What to Do When a Citizen of Switzerland Dies in Germany: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical Examination of Death and Medical Death Certificate in Germany (Immediately)

   First, the death must be certified in Germany by a physician during the statutory post-mortem examination (ärztliche Leichenschau) so that the official medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung / Totenschein, comprising a confidential and a non-confidential part) can be issued [1][3]:

   • Death in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice: The treating facility arranges the medical examination of the body and the issuance of the Todesbescheinigung directly on site and provides initial care in its mortuary cooling room [1][3].
   • Death at home, in a hotel, or in a public place: Immediately contact the on-call medical service (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst, nationwide number 116 117), emergency medical services (emergency number 112), or the family doctor's practice to perform the post-mortem examination [3]. Only after the medical death certificate has been issued may a funeral director collect the deceased person and transfer them to a mortuary.
   • Unexplained or non-natural cause of death: If the physician records an unexplained or non-natural manner of death (such as a sudden death or accident), the police and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) are called in. Before any cremation, burial, or international repatriation to Switzerland can proceed, written clearance (Freigabe) from the competent German public prosecutor's office must be obtained [1][3].
2. 2

   Check Insurance Coverage, Appoint Funeral Directors, and Notify the Swiss Mission

   Before placing individual fee-bearing orders, check immediately whether the deceased person held travel or repatriation coverage (for example, through supplementary Swiss health insurance, travel insurance, or a motoring/rescue protection policy) that covers the repatriation costs:

   • Coordination between funeral directors in Germany and Switzerland: Operating in compliance with the applicable German state burial laws (Landesbestattungsgesetze) and mandatory cemetery interment rules (Friedhofszwang), appoint a licensed funeral director in Germany (Bestattungsunternehmen) that works closely with the municipal funeral office (Bestattungsamt) of the Swiss municipality of residence or a receiving funeral director in Switzerland [3][4][5].
   • Neutral professional associations: Clarvia does not recommend, endorse, or rank commercial providers. You can find a qualified funeral director in Germany through the German professional association (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V., telephone +49 211 16008-10, 24-hour emergency number +49 211 16008-86, email [email protected]) [3]. In Switzerland, you can search for a certified funeral provider using the directory maintained by the Swiss industry association (Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste - SVB) [4].
   • Contacting the Swiss representation in Germany: Because German authorities do not automatically forward death certificates to Switzerland, the death must be reported to the competent Swiss diplomatic representation (Schweizerische Botschaft in Berlin, telephone +49 30 390 40 00, email [email protected]) or the regionally competent Swiss Consulate General (in Frankfurt am Main, Munich, or Stuttgart) under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten - EDA) [2]. If the deceased person resided in Switzerland, the representation also informs the Consular Protection Section of the EDA in Bern [2].
3. 3

   Civil Registration in Germany and Subsequent Recording for Switzerland

   Under Section 28 of the German Civil Status Act (§ 28 Personenstandsgesetz - PStG), the death must be reported to the civil registry office (Standesamt) at the place of death in Germany no later than the third working day following the death [1]:

   • Declaration at the German Standesamt: When a death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, the institution submits the written notification; for a death outside an institution, the appointed funeral director generally handles the registration on behalf of the family [1][3]. Required documents include the medical death certificate, the deceased person's Swiss passport or identity card, and civil status documents (birth certificate, Swiss family certificate Familienausweis, or marriage certificate Eheschein) [1][2].
   • Death certificate and multilingual CIEC Form C: Request from the German Standesamt both German death certificates (Sterbeurkunde) and several international multilingual extracts from the death register on Form C (Formblatt C) under the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention [1][2]. Because both Germany and Switzerland are contracting states to this convention, Form C is recognized directly in Switzerland without an apostille or legalization.
   • Recording in the Swiss civil status register (Infostar) and notification in the municipality of residence: Whereas a death occurring within Switzerland must be reported within 2 days to the local Zivilstandsamt or Bestattungsamt [5], the free subsequent registration of a death occurring in Germany for the Swiss civil status register (Infostar) is processed through the Swiss diplomatic representation (Schweizerische Botschaft in Berlin) or the competent Swiss Consulate General [2]. For this purpose, submit the original German death certificate (not older than six months; it is not returned), the deceased person's Swiss identity documents (passport and identity card for cancellation; they can be returned as a keepsake if requested in advance), and the survivors' contact details (by post within Germany to the representation, or from Switzerland to EDA, Kuriersektion Berlin, Eichenweg 5, 3003 Bern) [2].
4. 4

   Choosing Between Repatriation to Switzerland and Burial or Cremation in Germany

   Depending on the wishes of the deceased person and the family, the appointed funeral director handles the administrative steps for one of the two options:

