Life and travel abroad

In view of the volatile situation in the Middle East, Switzerland must be able to act swiftly and in a coordinated fashion.

Through its first consular strategy, the Federal Council is restructuring consular work to make it fit for a networked, digital and increasingly mobile Switzerland abroad.

The FDFA is changing – adjustments to transferable careers. The application process for transferable careers in general starts on 26 May. Applications for consular careers at specialist level may be submitted from 28 July 2025.

Il 24 per cento delle Svizzere e degli Svizzeri all’estero ha più di 65 anni. Questa evoluzione demografica influenza le esigenze della nostra comunità all’estero.

The new SwissInTouch app is designed to optimise communications between the Swiss abroad and their representation.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis shares his 1 August 2024 remarks while Swiss ambassadors give us a peek into their homeland nostalgia.

Three Voices from the World of the three careers “International Cooperation”, “Diplomacy” and “Consular Affairs, Management and Finance (KBF)”.

According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the Swiss community abroad grew by 1.7% in 2023. Europe is home to the largest community of Swiss nationals living abroad.

The latest version of the FDFA Consular Directorate's travel app, the Travel Admin app 3.0, has a new design and is now easier to use.

As part of a working visit to Asia and Oceania, which includes stops in Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney, and Wellington, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will celebrate this year's Swiss national day with members of the country's diaspora. At the end of 2022, there were more than 800,000 Swiss citizens living abroad.

Due to the forest fires on Rhodes, many tourists are leaving the island. The FDFA provides information on the current situation via the FDFA helpline and the Travel Admin App.

The number of Swiss nationals living abroad passed the 800,000 mark in 2022. There has been a steady increase since 2002.

With travel abroad comes personal responsibility. How the FDFA expects Swiss citizens to prepare for stays abroad.

The Travel Admin app provides useful information, tips and checklists so that you may carefully plan your trip; what's more, it can prove to be an essential tool offering assistance in the event of an emergency.

La Svizra unescha quatter linguas e culturas. Quai è ina schanza, sco ch’ils Dis dal plurilinguissem punctueschan.

Switzerland is home to four languages and cultures. This is an exciting opportunity, as Plurilingualism Week illustrates.

The Consular Directorate is a central point of contact which provides an essential public service to Swiss citizens at home and abroad.

This year, the FDFA is launching a digital version of the national holiday for the first time with its project "Mission August 1st ". The heart of the project is a multilingual and interactive website.

Switzerland is lifting travel restrictions for all EU/EFTA countries and the United Kingdom as of Monday 15 June. The FDFA has issued 5 travel tips for preparing for your journey.

For underage children travelling abroad with only one parent or without a legal guardian, it is recommended to write a declaration of consent.

In an interview with "Schaffhauser Nachrichten", Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis talks about how Switzerland is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the difficult path back to normality. He also said that various foreign policy issues needed to be assessed.