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

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death and Medical Death Certificate (Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung) in Switzerland

   Before any transfer or administrative registration can take place, the death must be officially certified by a physician in Switzerland and the original medical death certificate (Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung) must be issued [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital (Spital) or nursing home (Pflegeheim): The facility's medical staff performs the certification of death directly on site, issues the Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung, and frequently forwards the death notification directly to the competent civil registry office [1][2]. Keep the deceased person's German passport (Reisepass) or national identity card (Personalausweis) ready, along with any Swiss foreign national permit (Ausländerausweis, such as residence/settlement permit B/C or cross-border commuter permit G) [1][2].
   • Death at home or in private accommodation: In the event of a natural death, immediately contact the family doctor's practice, the regional out-of-hours medical service, or the ambulance service (Sanität) at emergency number 144, so that a physician can certify the death and issue the Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung [1][2].
   • Extraordinary death (aussergewöhnlicher Todesfall) or death in a public place: If the death occurs in a public space, in the mountains, as a result of a traffic, workplace, or sports accident, or under unclear circumstances, immediately alert the police at emergency number 117 (or emergency medical services at 144) [1][2][5]. Do not disturb the scene; in the case of an extraordinary death (aussergewöhnlicher Todesfall), the police call in the official medical officer (Amtsärztin / Amtsarzt / forensic medicine) and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft), who officially release the body for burial or repatriation only after the investigation is completed [2].
2. 2

   Check Insurance Coverage and Contact the Municipal Funeral Office, Funeral Directors, and the German Embassy

   Before commissioning private services, check whether an existing insurance policy covers the organization and costs of repatriation [5][6]:

   • Travel, accident, or repatriation insurance: If your family member had travel health insurance, accident insurance (for example, mandatory Swiss occupational/non-occupational accident insurance under UVG through a Swiss employer), a patronage membership with Swiss Air-Rescue (Rega), or an automobile club protection policy (Schutzbrief), notify their 24-hour emergency assistance center immediately before signing contracts yourself [6][8].
   • Municipal funeral office and funeral directors in Switzerland and Germany: In Switzerland, contact the municipal funeral office (Bestattungsamt der Gemeinde) at the place of death or residence (for example, in Zurich, the municipal office Bestattungs- und Friedhofamt der Stadt Zürich) and appoint a licensed Swiss funeral director that coordinates with a receiving funeral provider in Germany for repatriation [1][2][3][4]. A directory of qualified providers in Switzerland is maintained by the national industry association (Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste - SVB) [3]. In Germany, you can locate a receiving funeral director - operating in compliance with the applicable German state burial laws (Landesbestattungsgesetze) and mandatory cemetery interment rules (Friedhofszwang) - through the German professional association (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V., telephone +49 211 16008-10, 24-hour emergency line +49 211 16008-86, email [email protected]) [4]. Clarvia provides these directories for orientation only and does not recommend, endorse, or rank individual providers.
   • Contacting the German Embassy in Bern: For consular matters concerning the death of a German citizen in Switzerland, the competent diplomatic mission is the German Embassy in Bern (Deutsche Botschaft Bern, main switchboard +41 31 359 4111, email [email protected], on-call duty phone for acute emergencies outside office hours +41 79 357 9373) [5]. The deceased person's German passport and identity card are submitted for cancellation; the embassy advises on procedural requirements but does not cover funeral or repatriation expenses [5][6].
3. 3

   Registration with the Swiss Civil Registry Office Within 2 Days and Document Recognition for Germany

   • Swiss civil registry office at the place of death (2-day deadline): As explained on the official Swiss authorities portal (ch.ch), a death in Switzerland must by law be registered within two days (48 hours) at the civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt) of the place of death (for example, in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva, or St. Gallen) or through the municipal funeral office [1][2]. You must present the original Ärztliche Todesbescheinigung, the deceased person's German passport or identity card, any Swiss foreign national permit (Ausländerausweis), and - if not already recorded in the Swiss civil status register Infostar - birth and marriage certificates of the deceased person [1][2].
   • Death certificate (Todesschein) and international CIEC Form C: Once registered, the Swiss Zivilstandsamt issues the burial/cremation permit, the Swiss death certificate (Todesschein), and, for cross-border use, the multilingual international extract from the death register on Form C (Formular C / Formblatt C) under the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention [1][2][5]. Because both Switzerland and Germany are contracting states to the Vienna CIEC Convention (and a bilateral German-Swiss authentication agreement also applies), international Form C (as well as German-language Swiss civil status certificates) is recognized directly in Germany without an apostille [5][6].
   • Optional subsequent registration at the German civil registry office (Standesamt): Whereas a death occurring within Germany must be reported to the local German Standesamt no later than the third working day following the death under Section 28 of the German Civil Status Act (§ 28 Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) [7], a death occurring in Switzerland is not automatically entered into the German civil register [5]. Close relatives may apply under Section 36 PStG at the German Standesamt of the deceased person's last German residence (or at Standesamt I in Berlin) for subsequent registration (Nachbeurkundung) of the death abroad and issuance of a German death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) [5][7].
4. 4

   Choosing Between International Repatriation to Germany and Local Burial or Cremation in Switzerland