   • Option A - International repatriation of the body or urn to Switzerland:
     • Repatriation of a body (for burial or cremation in Switzerland): Both Germany and Switzerland apply the 1937 International Berlin Agreement on the Conveyance of Corpses. On the basis of the medical death certificate and civil death certificate, the funeral director applies to the competent German authority at the place of death (public order office Ordnungsamt, Standesamt, or health authority Gesundheitsamt) for an international mortuary passport (Leichenpass) [3]. The body must be placed in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin (or a specialized coffin with an airtight sealed metal liner) in accordance with regulations; thanks to the Berlin Agreement, an additional consular mortuary passport from the Swiss representation is generally not required once the German Leichenpass has been issued [2][3].
     • Repatriation of an urn following cremation in Germany: Because of Germany's mandatory cemetery interment rules (Friedhofszwang), German crematoria release an urn for export to Switzerland only upon presentation of a confirmation of acceptance (Übernahmebescheinigung) from the receiving cemetery or municipal funeral office, or through a commissioned funeral director (accompanied by the death certificate and cremation certificate, Einäscherungsschein) [3][5].
   • Option B - Burial or cremation in Germany: If interment takes place in Germany, the statutory waiting periods of the applicable German state burial law (Landesbestattungsgesetz) apply (burial or cremation generally no earlier than 48 hours after death, following a mandatory second post-mortem examination before cremation), together with the legal obligation to inter remains in an approved cemetery or woodland burial ground (Friedhofszwang) [3].
5. 5

   Survivor Pensions, Insurance, Taxes, and Estate Administration in Switzerland and Germany

   Once the death certificate has been issued, initiate social security and succession steps in both countries:

   • Entitlements and estate proceedings in Switzerland:
     • AHV survivor pensions and occupational pension scheme (2nd pillar): AHV survivor pensions (widow's, widower's, and orphan's pensions under Information Sheet 3.03) are not paid automatically; they must be claimed using official Form 318.371 (Anmeldung für eine Hinterlassenenrente / Application for a Survivor's Pension) submitted to the compensation office (Ausgleichskasse) to which the deceased person last paid contributions - or, for insured persons residing abroad, to the competent federal authority (Zentrale Ausgleichsstelle - ZAS / Swiss Compensation Office SAK) in Geneva [7][8]. Also report the death to the Swiss occupational pension fund (Pensionskasse / berufliche Vorsorge / 2. Säule), accident insurance (UVG), and Swiss health insurer [5][7].
     • Submission of wills, certificate of inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung), and 3-month disclaimer deadline: Under the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB), any discovered will or inheritance contract must be submitted immediately in the original to the competent cantonal court, notary's office, or inheritance authority (Erbschaftsamt, such as the Bezirksgericht in the Canton of Zurich) at the last Swiss domicile, where heirs also apply for the Swiss certificate of inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung / Erbschein) required to access Swiss bank accounts and real estate [5][6]. Strictly observe the statutory 3-month disclaimer deadline (Ausschlagungsfrist von 3 Monaten) from learning of the death under the ZGB if the estate may be over-indebted [5][6].
   • Entitlements and estate proceedings in Germany:
     • German statutory pension insurance and three-month transition period (Sterbevierteljahr): If the deceased person received a German pension or accrued German insurance periods, report the death to the German statutory pension insurance body (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, toll-free service number 0800 1000 4800 within Germany or +49 30 865 0 from abroad) [9] and immediately to the pension payment service (Renten Service der Deutschen Post, telephone +49 221 569 2777), where surviving spouses or registered partners can apply within 30 days of the death for an advance on the Sterbevierteljahr (payment of the full insured person's pension for the first three months following the month of death) [9][10].
     • Health insurance and German probate court (Nachlassgericht): Notify any German statutory or private health insurer as well as banks. If the deceased person's last habitual residence or estate assets were located in Germany, the local probate court at the district court (Nachlassgericht beim Amtsgericht) is responsible for opening deposited testamentary dispositions (located via the official Central Register of Wills, Zentrales Testamentsregister der Bundesnotarkammer, telephone 0800 3550700), issuing a German certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or European Certificate of Succession, and receiving any declaration of disclaimer (Erbausschlagung, within 6 weeks for domestic residence or 6 months when residing abroad under § 1944 BGB) [11].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   German Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) § 28 Reporting a Death to the Civil Registry Office — Bundesministerium der Justiz (Gesetze im Internet)
2. [2]
   Death in Germany - Notification and Required Documents for the Swiss Civil Status Register — Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA) - Schweizerische Botschaft in Berlin
3. [3]
   Contact and Immediate Bereavement Assistance - Federal Association of German Funeral Directors (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.) — Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.
4. [4]
   Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) - Directory of Certified Funeral Directors — Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste (SVB)
5. [5]
   Death: Checklist - Reporting Within 2 Days, Funeral, and Administrative Steps in Switzerland — Offizielles Schweizer Behördenportal (ch.ch)
6. [6]
   Certificate of Inheritance (Erbschein / Erbenbescheinigung) and Disclaiming an Inheritance in Switzerland — Offizielles Schweizer Behördenportal (ch.ch)
7. [7]
   AHV Benefits - Information Sheet 3.03 Survivor Pensions (Widow's, Widower's, and Orphan's Pensions) — Informationsstelle AHV/IV
8. [8]
   Application for a Survivor's Pension (Form 318.371) - AHV/IV — Zentrale Ausgleichsstelle (ZAS / admin.ch)
9. [9]
   Survivor Pensions - Widow's Pension, Widower's Pension, and Orphan's Pension — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
10. [10]
    Renten Service der Deutschen Post - Reporting a Death and Applying for the Three-Month Transition Period (Sterbevierteljahr) — Deutsche Post AG - Renten Service
11. [11]
    Central Register of Wills (Zentrales Testamentsregister - ZTR) of the Federal Chamber of Notaries — Bundesnotarkammer / Serviceportal Bund