Debt Collection Guide Switzerland

A debt enforcement register extract (also called a debt collection extract) is an extract from the register kept by the competent debt enforcement office. It indicates whether debt enforcement proceedings have been initiated against a natural or legal person in the relevant debt enforcement district within the last five years. If no entries exist, this is also confirmed; in everyday language, such an extract is then referred to as a "clean" debt enforcement register extract.

In Switzerland, the debt enforcement register extract is frequently requested for flat applications, banking and credit transactions, by employers, authorities or for other credit checks. Important: the extract only reflects the register status of the competent debt enforcement district. If you have moved within the last five years, you may need extracts from several previous places of residence to obtain complete information.

The debt enforcement register extract lists all non-deleted entries from the last five years of the competent debt enforcement district. For each entry, the following are shown: the date and amount of the initiated debt enforcement proceedings, the name of the creditor, the current procedural status as well as any certificates of loss and objections raised. Typical status designations are "Payment order served" (proceedings opened), "Objection raised" (the debtor disputes the claim), "Attachment" (the debtor's assets are attached to cover the claim) or "Certificate of loss issued" (the attachment did not cover the claim).

By default, the debt enforcement register extract covers the last five years from the issue date. Older entries are no longer displayed on the extract and are not accessible to private individuals. Certificates of loss have a special status: under DEBA they remain legally valid for up to 20 years and entitle the creditor to initiate new debt enforcement proceedings — but they no longer appear in the public part of the register after the five-year period has elapsed. Under certain conditions (for example in connection with a procedure under foreigner law or a permit application), authorities may also access older entries.

The debt enforcement register extract is a snapshot at the time of issue. There is no legally defined validity period. In practice, it is generally accepted by landlords, banks and employers if it is not older than two to three months. For time-sensitive matters such as a flat application, it is advisable to provide the most current extract possible.

There is no substantive difference — both terms refer to the same document. "Debt collection extract" is the commonly used short form; it is used in everyday language, in flat applications and most often in search engines. "Debt enforcement register extract" is the precise legal term taken from the Federal Act on Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy (DEBA), used in laws, ordinances and administrative documents. In practice, whoever uses one or the other refers to the same thing.

The digital debt enforcement register extract is signed by the debt collection office with a qualified electronic signature (QES) and delivered as a PDF by email. Under Swiss law (CO Art. 14 Para. 2bis, ZertES SR 943.03), it is equivalent to a handwritten signature and is therefore fully legally valid. The physical extract is delivered by post and bears a handwritten stamp. Both are identical in content. The advantage of the digital extract: It is available faster, can be forwarded as many times as needed, and authenticity can be verified at any time on validator.ch.

There are several ways to order a debt enforcement register extract:

Directly from the debt collection office: You can visit the counter of the competent debt collection office in person. The office fee is CHF 17.00–18.00. Opening hours are limited (generally weekdays during business hours). You will receive the extract either immediately at the counter or by post within a few days, depending on the office.

By post (Swiss Post): You can order the extract online through Swiss Post. It will be delivered electronically. The cost is CHF 24.90.

Online via EAMT: EAMT is the leading digital provider of debt collection extracts in Switzerland. As an authorised eSchKG participant (ID 1417), EAMT forwards your order directly to the competent debt collection office. The price is CHF 29.90 (CHF 18.00 office fee + CHF 11.90 EAMT service fee). In return, you receive the digitally signed, legally valid debt enforcement register extract as fast as possible by email — nationwide, around the clock, even from your smartphone. Ordering takes only a few minutes (your ID can be photographed).

The choice of ordering method depends on your personal priorities: cost, speed or convenience.

The costs consist of the office fee and any service fees:

At the debt collection office counter: CHF 17.00–18.00 (office fee only, depending on canton) Via Swiss Post: CHF 24.90 Via EAMT: CHF 29.90 (CHF 18.00 office fee + CHF 11.90 service fee incl. VAT)

The EAMT service fee of CHF 11.90 includes: digital forwarding via the eSchKG system, delivery by email as fast as possible, 24/7 ordering service (also in the evenings, at weekends and on public holidays) and the option to capture your ID using your smartphone camera. No printing, no scanning, no visiting the office — conveniently from home or on the go, paperless and environmentally friendly.

