Passports are printed in the U.S. and returned to the U.S. Embassy in Bern within two-weeks of issuance.  Please allow at least one additional week for processing if you submit your application at the Consular Agency in Geneva or Zurich.  If you would like your passport mailed to you within Switzerland, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (CHF 3.40 Stamps for a C5 envelope) and we will mail it to you via registered mail.  The U.S. Embassy and the consular agencies are not liable for the Swiss post.   Please allow at least ten (10) business days from when your passport leaves the U.S. Embassy before you report your passport lost.

Yes.

For step by step instructions and to see if you qualify please following the instructions on our website: Renew an Adult Passport by mail.

If you are eligible to apply on a DS-82 application form, you may provide a letter of authorization (PDF 161KB) to a third party in order to submit the application on your behalf.

If you were issued an emergency, limited-validity passport you should apply to replace this passport for a full-validity passport at your earliest convenience.

You may replace your emergency passport by mail if your emergency passport meets all of the following requirements:

• Was issued less than 12 months ago (even if the passport is now expired); and
• Does not have any endorsement on page 11 stating “A full validity passport must be approved by the Department of State”.

Click here to follow the instructions if you meet the above listed requirements

If you DO NOT meet the above requirements, please follow the instructions here.

Passport pick-up is not possible at the Embassy or at the Consular Agencies.

Yes, services at the Embassy or a Consular Agency are available by appointment only. Please use the Online Appointment System for Embassy Bern or the Contact Form for the Consular Agencies in Geneva or Zurich.

My passport is running out of pages. Can I have pages added?

This service is no longer possible. You will have to apply for a new, 50 page passport.

Please note that the instructions on the actual passport application or  travel.state.gov apply to applicants from within the United States, this is why they are slightly different to the instructions on our Embassy website. You should follow the instructions on our Embassy website.

Do not send your application to the United States for processing

Please follow the instructions on our website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/replacing-a-lost-or-stolen-passport/

If you are a tourist in Switzerland and need to return home to the United States: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/emergency-passports/

Emergency passports are only issued at the U.S. Embassy in Bern during office hours and are generally available within 24 hours.

Emergency passports are issued in the following circumstances:

• Replacement of a lost or stolen passport of a U.S. citizen travelling abroad
•  In Life-or-death emergencies: serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family that require you to travel within 72 hours

An imminent life or death emergency means an immediate emergency that severely endangers the health or safety of the applicant or another individual (such as a medical procedure to sustain life that can only be performed in another country) or impairs the ability of the applicant to attend to a dying relative whose death is impending or to attend a funeral of a relative.

Applicants seeking a life or death exception must provide documentary evidence sufficient to validate the situation

 Emergency passports need to be picked-up in person.

Please note: Some Foreign Governments might not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport, issued by U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, as a valid travel document for visa-free travel, and, if traveling on this emergency passport, you may be refused boarding and/or entry by immigration officials

Emergency passports can only be issued at the US Embassy in Bern and are generally issued within the same day.

No, expedite service is not available overseas.

We can only accept electronic payments for passport renewal by mail (click here to see if you are eligible).

We cannot accept any kind of checks, money orders or cash in the mail.

Visit the location page for available methods of payment for each location: https://ch.usembassy.gov/embassy/locations-in-switzerland/ 

Yes, you can. You will need to provide a self-addressed stamped C5 size return envelope with with the correct Swiss postage.

CHF 18.30.- Swiss Franc Stamps

You should be able to find all passport forms on our website within the step-by-step instructions: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/

Parents or legal guardians may sign passports of their children under age 16. To do so, a parent or legal guardian must print the child’s name and sign his or her own name in the space provided for the signature. The parent or legal guardian must also write his or her relationship to the child in parenthesis next to the signature (e.g., mother, father, or legal guardian).

According to the regulations of the U.S. Department of State, no person should possess more than one valid U.S. passport at any time unless specifically authorized by the U.S. Department of State.  The issuance of a second valid passport should be considered an exception to the regulations and is to be approved on an individual basis only where justified. The second valid passport is not limited geographically (i.e. for travel to a few countries).  However, it is limited to four years and cannot be extended.

Congress passed the Nance-Donovan Act to prevent international parental child abduction by requiring the consent of both parents or legal documentation of sole custody, for passport applications on behalf of children under the age of 16.  Both parents must sign the passport application in the presence of a consular officer.  If only one parent can come to the Embassy or one of the consulate agencies to sign-in person, the absent parent must provide a notarized statement of consent (DS-3053) with valid photo identification.

For information regarding photo requirements, please read our informational brochures for adults (PDF 772 KB) and children (PDF 255 KB).

The primary purpose for soliciting this information is to establish your citizenship and identity to determine if we can issue you a U.S. passport, and to properly administer and enforce the laws pertaining thereto.  The information is made available for routine use on a need-to­ know basis to personnel of the U.S. Department of State and other government agencies having statutory or other lawful authority to maintain such information in the performance of their official duties; pursuant to a court order and as set forth in Part 171, Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations (See Federal Register, Volume 42, pages 49791 through 49795.  Failure to provide the information requested on this passport application forms may result in the denial of a U.S. passport, related document or service.  Please also note the disclosure of the identity and location of an emergency contact is voluntary.  However, if you do not authorize us to inform anyone, we may be unable to provide you and your family with timely assistance in an emergency.

