Switzerland is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, which means that documents issued in Switzerland can be apostilled for use in other countries that are also signatories of the Hague Convention.

Steps to Obtain an Apostille in Switzerland:

1. Prepare Your Document:
   • The document you wish to apostille must be an official or public document issued by a Swiss authority. These can include birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic diplomas, notarial acts, and court documents.
   • If the document is not in one of the official Swiss languages (German, French, Italian, or Romansh), it may need to be translated into one of these languages or the language required by the destination country.
2. Notarization (if necessary):
   • If the document is a private document (such as a contract), it may need to be notarized by a Swiss notary public before it can be apostilled.
3. Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
   • In Switzerland, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Swiss Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzlei).
   • Apostilles for documents are typically handled by the Cantonal Chancelleries (regional offices) or the Swiss Federal Chancellery depending on where the document originated.
4. Required Documents for Apostille:
   • The original document you want to have apostilled.
   • A valid identification (e.g., passport or Swiss national ID).
   • If a representative (such as a lawyer) is submitting the document on your behalf, a notarized power of attorney or written authorization may be required.
5. Apostille Process:
   • After submitting your document to the relevant office, the Swiss Federal Chancellery or the Cantonal Chancelleries will verify the authenticity of the document and apply the apostille. The apostille is a certificate or stamp confirming the document’s authenticity for use in other Hague Convention countries.
6. Fees:
   • The fee for obtaining an apostille in Switzerland is typically around CHF 20 to CHF 50 (Swiss Francs) per document, though the cost may vary slightly depending on the type of document and processing time.
7. Receiving the Apostilled Document:
   • After the apostille has been applied, you can either pick up the apostilled document in person or arrange for it to be mailed to you, depending on the submission method and your preferences.

Important Notes:

• Translation: If your document is in a language other than one of Switzerland’s official languages (German, French, Italian, or Romansh), you may need to translate it before submitting it for an apostille.
• Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid only in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If you need to use the document in a non-Hague Convention country, you will have to go through consular legalization instead.
• Legalization vs. Apostille: For countries that are not members of the Hague Convention, you will need to go through the process of consular legalization, which involves getting the document authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

By following these steps, your document from Switzerland will be legally recognized in other Hague Convention countries.