When you order via EAMT, you will receive your debt enforcement register extract by email as fast as possible. The exact delivery time depends on the competent debt collection office and may vary. As a rule, delivery is significantly faster than by post, as the order is transmitted digitally via the eSchKG system directly to the debt collection office. For comparison: at the debt collection office counter you receive the extract immediately (provided the office is open); by post it generally takes one to several business days.

The debt collection office responsible is always the one in your current place of residence (for natural persons) or your registered office (for legal entities). Switzerland is divided into debt collection districts — each municipality or region has a competent debt collection office. When ordering via EAMT, you only need to provide your home address, and EAMT will automatically forward your order to the correct debt collection office.

In principle, each person can order their own debt enforcement register extract. For third parties, an order is possible if a legitimate interest can be credibly demonstrated (e.g. as a landlord, employer or business partner). When ordering via EAMT, you will need the personal details (name, date of birth, address) of the person being enquired about. Without a legitimate interest, the debt collection office may refuse the information.

Yes. Since the debt enforcement register extract only contains entries from the respective competent debt collection office at your place of residence, it only covers the time you were registered at that address. If you have moved in the last five years, you will need a separate extract from each former address to provide complete information. Many landlords and banks specifically require this.

To order a debt enforcement register extract, you will need a photo identity document that is valid at the time of ordering. Accepted are: Swiss identity card, Swiss passport, foreigner's permit (residence permit B/C/L) or foreign passport. Important: the identity document must not be expired — expired documents are rejected by the system. When ordering via EAMT, you capture both the front and back of the identity document conveniently with your smartphone camera in two steps; no copying or scanning required.

Yes, the digital debt enforcement register extract is fully legally valid. The qualified electronic signature (QES) is equivalent to a handwritten signature under Swiss law (CO Art. 14 Para. 2bis). It meets the requirements of the Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES, SR 943.03). The digitally signed debt enforcement register extract is accepted by authorities, banks, insurance companies and landlords throughout Switzerland.

The qualified electronic signature (QES) is the highest level of electronic signature and the only one that is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature in Switzerland. It is based on a qualified certificate issued by a recognised certification authority. In the context of the debt enforcement register extract, the QES is applied by the debt collection office and confirms the authenticity and integrity of the document.

You can verify the authenticity of a digitally signed debt enforcement register extract at any time on validator.ch — the Federal Government's validation service, operated by the Federal Information Technology Office (BIT). Simply upload the PDF document, and the validator will automatically check the validity of the qualified electronic signature. This way you can ensure that the document is unchanged and was actually issued by the competent debt collection office.

Yes. The digitally signed debt enforcement register extract is legally equivalent to the physical extract and is accepted throughout Switzerland by all common organisations: property management companies, landlords, banks (for loan applications and mortgages), insurance companies, employers and authorities (e.g. for residence permits). Since the digital extract bears the same qualified electronic signature as one obtained at the counter, there is no factual reason not to accept it. Should any organisation have doubts, you can refer them to verification via validator.ch.

Debt enforcement is the statutory procedure in Switzerland by which a creditor can enforce an outstanding monetary claim against a debtor. The procedure is governed by the Federal Act on Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy (DEBA). Debt enforcement is initiated at the competent debt collection office and can be filed by any person or company against another person or company — even if the claim is disputed. Debt enforcement therefore does not necessarily mean that someone actually owes money.

When debt enforcement is initiated against you, you receive a payment order from the debt collection office. You then have three options: pay the requested amount, raise a legal objection within 10 days (if you dispute the claim) or do nothing (which leads to continuation of the debt enforcement proceedings). Important: The entry appears in the debt enforcement register as soon as the payment order is delivered — regardless of whether the claim is justified or not.

A legal objection is your right to block debt enforcement if you dispute the claim in whole or in part. It must be raised with the debt collection office within 10 days of receipt of the payment order — verbally or in writing. The legal objection is free and requires no explanation. Once a legal objection has been raised, the debt enforcement proceedings are stopped. The creditor must then pursue legal remedies to continue the debt enforcement.

Yes, unfortunately this is possible. In Switzerland, in principle any person can initiate debt enforcement against any other person — even without a legitimate claim. The debt collection office does not check whether the claim actually exists. It automatically sends the payment order. This is why it is important to immediately raise a legal objection in the event of unjustified debt enforcement. The entry still appears in the debt enforcement register, but may under certain circumstances be deleted (see "How can I have debt enforcement deleted?").