   • Coffin repatriation from Switzerland to Germany (Leichenpass): For the cross-border transport of mortal remains from Switzerland to Germany, the competent cantonal authority or the Zivilstandsamt at the Swiss place of death issues an international mortuary passport (Leichenpass under the 1937 International Berlin Agreement) upon application by the appointed funeral director [5][6][8]. This requires a medical certificate confirming the absence of a contagious disease and proper coffining in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin or sealed transport coffin [4][6][8]. (For repatriations from third countries into Switzerland, Swiss diplomatic representations abroad under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs - Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten - EDA, helpline +41 800 247 365 / +41 58 465 33 33 - assist with mortuary transit authorizations [8].) General guidance on cross-border repatriations to Germany is also published by the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) [6].
   • Cremation in Switzerland and urn transfer to Germany (observing Friedhofszwang): If cremation takes place at a Swiss crematorium, please note that Germany strictly enforces mandatory cemetery interment (Friedhofszwang) for cinerary urns [4][5][6]. While taking an urn home privately or keeping ashes at a private residence is permitted in Switzerland, it is prohibited in Germany; consequently, to ship or transfer an urn into Germany, the German receiving authority or Swiss crematorium requires - alongside the death certificate (Form C) and cremation certificate (Einäscherungsbescheinigung) - a written urn acceptance certificate (Urnenanforderung / Übernahmebescheinigung) issued by a German cemetery or licensed funeral director [4][5][6].
   • Local burial or cremation in Switzerland: If the family chooses interment in Switzerland, the municipal funeral office or Swiss funeral director organizes the burial or cremation in accordance with cantonal and municipal rules (generally no earlier than 48 hours after death) [1][2][3].
5. 5

   Survivor Pensions, AHV/Occupational Pension, Taxes, and Estate Administration in Germany and Switzerland

   Once the Swiss death certificate (Todesschein) and the international CIEC extract (Form C) are available, initiate survivor benefit and probate procedures in both countries:

   • Pensions, health insurance, and probate court in Germany: If the deceased person received a German statutory pension, report the death immediately to the pension payment service (Renten Service der Deutschen Post, telephone +49 221 569 2777), where surviving spouses or registered partners can also apply within 30 days of the date of death for the three-month transition pension advance (Sterbevierteljahr) [9][10]. Applications for a German widow's, widower's, or orphan's pension (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenrente) are submitted to the German statutory pension authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, toll-free service number 0800 1000 4800 within Germany or +49 30 865 0 from abroad) [9]. Also notify the German statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV). For probate proceedings in Germany, the probate court at the local district court (Nachlassgericht beim Amtsgericht) of the last German habitual residence has jurisdiction (for applying for a German certificate of inheritance, Erbschein; the German deadline to disclaim an inheritance is 6 weeks, or 6 months where cross-border ties apply), and officially deposited wills are located through the electronic register of the Federal Chamber of Notaries (Zentrales Testamentsregister, telephone 0800 35 50 100, email [email protected]) [5][11].
   • AHV survivor pensions (1st pillar), pension fund (2nd pillar), and probate in Switzerland: If the deceased person accrued insurance periods or worked in Switzerland (for example, as a resident or cross-border commuter, Grenzgänger), survivors should check entitlement to widow's, widower's, or orphan's pensions from the AHV compensation office (Ausgleichskasse der AHV) in accordance with Information Sheet 3.03 published by the official AHV/IV information body (Informationsstelle AHV/IV; for beneficiaries residing abroad, claims are handled via the Swiss Compensation Office SAK in Geneva), as well as survivor benefits or a lump-sum death benefit from the occupational pension fund (berufliche Vorsorge / Pensionskasse / 2. Säule) and any accident insurance (UVG) [1][12]. Because Switzerland is not a member state of the European Union, the EU Succession Regulation does not apply in Switzerland; instead, the Swiss Federal Act on Private International Law (IPRG) and the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) govern Swiss proceedings [5]: if the deceased person had their last domicile in Switzerland or held assets there, any discovered will must be submitted immediately to the cantonal inheritance office or district court (kantonales Erbschaftsamt / Bezirksgericht) to apply for the Swiss certificate of inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung) [1][5][13]. Under Swiss succession law, strictly observe the statutory 3-month deadline to disclaim an inheritance (3-monatige Ausschlagungsfrist) under Article 567 ZGB if the estate may be over-indebted [1][5][13].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death in Switzerland: Checklist and Reporting to the Civil Registry Office Within 2 Days — ch.ch (Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei)
2. [2]
   Procedure in the Event of a Death - Medical Death Certificate and Municipal Funeral Office — Stadt Zürich - Bestattungs- und Friedhofamt
3. [3]
   Bereavement Checklist and Directory of Funeral Service Providers — Schweizerischer Verband der Bestattungsdienste (SVB)
4. [4]
   Contact and Immediate Bereavement Assistance - Federal Association of German Funeral Directors (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.) — Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.
5. [5]
   General Information in the Event of a Death in Switzerland - Guidance from the German Embassy in Bern — Deutsche Botschaft Bern (Auswärtiges Amt)
6. [6]
   Death Abroad and Repatriation to Germany — Auswärtiges Amt
7. [7]
   German Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) § 28 Reporting a Death to the Civil Registry Office — Bundesministerium der Justiz (Gesetze im Internet)
8. [8]
   Death Abroad and International Repatriation (Mortuary Passport / Leichenpass) — Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA)
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 — Bund.de Verwaltung Online
12. [12]
    Information Sheet 3.03 - AHV Survivor Pensions (Hinterlassenenrenten der AHV) — Informationsstelle AHV/IV
13. [13]
    Inheritance in Switzerland: Certificate of Inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung) and 3-Month Disclaimer Period — ch.ch (Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei)