Consular Days 2021 in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Dear Swiss Community in Zambia and Zimbabwe

It is with great pleasure to inform you that the Regional Consular Centre (RCC) in Pretoria is busy organizing a Consular Day in your country of residence. You have the opportunity to order a new Swiss passport and/or a Swiss identity card.

Please find below the details of the planned Consular Days 2021 in Lusaka and Harare.

Lusaka - 20 April 2021

On 09.03.2021, a message was sent via email to all registered Swiss citizens residing in Zambia. To register for the Consular Day in Lusaka on the 20.04.2021, please return the registration form, which you received in the message, latest by 25.03.2021 to: southernafrica@eda.admin.ch

Harare - 11 May 2021

On 09.03.2021 a message was sent via email to all registered Swiss citizens residing in Zimbabwe. To register for the Consular Day in Harare on the 11.05.2021, please return the registration form, which you received in the message, latest by 31.03.2021 to: southernafrica@eda.admin.ch

If you are a Swiss citizen residing in Zambia or Zimbabwe and have not received the message dated 09.03.2021, or if you have any questions regarding the Consular Day, please contact the Regional Consular Centre (RCC) in Pretoria via email southernafrica@eda.admin.ch or call us on +27 12 452 06 61.

Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Consular Centre (RCC) in Pretoria reserves the right to cancel and/or postpone the Consular Days in Lusaka and in Harare even at short notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Information for the Swiss abroad regarding Covid-19 vaccine

Dear Swiss Compatriots

Please be informed that the import of vaccines is governed by the legal framework of the respective host country. A vaccine must be approved by the health authorities of the host country and can only then be administered to the population through the designated - officially approved - distribution channels (doctors, hospitals, laboratories etc.). It is therefore not possible at present in South Africa to order a vaccine from Switzerland and then distribute it through the Embassy or Consulate General to the Swiss residents in South Africa. 

Can Swiss nationals who live abroad be vaccinated in Switzerland? Who covers the costs?

• Swiss nationals abroad who have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland can be vaccinated in Switzerland in accordance with the vaccination recommendations. You will find more information on registering from the relevant cantonal offices, your health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) in Switzerland.
• Swiss nationals abroad who do not have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland should have the vaccination at their place of residence in accordance with their host country’s rules. Please contat your local health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) to find out more about the vaccination policiy.

More information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the FOPH webpages: Coronavirus: Vaccination, Protect yourself and others: Vaccination & FAQ

Other interesting links are:

Swiss Community OSA

Consular Services

In view of the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Consular Centre (RCC) in Pretoria has adapted its activities and opening hours.

The reception desk of the RCC  is now again open from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 12:00. An appointment must be arranged previously for passport application, marriage preparation and application for Swiss citizenship. 

Passport/ID card applications: the RCC is now in a position to process passport/ID card applications again. Applications will be processed in order of receipt. Please submit your online applicaiton on www.schweizerpass.ch and wait until you receive the invitation to book an appointment.

Life and marital status certificates for the AVS/AHV: for the time being, all life and marital status certificates can be signed by the pensioners themselves and returned by E-mail to the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) in Geneva without an official stamp: sedmaster@zas.admin.ch; together with a copy of a valid identity document. If you haven't received the life certificate, you may download it here. For foreign pensioners: as soon as the situation allows, the SCO in Geneva requires a life certificate confirmed by a recognized authority. The concerned persons will receive a letter to this effect aft ther SCO has received the self-declaration. There is currently no time limit, as the situation varies from country to country. For further questions, you may also contact the SCO by phone: +41 58 461 91 11.

The RCC in Pretoria appreciates your understanding in these challenging times.

COVID-19, Travel to Switzerland and information on the situation and measures in South Africa

For more information please click here

Services and visa

All consular services for the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West and Free State, as well as for the states of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, have been provided by the Regional Consular Centre Southern Africa in Pretoria, which is attached to the local Embassy of Switzerland.

The Consulate General in Cape Town continues to be responsible for the South African provinces of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

All Visa applications are handled by the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria.

Information can be found on the websites concerned:

Services – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius
Visa – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius

Angola
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe