Swiss citizens living abroad are obliged to register with the competent Swiss representation. Should you require more specific information, please contact the consular section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tirana directly.

Who has to register?
Swiss citizens who intend to stay more than 12 months in Albania have to register with the Embassy in Tirana.

I have been registered with a Swiss representation in another country. Do I have to register again?
No, but please inform the Embassy in Tirana where you have been registered before and about your address in Albania. Your file will then be transferred.

Can I be registered in Albania and at the same time have my legal residence in Switzerland?
No. According to Swiss law this is not possible. First you have to announce your departure at the competent authorities in Switzerland before you can be registered with the Embassy of Switzerland in Tirana.

Will the authorities in Switzerland automatically inform the competent Swiss representation abroad about your change of address?
No, this is your responsibility. However, Swiss representations abroad automatically inform each other.

You have left Switzerland and now have to register with the Swiss Embassy in Tirana, the following documents are required:

1. Your valid Swiss passport and identity card and those of your family members of Swiss nationality accompanying you;
2. Photocopies of your family members national passports, if they are not Swiss citizens; 
3. Your certificate of origin (Heimatschein, acte d'origine, atto d'origine)
4. If you are liable for military service (men aged between 19 and 42 years, officers until 55 years of age), the form "Auslandurlaub / Congé pour l'étranger" together with your military booklet unless it is deposited with the respective authorities in Switzerland;
5. Registration form, completed, dated and signed

If you are registered with a Swiss representation, you should inform that representation about the following changes:

• Change of address/telephone number/fax number/e-mail address
• Change in civil status (marriage, divorce, death and birth of children)
• Acquisition or loss of any additional citizenship
• Departure from the consular district

Since 1 July 1992 Swiss nationals living abroad have been able to participate in political life in Switzerland (i.e. in votes on federal proposals and in National Council elections) without having to travel to Switzerland to do so.

As a Swiss national resident abroad you can exercise your political rights by post from another country if you:

• live in Albania;
• are at least 18 years old; and
• are registered with the Swiss Embassy in Tirana

The relevant form “Registration as an expatriate Swiss national entitled to vote” can be given to you or sent by mail or downloaded here. You are free to choose one of your communes of origin or previous communes of residence as your electoral commune. The completed form must be forwarded to the Embassy.

The cantons are entitled to introduce a central electoral register for expatriate Swiss nationals. If this is the case in your canton, your vote would not be counted in the electoral commune designated by you but in the commune in which the central electoral register is held. To date the following cantons have introduced a central electoral register: Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Basel City, Geneva, Lucerne and Vaud.
The electoral commune designated by you will confirm your entry in the electoral register in writing.

You must re-confirm every four years, before the expiry of the four-year deadline. If you fail to confirm your registration before the expiry of the four-year deadline, you will be removed from the electoral register. However you can re-register at any time.