Consular protection: more and more elderly Swiss are dying abroad

The number of Swiss nationals travelling and living abroad is increasing resulting in more and more consular protection cases. In an interview with Swissinfo, Yvonne Rohner, head of the Consular Protection Division explains what the most common cases are and clarifies the limits of official support. Despite the current geopolitical situation, the Swiss haven't lost their appetite for travel abroad. Every year, they make 12 million foreign trips. In addition, there are 826,700 Swiss nationals with permanent residence abroad and the trend is rising. Swiss people who love to travel and emigrate mean a lot of work for the foreign ministry. Their helpline received 55,000 requests for assistance in 2024 alone. Consular protection has become a central service of the Swiss government but within limits. Swiss nationals abroad, whether travelling or residing outside Switzerland, are not legally entitled to support. Personal responsibility and subsidiarity are enshrined in law. The foreign ...