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.