Travel Advisory: Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions...Read More
  •  
United States of America, Department of State

U.S. Embassy in Switzerland
and Liechtenstein

Social / Search – EN

TwitterFacebookInstagram
|
[Skip to Content]
  • Visas
    • Nonimmigrant Visas
      • For travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange.

      • Read More
    • Immigrant Visas
      • For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States.

      • Read More
    • Visa Waiver Program
      • The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries* to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, when they meet all requirements.

      • Are You Eligible?
    • Travel & Tourism in the U.S.
      • woman standing in front of the Washington monument
      • Visit the U.S.!
  • U.S. Citizen Services
    • Alerts and Messages
      • Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to Switzerland.

      • See all Alerts and Messages
    • Emergency Assistance
      • U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call +41 31 357 70 11

        Outside of Office Hours, contact: +41 31 357 70 11

        Outside of Switzerland: +41 31 357 70 11

      • Emergency Contact – All Locations
      • International Parental Child Abduction
      • Arrest of a U.S. Citizen
      • Death of a U.S. Citizen
      • Victims of Crime
      • Emergency Financial Assistance
    • Passports & Citizenship
      • Passport Services
      • Citizenship Services
      • Child and Family Matters
    • Local Resources
      • Legal Assistance
      • Medical Assistance
      • Notarial Services
    • Federal Programs
      • Internal Revenue Service
      • Selective Service Registration
      • Social Security
      • Veterans Affairs
      • Voting
  • Our Relationship
    • U.S. Mission Leaders
      • Ambassador Scott C. Miller
      • Deputy Chief of Mission Dana M. Brown
    • U.S. Government Leaders
      • President of the United States
      • Vice President of the United States
      • U.S. Secretary of State
    • U.S. & Switzerland
      • Policy & History
      • Official Reports
      • U.S. & Liechtenstein
  • Business
    • Doing Business in Switzerland
      • Getting Started in Switzerland
      • Overseas Security Advisory Council
      • Economic Data & Reports
    • Doing Business in the U.S.
      • Getting Started in the U.S.
      • 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit
      • Economic Data & Reports
  • Education & Culture
    • Study in the U.S.A.
      • Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. that you will not find anywhere else in the world.

      • Find Opportunities
    • Local Programs
      • Apply to be a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
      • The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Summer Institute – 4 Weeks
      • EducationUSA Advising Center
      • Fulbright-Swiss Foreign Student and Visiting Scholar Program
      • Fulbright Specialist Program
      • Funding Opportunities
      • U.S. Embassy Speakers Program
      • U.S. Embassy Local Speaker Program
      • YFU Celebrating Diversity Scholarship
      • YTILI Fellowship: Empowering European Entrepreneurs
  • Embassy & Virtual Mission
    • U.S. Embassy
      • U.S. Embassy Bern
      • Sulgeneckstrasse 19

        CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland

        Tel: 031 357 70 11

        Fax: 031 357 73 20

    • U.S. Virtual Mission
      • U.S. Virtual Mission to Liechtenstein
      • Consular Agencies
    • Work With Us!
      • a group of people in business attire with hands raised
      • Jobs, Contracts, Grants
  • News & Events
      • News
        • IHRD-2023-97International Holocaust Remembrance Day Speech by DCM Dana M. Brown – January 26, 2022
        • CaptureU.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh’s Meeting with Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin and State Secretary Martina Hirayama
        • b071e8e8-49bc-4cd0-bfc8-bf709d1c0430United States and Switzerland Sign Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice Agreement
        • Closure Notice (7)Closure Notice for Martin Luther King Day
      • Events
        • Copy of PP BlogPostMessage for U.S. Citizens: Outreach, Passport renewal, and Voting
        • Great Seal of the United StatesIndependence Day Speech by Ambassador Scott C. Miller – July 1, 2022
        • LiPrideAmbassador Miller Participates in Liechtenstein’s First Pride
        • U.S-Liechtenstein Reception25 Years of U.S.-Liechtenstein Diplomatic Relations
      • Messages for U.S. Citizens
        • Closure Notice (7)Closure Notice for Martin Luther King Day
        • Closure Notice (5)Closure Notice for New Year’s Day
        • Closure Notice (3)Closure Notice for St. Stephan’s Day
        • Closure Notice (2)Closure Notice for Zibelemärit
      • Press Releases
        • CaptureU.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh’s Meeting with Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin and State Secretary Martina Hirayama
        • b071e8e8-49bc-4cd0-bfc8-bf709d1c0430United States and Switzerland Sign Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice Agreement
        • WEF 2023 – blog postU.S. Delegation to Attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
        • 20221228emb750x450Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers on the Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women Working for National and International NGOs
      • Speakers Program
        • Swisspower SpeakerDr. David Mooney, Executive Director Institutional Planning, Integration and Development at NREL, shares best practice on energy efficiency
        • francesca-chaney-1eae0e6fFrancesca Chaney at Impact Hub Bern
        • Lou CooperhouseFood Business Innovation & Technology Commercialization: Lou Cooperhouse Visits Switzerland
        • Featured ImageU.S. Expert Speakers Participate in 4th International Block Chain Forum

