Switzerland: templates and forms

For employees in Switzerland who have been dismissed and consider the dismissal abusive, in German: the written objection under Art. 336b CO. It must reach the employer before the notice period ends, or the compensation of up to six months' wages (Art. 336a CO) is lost. With your reasons if you wish to give them, an offer to keep working and, if you do not have them yet, a request for the written reasons (Art. 335 para. 2 CO). Print, sign and send by registered post.

For parents in Switzerland whose child travels without them or with only one parent: the declaration by which the parents with parental authority consent to the trip and authorise a companion, giving the child, the travel document, destination, dates, purpose and the parents' phone numbers, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) recommends. Where parental authority is joint, both sign (Art. 296, 301 of the Civil Code, ZGB). With room for certification if the destination asks for it. Print, sign and give it to the child with copies of the parents' ID. In German.

For people in Switzerland who want to know what data a company, association or federal office holds on them, in German: requests access under Art. 25 FADP (the revised Data Protection Act, in force since 1 September 2023) — Swiss law, not the GDPR. The answer is free as a rule and due within 30 days (Art. 18 DPO). Cantonal and municipal authorities fall under cantonal data protection law. Send it by registered post or e-mail.

For private people in Switzerland selling or buying a used car, in German: records the car, its master number, mileage, price and payment, handover only against payment, the seller's statements on accidents and mileage, and the exclusion of warranty within its legal limits (Art. 199 and 100 CO). The plates stay with the seller; the buyer registers the car with the road traffic office. Print two copies, both sign, with a receipt for the price.

For creditors and debtors in Switzerland who agree to clear a debt in instalments, in German: the debtor acknowledges the amount, and both agree monthly instalments, the account, a grace period and that the balance falls due if an instalment is missed. Important for the debtor: a signed acknowledgement of debt is a title for provisional removal of an objection (provisorische Rechtsöffnung, Art. 82 DEBA) — if the debtor later objects to a payment order, the creditor can have the objection set aside without an ordinary lawsuit. Print two copies and sign both by hand.

For private persons in Switzerland lending each other money — family, friends or acquaintances — in German: records the amount, the payment-out, interest (or none), repayment in one sum, in monthly instalments or within six weeks of being asked (Art. 318 CO) and what happens on default, with a separate signed receipt. The Consumer Credit Act does not apply as long as neither party grants credit as a business and no crowdlending platform arranges the loan (Art. 2 CCA). Print two copies and have both parties sign.

For accused persons in Switzerland who received a penalty order (Strafbefehl), for instance for a traffic offence, in German for an authority that works in German: objects in writing to the authority that issued it (Art. 354 CrimPC), with or without reasons, and asks to see the file. The period is ten days from service; without a valid objection the order becomes a final conviction. Not for a fixed fine (Ordnungsbusse), which you pay or refuse. Send it by registered post, handed to the post office by the tenth day.

For people in Switzerland who want a trusted person to act for them generally, in German: contracts, payments, post, authorities, debt enforcement and, where allowed, court (Art. 32 ff. CO). Land, acts needing a public deed and gifts are excluded; settlements as you choose. It can be revoked at any time and ends if you lose capacity — for that, Swiss law has the handwritten advance-care mandate (Art. 360 ff. CC). Sign it and hand it to the person you appoint.

A resignation letter in English for employees in Switzerland whose employer works in English: notice ending the employment with the contractual or statutory period (Art. 335c CO), or during probation seven days or the period agreed (Art. 335b CO), on the date you choose or else the next possible date, asking for confirmation, a reference (Arbeitszeugnis), the final pay and salary certificate (Lohnausweis), and settling remaining holiday. Send it by registered post or hand it over against a receipt. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For employees in Switzerland, in English: asks the employer for a full reference, an interim reference or a confirmation of employment (Arbeitszeugnis, Zwischenzeugnis, Arbeitsbestätigung) under Art. 330a CO, or for the correction of a reference that is wrong or incomplete, with the current and the requested wording and a deadline. You can ask at any time, also while still employed. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants of a flat in Switzerland who deal with their landlord in English: the written notice ending the lease (Art. 266l para. 1 of the Code of Obligations, CO), with three months' notice to the lease's termination date, else to a local date (Art. 266c CO), and to the next possible date if the chosen one is missed. It has lines for every tenant and for the express consent of a spouse or registered partner where the flat is the family home (Art. 266m CO). Print, sign and send by registered post (Einschreiben). Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants in Switzerland who move out before the termination date: the letter to the landlord announcing the early return of the flat and proposing a replacement tenant (Nachmieter) who is solvent and willing to take over the lease on the same terms (Art. 264 of the Code of Obligations, CO). It gives the return date and the candidates, asks for an answer by a date and lists the documents enclosed. Print, have every tenant sign and send by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For people insured in Switzerland, in English: terminates the compulsory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung) after the new premium is announced, for 31 December (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names your new insurer and leaves supplementary insurance running. To change on 1 January, it must reach the insurer by 30 November. The Federal Office of Public Health offers free German, French and Italian model letters on priminfo.admin.ch. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For tenants in Switzerland living with defects in their flat: the written notice of defects to the landlord or the agency. It lists what is wrong, sets a date for repairs (Art. 259a and 259b of the Code of Obligations, CO), claims a lower rent from the time the landlord knew (Art. 259d CO) and can include the written warning that the rent will be paid into deposit, which Art. 259g CO requires first. It names your canton's conciliation authority, where conciliation is free. Print it, sign it, add photos and post it registered. In Italian.

