British Embassy Berne
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-20)

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 (https://www.gov.uk/world/switzerland/news).

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:
- finding English-speaking lawyers (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=Switzerland&utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland), funeral directors (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=funeral-directors&country=Switzerland&utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland) and translators and interpreters (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=translators-interpreters&country=Switzerland&utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland) in Switzerland
- dealing with a death in Switzerland (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bereavement-guide-for-switzerland-and-liechtenstein?utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland)
- being arrested in Switzerland (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/switzerland-prisoner-pack?utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland)
- getting help if you’re a victim of crime (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-crime-abroad?utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland)
- what to do if you’re in hospital (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/in-hospital-abroad?utm_source=british-embassy-berne&utm_medium=Embassy&utm_campaign=Switzerland)
- travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland) for Switzerland
Getting help

If you cannot get the support you need from local services, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can help British people abroad.

We prioritise emergencies and people who are vulnerable, for example, if someone’s:
- ill, injured, or involved in a crime
- with a British person who’s died
Get help from FCDO (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/switzerland/british-embassy-berne)

If you cannot use your passport

You can apply for an emergency travel document (https://www.gov.uk/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 (https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) in time to travel.

If you do not need to travel urgently, you should still report a lost or stolen passport (https://www.gov.uk/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 (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa).

Official documents and services we provide

We provide a limited range of notarial and documentary services (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-switzerland) when local notary publics, solicitors, or lawyers cannot provide them. You will need to pay a fee (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/switzerland-consular-fees) for these services.

Support for British nationals living in Switzerland

Read our guidance for living in Switzerland (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-switzerland) for information on travelling to, living, working and studying there.

You can find a full list of UK help and services (https://www.gov.uk/world/switzerland) available in Switzerland.