June 17, 2019

EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE

All concerned, including children, must appear personally at the Embassy by prior appointment.  

Arrange for an appointment one week prior to your departure.  E-mail your request to bern.consular@dirco.gov.za

Residents of Canton Geneva, Valais, Vaud and Fribourg, please contact the S. African Mission in Geneva on consulargeneva@dirco.gov.za

Emergency certificates are issued in the following cases:

• You have lost your passport in Switzerland and need to return to South Africa (police report requested)
• You have a family member who is ill (doctor’s certificate required)
• You have a family member who has passed away (death certificate required)
• You are being deported by the Swiss authorities

An Emergency certificate is a one-way trip to South Africa on a direct flight.  You must make sure you have a current valid South African passport to return to Switzerland.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Proof of South African citizenship (birth registration or ID document or passport)
• Flight reservation and South African residential address
• A recent Police report confirming the loss of the passport
• Swiss/Liechtenstein residence permit plus a clear copy (if resident)
• Two (2) passport photographs.
• Both parents must sign the application forms if emergency certificate is for a child.
• Divorced, single parents or guardians of children, must present official documents pertaining sole custody/guardianship.
• Documents issued in foreign languages must be officially translated into English

No cash payment is accepted at the Embassy. Application fees to be made online and is non-refundable.  The information will be provided to you during your appointment.

All Emergency certificate applications are transmitted electronically to the Department of Home Affairs for approval.