The State Chancellery only certifies original documents that are intended for use abroad. If you need a certified document for Switzerland, you should consult a notary. We can only directly certify certain documents. Other documents require provisional certification by another cantonal office.
What does the State Chancellery certify?
The State Chancellery certifies that signatures are genuine. We do not certify the content of texts or of translations. The document must always be provided in its original form and be issued by an official body in the Canton of Bern or a Bernese notary.
In what languages does the State Chancellery issue certifications?
The certification can be issued in the following languages:
- German
- French
- Italian
- Englisch
- Spanish
- Portuguese
Fees
Certifications cost CHF 25.00 per document.
What the State Chancellery certifies
We certify the original documents of the following persons and cantonal authorities:
- Members of government of the canton of Bern
- Notaries from the canton of Bern
- Prefects (Regierungsstatthalter) in the canton of Bern
- Civil registrars in the canton of Bern, provided their signatures are on documents issued since the year 2000
- Public offices in the canton of Bern
- Commercial register offices in the canton of Bern
- Canton of Bern Commerce and Industry Federation
- Courts in the canton of Bern
- City of Bern Residents’ Register Office
- Canton of Bern Child and Adult Protection Authority (CAPA)
- Debt enforcement and bankruptcy offices in the canton of Bern
- Child and Adult Protection Authority of the Burgergemeinde Bern
Documents that the State Chancellery certifies after provisional certification
The following documents must first be certified by another cantonal local government office or a notary:
| We do not directly certify: | They must first be certified by: |
|---|---|
| Medical reports | Bern Cantonal Medical Officer |
| Foreign passports | Notary from the canton of Bern |
| Documents relating to animals | Canton of Bern, Veterinary Office |
| Vehicle registration documents / Technical data on vehicles | Canton of Bern, Road Traffic and Navigation Office |
| Documents from communal authorities in the canton of Bern | District Prefecture (Regierungsstatthalteramt / Préfecture) |
| Copies of Swiss passports and identity cards | Passport Centre or notary from the canton of Bern |
| Copies and other documents | Notary from the canton of Bern |
| Pension fund documents | Notary from the canton of Bern |
| Signatures of private individuals and translators | Notary from the canton of Bern |
| School reports | Canton of Bern, Office for Compulsory Education and Counselling Services |
| Certificates from upper secondary schools, baccalaureate (Matura) certificates, and certificates from cantonal vocational schools | Canton of Bern, Office for Upper-Secondary Education and Training |
| Degree certificates from the University of Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences or the Bern University of Teacher Education | Canton of Bern, Office for Higher Education |
Documents that the State Chancellery does not certify
We do not certify the following documents. Please contact the relevant authority directly:
| We do not certify: | Authorities responsible: |
|---|---|
| Documents from other cantons | State Chancellery of the canton that issued the document |
| Documents from other countries | Consulate of the country in which the document was issued, followed by certification by the Federal Chancellery |
Documents from federal public offices Federal certificates/diplomas Documents from the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) Documents from Swissmedic (Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products) Extracts from the Central Register of Convictions |
Swiss Federal Chancellery For further information, see: Legalisations |
If you have any questions
If you are not sure which criteria apply to the documents that you need, we will be pleased to help you.
You can call us on +41 31 633 75 11 or contact us by email at: info.sta@be.ch