Please check the status of your U.S. passport application at travel.state.gov. You will need to provide your last name, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number. Once that information is provided, you will be able to print a confirmation of your passport application.

NO, U.S. citizens are required by U.S. law to enter and leave the United States with a U.S. passport. This law applies to dual citizens and children.

Yes, however you would need to provide a travel letter. Please visit the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Website for instructions:

 

Whenever possible, both parents need to execute the passport application of a minor under the age of 16 in person.  In special circumstances when this is not possible, the parents may appoint a person to act in loco parentis.

Please contact us for specific instructions in this regard.

No, a residency permit is not a valid travel document.

Animals entering the U.S. may be subject to regulation by USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) as well as other federal agencies. Depending on your destination state, your pet may need to also meet additional health requirements.

Visit the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Website for specific information:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

There are a number of issues to be considered when importing something into the U.S. through the international Postal, military (APO/FPO) or diplomatic (DPO) systems.

Visit the Custom and Border Protection (CBP) website for specific instructions.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Use the Short-Stay Visa Calculator on the following link for calculation of travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/content/visa-calculator_en

Prescription medications should be in their original containers with the doctor’s prescription printed on the container.  It is advised that you travel with no more than personal use quantities, a rule of thumb is no more than a 90 day supply.  If your medications or devices are not in their original containers, you must have a copy of your prescription with you or a letter from your doctor.  A valid prescription or doctors note is required on all medication entering the U.S.

Please check out our website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/citizenship-services/birth/

You would need to send a notarized request letter directly to the U.S. Department of State, Passport Vital Records Section.
Please visit the State Department website for instructions.

Your request letter may be notarized at the U.S. Embassy Bern or at the Consular Agency Zurich or Geneva by following the instructions on our notarial services page.

A tax statement alone is not proof of physical present, but it can supplement other records.

If you are a US citizen or green card holder over the age of 12 and never have been issued a Social Security number issued before, you may apply at the US Embassy Bern or at either US Consular Agency Geneva or Zurich.

Please follow the instructions on our Website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security/social-security-overview/

There is no fee for Social Security Applications.

Please contact the regional Federal Benefits Unit:

U.S. Embassy
Federal Benefits Unit
4 avenue Gabriel
75382 Paris Cedex 8
France

Phone: +33 1 43 12 2705
(Phone calls are taken Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
from 9:00 to 11:00 am)
Fax: +33 1 42 86 8291
Contact Form
Website: https://fr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security-administration

 

Follow the instructions on Form SSA-1199 and forward it to the regional Federal Benefits Unit in PARIS.

Please note that the issuance of a Social Security number can take several months. If you still have not received your card you may contact the regional Federal Benefits Unit:

U.S. Embassy
Federal Benefits Unit
4 avenue Gabriel
75382 Paris Cedex 8
France

Phone: +33 1 43 12 2705
(Phone calls are taken Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
from 9:00 to 11:00 am)
Fax: +33 1 42 86 8291
Contact Form
Website: https://fr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security-administration

 

The entire process is described step-by-step on our webpage: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/citizenship-services/lon/

You cannot renounce by mail, through a U.S. Consular Agent, or while in the United States.  You must appear before a U.S. Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bern and sign the oath of renunciation voluntarily and intentionally.

After your renunciation appointment where you sign the oath of renunciation in front of a consular officer, your application is sent to the U.S. Department of State for final approval.  This process can take a few months. There is no ability to expedite your renunciation application.

A minor child under the age of eighteen must convince the U.S. consular officer that he or she fully understands the nature and consequences of the oath of renunciation, is not subject to duress or undue influence, and is voluntarily and intentionally seeking to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship.  (Historically, this has been very difficult to prove.)  A minor child under the age of sixteen is presumed not to have the requisite maturity and knowledgeable intent, making it even more difficult to renounce.

The renunciation process involves multiple, time-consuming steps including careful and thorough examination through the adjudicating officers and lawyers in Washington. The fee is set at a level to cover the effective costs.

There exists no civil status register in the United States. Hence, you cannot register your marriage with us.

A Swiss Marriage Certificate with apostille is recognized in the United States.

If you wish to change your name on your passport after your marriage, please follow the instructions for passport renewal: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/

No, Fingerprints may be taken at a large Swiss police station in the canton that you reside in.

There is a photo booth taking US-size pictures in the waiting area of the US Embassy in Bern. The fee is CHF 15.- for a set of four photos (coins or note). If you wish to use the booth please bring the exact amount of change.

Please note: This service is not provided by the U.S. Embassy and we cannot guarantee that the photo booth is in service at the time of your visit.

The IRS office in Philadelphia is the principal office responsible for providing international tax assistance.

