The British Embassy in Berne maintains and develop relations between the UK and Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Find out more about our work on the UK and Switzerland news page.

Getting help in Switzerland

If you need urgent medical help or are a victim of crime, call the local emergency services on 112. Contact your insurance provider if you have one. They will tell you what your policy covers, and what you need to do to make a claim.

In many situations, you will be able to help yourself without needing to contact the British Embassy. Check our guidance on:

If you need urgent or emergency assistance

We can help British nationals in emergencies in Switzerland. We will prioritise helping those who are vulnerable and need our help the most. For example if you:

  • have been injured or assaulted
  • are arrested for a crime
  • know a British national in Switzerland who has died and you need assistance

If you need emergency assistance, or if our guidance has not given you the help you need:

  • in Switzerland call +41 (0)31 359 77 00
  • in the UK call +44 (0) 20 7008 5000

Our phone lines are open 24/7.

If you cannot use your passport

You can apply for an emergency travel document if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your passport because it is lost, stolen or damaged.

If you are travelling in more than 3 weeks, check if you can get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.

If you do not need to travel urgently, you should still report a lost or stolen passport.

Getting a visa to the UK

The British Embassy does not provide visas and cannot advise on UK visas. If you have any questions about the application process or your visa status, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

A Schengen visa or residence permit does not allow you to travel to the UK without a visa. You can check if you need a visa and apply for one.

Official documents and services we provide

We provide a limited range of notarial and documentary services when local notary publics, solicitors, or lawyers cannot provide them. You will need to pay a fee for these services.

Support for British nationals living in Switzerland

Read our guidance for living in Switzerland for information on travelling to, living, working and studying there.

You can find a full list of UK help and services available in Switzerland.

Our people

British Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and non-resident Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein
James Squire

Contact us


British Embassy Berne

Thunstrasse 50
3005 Berne
Switzerland

Telephone
+41 (0)31 359 7700 / +44 20 7008 5000 (available 24/7)

Fax (general)
+41 (0)31 359 7701

Fax (consular)
+41 (0)31 359 7765

Out of hours emergencies
+41 (0)31 359 77 00

Public access to the Embassy is by appointment only.

Use our contact form for consular enquiries:
www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-berne

Access and opening times

Corporate information