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Government of Canada services and information in Geneva, Switzerland

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Services and information provided to Canadians by Permanent Mission of Canada to the Office of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Adoption and surrogacy

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Birth abroad

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Citizenship services

Complete your online.

In rare cases, the system may direct you to apply through a Canadian mission abroad. You should then send us (if you reside in the Canton of Geneva) your application by registered mail, but are required to include a printout of the system's refusal with the application. If you reside anywhere else in Switzerland, please consult the page for the Embassy of Canada in Bern.

Delays for the issuance of Certificate of Canadian Citizenship are .

Failure to provide a or the necessary documents may result in the rejection of your application.

Payment method

You must  regardless of whether you apply online or are invited to submit your application via registered mail. In this latter case, print and attach a copy of the receipt to your application.

Details Fee (CAD) Fee (CHF)
Application for a Citizenship Certificate for adults and minors (Proof of Citizenship) 75.00
Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship 100.00
Replacement / Update of proof of Canadian citizenship 75.00
Application for a Search of Citizenship Records 75.00
Registered mail 7.00 6.00

Criminal record checks

You will find all relevant information by visiting or by contacting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) directly:

Phone: Calls outside Canada +1-613-998-6362

Email: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Mail: Director General
Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services
RCMP, NPS Bldg.
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa ON
Canada K1A 0R2

The Apostille to authenticate GRC-issued criminal record checks is issued directly in Canada by the Authentication section of Ƶ.

Marriage abroad

Refer to .

This information is given on a non-official basis and is subject to change by the Swiss authorities. It is important to note that before a civil marriage can be performed, you must meet a number of and submit an application to your local civil register office.

Canadian diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted under the law of Canada to solemnize marriages nor can they allow the solemnization of marriages in the diplomatic/consular premises.

Civil Marriage

For Civil Marriage a number of original documents must be produced. To obtain a complete list, you should contact the Civil Registry (Zivilstandesamt in German, Office de lEtat civil in French, Ufficio dello stato civile in Italian) of the canton in which you want to get married or – if you are in Canada – the Swiss diplomatic representation responsible for your area.

For Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Swiss residence permit, you will be asked for a certificate of non-impediment to marriage. As Canadian law neither requires nor provides for the issuance of such a certificate, Swiss authorities frequently accept, as a substitute document, an affidavit or solemn declaration sworn before an official of the Embassy of Canada which confirms your civil status as “not married” and your place of residence. If you require such a document, you must make an appointment and appear in person at a Canadian mission in Switzerland during consular office hours with your valid Canadian passport. Only Canadians residing in the canton of Geneva may obtain this service at the Permanent Mission in Geneva.

Applicable fees can be paid with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

For Canadian citizens holding a valid Swiss residence permit this document must be obtained from the local Civil Registry Office.

Religious Marriage

You may also get married in a church, but only after the civil ceremony. For information, contact the church office of your place of residence.

Acknowledgement of Paternity - Naturalization

The same attestation as for civil marriage is required for and – if you are single - for . However, in both cases Canadian citizens holders or not of a valid Swiss residence permit must appear at a Canadian mission in Switzerland with a valid Canadian passport. Only Canadians residing in the canton of Geneva may obtain this service at the Permanent Mission in Geneva.

Notarial services

The office provides notarial services or registered mail to Canadian citizens and, in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are intended for use in Canada. You must reside in the canton of Geneva to receive services from the Permanent Mission; if you reside elsewhere, consult the website of the Embassy of Canada in Bern.

Note: Documents must be in English or French, or accompanied by an official translation in English or French.

In-person appointments or per-mail arrangements for notarial services may only be confirmed after a consular officer has vetted that we are able to provide the intended services. Most services can be performed by registered mail.

Conversely, since January 11, 2024, some services are only available through the provincial vital statistics office in Canada or through the Authentication section of Ƶ.

Apostille

Competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for authenticating all documents issued or notarized in their respective province. These documents must be submitted to the competent authorities and will not be authenticated at the Permanent Mission.