If you are a taxpayer with specific individual or business account questions you should contact the International Taxpayer Service Call Center by phone or fax. The International Call Center is operational Monday through Friday, from:

• 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern time) for tax law questions
• 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Eastern time) for all other questions

Tel: 267-941-1000 (not toll-free)
Fax: 681-247-3101 (for international tax account issues only)

Website :https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers

Mail:
Internal Revenue Service
International Accounts
Philadelphia, PA 19255-0725
USA

Our Embassy website does have a list with English speaking lawyers:

https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/attorneys/

DISCLAIMER: The U.S. Embassy Embassy Bern assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. The order in which the names appear has no other significance. The information in the list on professional credentials, areas of expertise and language ability are provided directly by the lawyers; the Embassy is not in a position to vouch for such information. You may receive additional information about the individuals on the list by contacting the local bar association (or its equivalent) or the local licensing authorities.

The appropriate authority is the Swiss Migration office:

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/ueberuns/kontakt.html

If your document requires witnesses in addition to the notary, you must bring these witnesses with you. Consular staff cannot serve as witnesses or help you find a witness. Witnesses cannot be relatives, and must present a passport to enter the Embassy/Consular Agency. If your document has a space for a witness to sign but you did not bring one, you can either make a new appointment or let the Embassy/Consular Agency staff assume no witness is required and prepare the document as such.

You must do this in your state of legal residence by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) according to your state or territory’s specific instructions and submitting it to your local election office.  This will also extend your eligibility to receive a ballot for all federal elections for at least one calendar year, and acts as both the registration and absentee ballot request form.

Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP.gov) for detailed instructions or send us an email at VoteBern@state.gov if you have questions regarding the voting program.

In Switzerland, documents may only be served through the appropriate Swiss Central Authority under the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters.

Visit our Judicial Information Site for information on the Service Process

If you are a permanent resident of the United States and are temporarily in Switzerland (your last departure from the United States was less than one year), but seeking to return to the United States and do not have your permanent resident card, you may need a boarding foil to return to the United States.

You must appear in person to apply for a boarding foil. The Boarding foil is valid for only 30 days and cannot be extended. Therefore, plan your return accordingly.

To apply for a Boarding foil, please follow these two steps: 

Step 1

• Complete and print form I-131A
• Pay the fee of $575 online in ELIS

Be sure to read the instructions before you apply as the fee is non-refundable.
Please note that the fee cannot be paid at the Embassy. 

Step 2

Schedule and bring following documents to your boarding foil appointment:

• Send an email to BernIV@state.gov to request an appointment
• Bring all documents listed below to your appointment:- valid passport
  – completed Form I-131A
  – evidence of payment in ELIS
  – one US passport size photograph
  – Evidence of your last departure and return
  (flight ticket/electronic itinerary)
  – proof of your permanent resident status
  (copy of Green Card if available)
  – police report of stolen or lost permanent resident card

Boarding foils may be issued within 2-3 working days. You may pick-up your boarding foil in person on a later day or provide us a stamped self-addressed envelope for mailing.

The Boarding foil can only be mailed to a Swiss or Liechtenstein address.

For your information: Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the U.S. Government can accept any liability for passports or visas lost in the mail.

EXCEPTIONS

Expired Permanent Resident Cards – If you have an expired permanent resident card with a 10-year validity period, you do not need a boarding foil.  The airline may board you with the expired card, providing you meet all their other conditions for travel. However, some airlines may be reluctant to let you board with an expired card.

U.S. Military Family Members with expired Permanent Resident Cards – You do not require a boarding foil if you are in possession of an expired permanent resident card with a 10-year validity period, and you are now returning after having resided outside the United States on official overseas U.S. military orders. You may travel with your expired card and military orders.

A U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or Conditional Resident (CR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence.  You can learn more about Returning Resident Visas on usvisas.state.gov.

If you are married to a U.S. citizen who is currently residing in Switzerland, we would suggest that your U.S. citizen spouse file an I-130 petition on your behalf instead.

Once you have reviewed the requirements of the SB-1 Visa and believe that you may qualify, please email the nearest Consulate where you would like to apply with the subject line: “Returning Resident SB-1 Visa – Surname, Given name.” Please print the Documentation Checklist (PDF 189 KB) and submit this with your supporting documents at the time of the scheduled interview.

Starting January 15, 2020 U. S. Embassy Bern will no longer accept Form I-407

The decision to abandon Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status is strictly voluntary. In order to formally relinquish LPR status, you may send the completed Form I-407 by mail to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) at one of the addresses below.

Mailing address:

For U.S. Postal Service

USCIS Eastern Forms Center
Attn: I-407 unit
PO Box 567
Williston, VT 05495
USA

For FedEx, UPS, DHL, or other express/registered deliveries

USCIS Eastern Forms Center
Attn: I-407 Unit
124 Leroy Road
Williston, VT 05495
USA

For detailed instructions on filing Form I-407, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-407

NOTE: Only surrender documents issued by USCIS. Do not submit any other documents such as a state-issued driver’s license, passport, or social security card.

Please also note that any submissions containing incomplete or unsigned Form I-407s will be rejected and returned to the sender unprocessed by USCIS.

SPECIAL NOTE: Abandoning your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and status does not affect your ability to apply for an immigrant and/or non-immigrant visa to the United States in the future.