For tenants in Switzerland moving out before the lease can be ended: the letter telling the landlord that the flat will be handed back early and putting forward a new tenant who is solvent and ready to take over the lease on the same terms (Art. 264 of the Code of Obligations, CO). It states the handover date and the candidates, gives the landlord a date to answer by and lists what is enclosed. Print it, have every tenant sign it and post it registered. In Italian.

For people renting a flat in Switzerland who want to leave it: the written notice to the landlord or managing agency (Art. 266l para. 1 of the Code of Obligations, CO), giving three months' notice to the date in the lease, or else to a local termination date (Art. 266c CO), and taking effect on the following date if the chosen one is missed. Every tenant signs, and where the flat is the family home so does the spouse or registered partner (Art. 266m CO); the letter also asks for a handover date and the release of the rent deposit. Print it, sign it and post it registered. In Italian.

For tenants in Switzerland whose rent is based on a reference interest rate above today's: the written request asking the landlord to lower the rent under Art. 270a of the Code of Obligations (CO), from the next termination date. It sets out the rate behind your rent, the current rate, the cut you ask for and the landlord's 30 days to answer, and names your canton's conciliation authority if they refuse. Check your claim first with the free calculator of the Swiss tenants' association (ASI in Ticino). Every tenant signs it, and it goes by registered post. In Italian.

For tenants who have left a rented flat in Switzerland: the letter claiming back the rent deposit (Art. 257e of the Code of Obligations, CO). You pick who receives it: the landlord, asked to consent to the bank releasing the money, or the bank directly once a year has gone by since the lease ended without the landlord pursuing a claim through debt enforcement or a court action. It names the bank, the account, the amount, your IBAN and a reply date. Print it, sign it and post it registered. In Italian.

For people in Switzerland moving to another health insurer: the letter ending the compulsory basic insurance either after the new premium has been announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 LAMal/KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for yourself and children covered with you. It names the new insurer and leaves supplementary cover in place. To change on 1 January, the insurer must receive it by 30 November — the postmark is irrelevant. The Federal Office of Public Health has a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it registered or by A-Post Plus. In Italian.

For tenants in Switzerland whose rent was set at a higher reference mortgage rate than the current one: the written request to the landlord or the régie for a lower rent under Art. 270a of the Code of Obligations (CO), from the next termination date. It gives the rate your rent is based on, the current rate, the cut you ask for and the 30 days the landlord has to respond, and names your canton's conciliation authority should the landlord refuse. Check your entitlement first with the tenants' association ASLOCA's free calculator. Every tenant signs; send by registered post. In French.

For anyone renting a flat in Switzerland who wants to leave: the notice letter to the landlord or the régie (managing agency), in the written form Art. 266l para. 1 of the Code of Obligations (CO) requires, with three months' notice to the lease's end date or else to a customary date (Art. 266c CO; in Vaud, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October), taking effect on the next date if the chosen one is missed. It has a line for every tenant and one for the express consent of a spouse or registered partner when the flat is the family home (Art. 266m CO), and asks for a move-out inspection and the release of the rent deposit. Print, sign and send by registered post. In French.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in French: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. The Romand consumer federation FRC publishes a free model letter for gyms on frc.ch. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For debtors in Switzerland served with a payment order (commandement de payer), in French: you can object free of charge at once to the person handing over the payment order, who notes it on the order, or within ten days at the debt collection office, orally at the counter or in writing; no reasons are needed (Art. 74 and 75 DEBA). This letter is the written route with proof, in the office's official language: it objects to the whole claim or an exact part of it and asks for the free certificate. Send it registered, handed to the post office by the tenth day.

A resignation letter in French for employees in Switzerland: ends the employment with the contractual or statutory notice period (Art. 335c CO), or during probation with seven days or the period agreed (Art. 335b CO), on the date you choose or else the next possible date. It asks for confirmation, a work certificate (certificat de travail), the final pay with the salary certificate (certificat de salaire) and settles remaining holiday. The Code of Obligations requires no form, though contracts and collective agreements often do: print, sign, and send it registered or hand it over against a receipt.