If a person dies in a hospital or a care home, the institution will report the death.
If a person dies outside an institution, the deceased’s relatives must report the death to the appropriate authorities – usually the civil register office  at the place of death – within two days.
The deceased’s relatives may authorise a third party, e.g. a private funeral director or the public funeral office, to report the death and take care of the formalities. Check your canton’s or commune’s website for options.
The person reporting the death must present the following documents:
death certificate
deceased’s family booklet / partnership certificate
deceased’s passport / identity card
deceased’s settlement permit / residence permit (if the deceased is a foreign national)
The civil register office will issue written confirmation that the death has been reported and, once the death has been certified, a death certificate. These documents are required in order to proceed with the funeral.
Note: If a foreign national who does not live in Switzerland dies here, the death must be reported to the civil register office at the place of death. The passport or identity card of the deceased’s spouse or partner must also be submitted. The civil register office may request further documents.