The payment order is the legally valid document delivered to you by the debt collection office after a creditor has initiated debt enforcement against you. It contains the name of the creditor, the amount claimed, the reason for the claim and information about your rights (in particular the right to raise a legal objection within 10 days). The payment order is generally served personally by the debt collection office.

Debt enforcement through seizure/attachment applies to private individuals and companies not registered in the commercial register. If payment is not made, assets of the debtor are seized and realised. Debt enforcement through bankruptcy applies to companies and partnerships registered in the commercial register. The entire assets of the debtor are made subject to bankruptcy proceedings. Which type applies is determined automatically by law — the creditor cannot choose freely.

Wanting to have a debt enforcement « deleted » legally usually means: the debt enforcement should no longer be disclosed to third parties in the debt enforcement extract or debt enforcement register extract. A debt enforcement is, however, not always completely removed from the register. What matters is the reason why the debt enforcement should no longer appear.

For a paid claim, payment alone is generally not enough for the debt enforcement to disappear from the extract. The most common route is for the creditor to withdraw the debt enforcement at the debt collection office or to issue a written withdrawal declaration. A debt enforcement withdrawn by the creditor is, in principle, no longer disclosed to third parties under Art. 8a para. 3 let. c DEBA (the original text is available in German, French and Italian).

For a debt enforcement that is contested or considered unjustified by the debtor, a request for non-disclosure under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA may additionally be possible. The request is submitted to the competent debt collection office. The requirements are in particular that an objection (Rechtsvorschlag) has been raised, that at least three months have passed since service of the payment order, and that the request is filed before the third-party right of inspection has expired. The creditor must then, within 20 days, prove that they have initiated proceedings to set aside the objection in due time. If this proof is not provided, the debt enforcement is no longer disclosed to third parties. Federal Office of Justice Directive No. 5 (German original) confirms exactly this procedure.

Independently of this, the third-party right of inspection generally expires five years after the conclusion of proceedings. This is not, however, a complete technical deletion of the register entry. After that, third parties such as private individuals or companies generally no longer obtain information under the general right of inspection; judicial and administrative authorities may continue to request extracts in the interest of proceedings pending before them. Details of the request procedure are described under « What is a request for non-disclosure? ».

Debt enforcement entries remain visible in the public part of the debt enforcement register for five years, calculated from the date of the respective procedural step. After this period has elapsed, they no longer appear on the debt enforcement register extract that is accessible to private individuals and companies. Entries may remain visible to authorities for longer.

The cost depends on which route is chosen.

Where the creditor withdraws the debt enforcement, the protocoling of the withdrawal by the debt collection office is, in principle, free of charge since the entry into force of the revised Fee Ordinance on the DEBA on 1.1.2022 (the original text is available in German, French and Italian). Any agreements between creditor and debtor — for instance regarding the reimbursement of debt enforcement costs already paid — are independent of this protocoling.

For a request for non-disclosure under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA, a statutory flat fee of CHF 40 is owed under Art. 12b Fee Ordinance DEBA. The request is submitted to the competent debt collection office, not to a court. This flat fee covers all procedural expenses (deliveries, decisions, notifications) and is owed irrespective of the outcome — so even if the request is rejected. No additional fee may be levied for granting or rejecting the request. A new request concerning the same debt enforcement triggers a new flat fee. Federal Office of Justice Directive No. 5 (German original) confirms this rule.

Court and lawyer costs arise only where a separate judicial procedure is necessary — for example to set aside the objection (Rechtsvorschlag), in connection with an action for acknowledgement of debt, or for the judicial clarification of a contested claim. Such costs depend on the specific procedure, the value in dispute and the cantonal court fee tariff, and can vary considerably from case to case.

Anyone wishing to have an unjustified debt enforcement removed or to have it disappear from an extract from the debt enforcement register usually means, in legal terms: that the debt enforcement should no longer be brought to the attention of third parties in an extract from the debt enforcement register. A debt enforcement is, however, not always completely deleted from the register. In practice, two paths are particularly important.

