An essential document when renting a home, applying for bank finance or applying for certain jobs, the extract from the debt enforcement register attests to a person’s financial situation and solvency in Switzerland.
The request is addressed directly to the competent debt enforcement office at the place of domicile or at the registered office of the person or entity concerned.
The conditions for making the request
Any person may obtain an extract relating to his own situation without having to give any particular reason, simply by presenting a valid official identity document.
By contrast, where an extract is requested in respect of a third party, the applicant must credibly demonstrate his interest.
This interest worthy of protection is accepted in particular where there is a direct contractual relationship or a concrete pre-contractual stage, shown for example by a signed rental application form, a purchase order, a current contract or an unpaid claim.
The extract issued to third parties does not mention debt enforcement proceedings concluded more than five years earlier, nor proceedings withdrawn by the creditor, set aside by a court, or validly made subject to a non-disclosure decision following an objection.
How to order the extract
Several channels allow the request to be made according to one’s preference:
- At the counter: Appear in person at the territorially competent debt enforcement office with an identity document, for immediate issue on the spot.
- By post: Send a written and signed request to the office, accompanied by a copy of the identity document and, for third parties, the document proving the contractual interest.
- Online: File the request electronically through the federal EasyGov platform or the secure virtual counter of the canton concerned.
The applicable fees
The fees are set uniformly by federal law for all cantons:
- 17 francs: Basic flat fee charged for a standard extract issued directly at the office counter.
- 18 francs: Flat fee including delivery of the extract by standard mail, fax, or electronic transmission.
- 22 francs: Total fee charged if the applicant requests delivery by registered mail.
Debt enforcement proceedings blocked by an objection may, under certain conditions, no longer be disclosed to third parties. These steps are among the questions individuals often seek to understand before requesting advice, as described in legal AI for individuals.
Legal sources
Federal legislation:
- Art. 8a DEBA
- Art. 12a of the Fee Ordinance to the DEBA
- Art. 5a of the FDJP Ordinance on Electronic Communication in Debt Enforcement
Federal case law:
- BGE 105 III 38 (requirement for third-party applicants to document a legitimate interest)
- BGE 115 III 81 (public interest in solvency checks via the register, balanced against personal privacy rights)