Child and Family Matters

Home Página Inicial | U.S. Citizen Services | Child and Family Matters

Adoption

Adoption between the United States and Switzerland is governed by The Hague Adoption Convention.  Please keep in mind few Swiss born children are eligible for adoption.  Since the demand for adopted children among Swiss citizens is typically high, there is also usually a long waiting list of Swiss prospective adoptive parents.  In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must make a determination of eligibility for U.S. prospective adoptive parents to adopt under The Hague Adoption Convention.  For further information, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s adoption website or the Swiss Federal Office of Justice website. 

International Child Support Enforcement

Persons entitled to child support in Switzerland have the right to support from the authorities in enforcing their claims for child support payments if a person required to pay them fails to do so.
A variety of agreements cover the recovery of unpaid child support payments from persons living abroad, providing a bridge from the legal system of one country to that of the other.
The most important is the UN Convention of 20 June 1956 on the recovery abroad of child support payments (The New York Convention). This Convention has been ratified by around 65 countries.
Cooperation between states is regulated by setting up transmitting and receiving agencies (Central Authorities) in the countries concerned.

Visit the Swiss Federal Office of Justice website for instructions, forms and contact information if you are residing in Switzerland or the HCCH Website if you are in the United States.

Links

  • Passport Services and Child Support Arrears
  • Federal Bilateral Child Support Agreements in Force

International Parental Child Abduction

International parental child abduction is the removal or retention of a child outside their country of habitual residence in breach of another parent or guardian’s custody rights.  The Office of Children’s Issues within the U.S. Department of State is a leader in U.S. government efforts to prevent international parental child abduction (both from the United States and to the United States), help children and families involved in abduction cases, and promote the objectives of the Hague Abduction Convention.

If you believe your child is in the process of being abducted by a parent, legal guardian, or someone acting on their behalf, call us: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.

Prevention Tips on International Parental Child Abduction

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program

Be alerted before a passport is issued or renewed for your child


Swiss Federal Office of Justice
Central Authority on International Child Abduction
Bundesrain 20
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: +41 58 463 88 64
Fax: +41 58 462 78 64
kindesschutz@bj.admin.ch
www.bj.admin.ch

Giving Birth in Switzerland

The Swiss Civil Registrar’s Office (Zivilstandsamt / Etat Civil) is the responsible office to register births in Switzerland and will issue a Swiss Birth Certificate. In order to register a child’s birth, the Civil Registrar also requires the parental information. You will be asked to furnish documentation such as:

  • Parent’s Birth Certificates issued within the last six month (obtain copies of U.S. vital records directly with the appropriate vital records office)
  • Parent’s Marriage Certificate or civil status affidavit
  • Proof of residency in the United States
  • Birth Certificate (issued within the last six months) for all other children of the same marriage

This list is not exhaustive and we recommend you contact your local Swiss Registrar’s Office prior to your child’s birth for detailed instructions to avoid delays for the issuance of the Swiss Birth Certificate.

Visit our Consular Report of Birth (CRBA) website to register a child born abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s).

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program

  • Be alerted before a passport is issued or renewed for your child

Suggested For You

  • Closure Notice for Martin Luther King Day

  • Closure Notice for New Year’s Day

U.S. Embassy in Switzerland & Liechtenstein

  • Visas
  • U.S. Citizen Services
  • Our Relationship
  • Business
  • Education & Culture
  • Embassy & Virtual Mission
  • News & Events
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap

U.S. Embassy

U.S. Embassy Bern
Sulgeneckstrasse 19
CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland
Tel: 031 357 70 11
Fax: 031 357 73 20
TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramEmail Us

U.S. Virtual Mission

U.S. Virtual Mission Liechtenstein

Footer Disclaimer

This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland & Liechtenstein. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

American Flag