Firstly, the creditor may withdraw the debt enforcement directly at the debt collection office or issue a written withdrawal declaration. A debt enforcement withdrawn by the creditor is, as a rule, no longer brought to the attention of third parties under Art. 8a para. 3 let. c DEBA. Secondly, the debtor against whom proceedings have been initiated may submit a request for non-disclosure to the competent debt collection office under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA. It is required in particular that an objection was filed against the summons for payment, that at least three months have passed since its service, and that the request is submitted before the third-party right to inspect has expired. This right to inspect generally expires five years after the conclusion of the proceedings.

Where the request for non-disclosure is granted, the entry remains recorded internally at the debt collection office; the debt enforcement, however, is no longer brought to the attention of third parties in an extract from the debt enforcement register. For the procedural details, see "What is a request for non-disclosure?".

A request for non-disclosure of debt enforcement proceedings under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA is a legal mechanism by which a debtor against whom proceedings have been initiated may apply to the competent debt collection office that a particular debt enforcement no longer be brought to the attention of third parties and therefore no longer appear in an extract from the debt enforcement register issued to third parties. It is required in particular that an objection was filed against the summons for payment, that at least three months have passed since the summons for payment was served, and that the request is submitted before the third-party right to inspect has expired. This right to inspect generally expires five years after the conclusion of the proceedings. Upon receipt of the request, the debt collection office sets the creditor a 20-day deadline to prove that proceedings to set aside the objection (Arts. 79–84 DEBA) were initiated in good time. If the creditor fails to provide such proof, the debt enforcement is no longer brought to the attention of third parties. The entry is not, however, materially deleted; it remains recorded internally at the debt collection office. If the creditor subsequently provides such proof or if the debt enforcement is continued, it may again be brought to the attention of third parties — unless the debtor proves that a binding decision has been taken to reject the creditor's request to set aside the objection.

Yes, in Switzerland the debt enforcement register extract is a standard document when applying for a flat. Most landlords and property management companies require it as proof of your financial reliability. It should be as current as possible — ideally not older than two to three months. Tip: Order the extract early so that you can submit a complete application immediately when you find a suitable flat. If you have moved in the last five years, you will need extracts from all previous addresses.

Yes, many employers in Switzerland require a debt enforcement register extract when hiring — particularly for positions with financial responsibility, in banking, insurance, the public sector or positions of trust. The extract serves as proof of financial integrity. Employers may not order the extract without your knowledge — you must submit it yourself.

Yes, a debt enforcement register extract can also be ordered for legal entities (GmbH, AG, sole proprietorship, etc.). Companies often need it for contract negotiations, tender submissions, loan applications or when entering into collaboration with new business partners. The extract is ordered from the debt collection office at the company's registered office. When ordering via EAMT, you provide the company address instead of a private address.

Yes, when applying for or renewing a residence permit (permit B, C or L), the cantonal migration authorities generally require a current debt enforcement register extract. It serves as proof that you are fulfilling your financial obligations in Switzerland. In some cantons, detailed extracts are required that also include certificates of loss. If you have moved in recent years, you will need extracts from all residential municipalities.

Yes, banks and credit institutions in Switzerland virtually always require a current debt enforcement register extract for loan applications and mortgage enquiries. It is part of the creditworthiness assessment and shows the bank whether there are outstanding debt enforcement entries or certificates of loss against you. A "clean" debt enforcement register extract significantly improves your chances of credit approval.

Debt enforcement makes flat hunting more difficult, but does not rule it out. Some landlords refuse applicants with debt enforcement entries as a matter of principle, others assess the situation individually. Often what matters is: Has the claim since been settled? Was the debt enforcement unjustified? How many entries are there? Tips: Provide a written explanation of why the debt enforcement arose. Include evidence of settlement. Consider having the entry deleted (see "How can I have debt enforcement deleted?").

A debt enforcement entry in the register impairs your creditworthiness and makes credit extension more difficult, but does not necessarily rule it out. It depends on the number and amount of entries, the age of the debt enforcement and your general creditworthiness. Some specialised credit providers do offer loans even with existing debt enforcement entries, but often at higher interest rates. Basically, you improve your chances if you settle outstanding claims and have entries deleted before applying for credit.

An existing mortgage is generally not directly affected by new debt enforcement. However, debt enforcement can become a problem when the mortgage is renewed or when you apply for an additional mortgage, as the bank will conduct a new creditworthiness assessment. It is advisable to clarify outstanding debt enforcement before a mortgage renewal.