  • : Ministry of Justice of Alberta
  • : Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia
  • : Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario
  • : Ministère de la Justice du Québec
  • : Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan

The Permanent Mission or the Authentication section of Ƶ may authenticate certain documents issued by the Government of Canada or notarized in specific provinces and territories not in the above list. The following documents may be eligible for authentication via apostille through the Embassy or the Authentication section of Ƶ:

  1. Documents issued by the Government of Canada
  2. Vital statistics documents issued by and documents notarized in the following provinces and territories:
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • the Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Yukon

If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, the Embassy can also assist no matter where it was originally issued.

The following services may be offered at the Permanent Mission in Geneva to residents of the canton of Geneva:

Apostille/Authentication/Attestation (certify the document signature, the position of an official and the seal are genuine) - these services are always available by registered mail for the categories of documents described above.

Certified copy (certify the document is a true copy of the original) – these services are always available by registered mail:

  • Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
  • Government-issued identification of which a copy must be certified as true (fees apply).

Witnessing a signature (consular officer witnesses that someone places a signature before them) – these services are always provided in person:

Please send to GENEV.Consular-Consulaire@international.gc.ca a complete scan of the document(s) on which you seek to have notarial services performed, as well as a description of those services. If you have been directed to our Office by a service provider, please include their email address in your message to us. Do not forget to also include a phone number where we may reach you if we have questions.

Note: Prepare all documents but do not sign them. Sign the documents when you are directed to do so by the consular officer.

Visit Changes to authentications services in Canada for more information on how authentication services changed after the Apostille Convention took effect in Canada.

Payment method

Credit card (Visa and MasterCard). Complete the  with the amount indicated by us, after your document has been reviewed and accepted. Do not forget to enclose the payment form when submitting via registered mail.

Details Fee (CAD)
Attesting any document bearing a signature (affidavit, declaration, affirmation, etc.). The fee shown is per document. 50.00
Authenticating (witnessing) a signature. The fee shown is per document. 50.00
Authenticating the signature and seal of a foreign authority. The fee shown is per document. 50.00
Authenticating signatures of Canadian authorities or notaries. 50.00
Certifying a true copy of a document. The fee shown is per copy. 20.00
Providing a Passport Canada CTC. The fee shown is per set of three copies. 45.00

Passport services

Complete your and . Include a copy of your online payment receipt. You can combine multiple applications in the same envelope and in the same payment. Passports sent in one envelope will be returned together in one envelope, along with all original documentation.

Mail your passport application by registered mail to:

If you live in the canton of Geneva
Permanent Mission of Canada
Consular Section
Avenue de l'Ariana 5
CH-1202 Geneva

If you live anywhere else in Switzerland
Please consult the website of the Embassy of Canada in Bern

We do not send receipt confirmations. We will only contact you if additional information is required. Processing times are .

Please only if we have asked you to present your documents in person. Otherwise, please send applications by mail.

require a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada.

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Payment method

We only accept . You must print a copy of the receipt and attach it to your passport application before mailing.

Details Fee (CAD)
10-year adult passport (age 16 or over) 260.00
5-year adult passport (age 16 or over) 190.00
5-year Child passport (0-15 years of age) 100.00
Additional fee for replacing a valid lost or stolen passport 45.00

Pensions and retirement

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Same-sex marriage abroad

This information is given on a non-official basis and is subject to change by the Swiss authorities. It is important to note that before a civil marriage can be performed, you must meet a number of and submit an application to your local civil register office.

Since the coming into force, in 2022, of Marriage for All, a person who has reached the age of majority and is capable of discernment may enter into a marriage in Switzerland with another person of the same sex. The same conditions and requirements as in the Marriage abroad section also apply to same-sex affianced couples.

Acknowledgement of Parentage - Naturalization

Significant obstacles remain for the recognition of both parental relations for children of same-sex couples.

The same attestation as for civil marriage is required for and – if you are single - for . However, in both cases Canadian citizens holders or not of a valid Swiss residence permit must appear at the one of the offices of Canada in Switzerland with a valid Canadian passport.

Studying abroad

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Visa and immigration services

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  • .
  • Find a to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
  • Submit an enquiry using the to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply .

Voting abroad

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