A certificate of loss is issued by the debt collection office when, during a seizure/attachment, there are insufficient assets to cover the creditor's claim. It certifies the remaining claim and entitles the creditor to initiate new debt enforcement within 20 years — without a new enforceable title. Within six months of issue, the creditor can even demand continuation without a new payment order. The certificate of loss expires after 20 years.

No, not automatically. Your employer cannot access your debt enforcement register extract without your knowledge and participation. However, your employer can ask you to submit a debt enforcement register extract yourself — particularly for positions with financial responsibility. Without your consent and active participation, your employer has no access to the debt enforcement register.

EAMT GmbH is an authorised digital intermediary for debt enforcement register extracts in Switzerland. As a registered eSchKG participant (ID 1417) with the Federal Office of Justice and an active SEDEX participant (Sedex ID 4-800248-6) with the Federal Statistical Office, EAMT is directly connected to the systems of Swiss debt collection offices. You order your debt enforcement register extract conveniently online — EAMT forwards your request to the competent debt collection office and delivers the digitally signed, legally valid extract as fast as possible by email. The service is available nationwide for all debt collection offices.

No, EAMT GmbH is not a debt collection office and not a authority. EAMT is a private, authorised intermediary that makes it easier for you to access the debt enforcement register extract. As a registered eSchKG participant (ID 1417) with the Federal Office of Justice, EAMT is directly connected to the systems of Swiss debt collection offices and districts. You order via EAMT — the extract is issued by the competent debt collection office, digitally signed and delivered to you as fast as possible by email.

EAMT GmbH is registered and listed with two Swiss Federal offices: With the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) as a registered eSchKG participant with participant ID 1417 (viewable on eschkg.ch), and with the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) as an active SEDEX participant with Sedex ID 4-800248-6 (viewable on sedex.swiss). Additionally, EAMT is entered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Schwyz (UID CHE-210.634.957, viewable on zefix.ch).

Yes. EAMT adheres to the highest security standards: Orders are transmitted via the secure eSchKG system — the same system used by Swiss debt collection offices for secure data exchange. The website is SSL-encrypted (HTTPS). Hosting is located in Switzerland (Nine Internet Solutions AG). Debt enforcement register extracts bear a qualified electronic signature (QES) in accordance with ZertES and can be verified on validator.ch. Payments are processed through established Swiss and international payment service providers (TWINT, PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal).

Ordering your debt enforcement register extract online through EAMT offers the following benefits compared to the traditional counter or postal route:

Speed: Ordering takes only a few minutes. In around 90 % of cases (working days), the digital debt enforcement extract is delivered by email within 24 hours.

Legal certainty: The digital extract is signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES) issued by the debt enforcement office and is equivalent to a handwritten signature under Swiss law (CO Art. 14 Para. 2bis, ZertES SR 943.03). Authenticity can be verified at any time on validator.ch of the Swiss Confederation — which increases acceptance by landlords, banks and authorities.

Automatic office allocation: You don't have to research which of the over 400 debt enforcement offices is responsible. EAMT forwards your order directly to the relevant office based on your residential address.

Helpful when moving house: After a change of residence, it is not always clear which office is responsible for the relevant period. EAMT handles this clarification in the background — you don't have to deal with the distribution of jurisdiction between your old and new place of residence yourself.

Multiple use: The PDF can be forwarded as often as needed after receipt — for example, for several flat applications or bank enquiries in parallel, without re-ordering and at no extra cost.

Secure data transmission: The order is transmitted to the debt enforcement office via the federal eSchKG system — the Swiss standard for digital communication between authorised third parties and debt enforcement offices, with high security standards.

Flexible payment: Available are TWINT, PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Easy identification: The front and back of your ID document are captured conveniently with your smartphone camera in two steps — no printer, scanner or paper copies required.

24/7 availability: Place your order at any time — at weekends, on public holidays or at night. You are not tied to counter opening hours.

Location-independent: The entire process takes place online — from order to receipt of the PDF, without any media break.

Sustainability: As no paper is needed for applications, copies or postal delivery, the digital route is generally more resource-friendly than the traditional counter or postal route. (Individual debt enforcement offices now offer their own digital ordering options — their processes, however, differ from EAMT's.)