Life and civil status certificate

To avoid paying benefits that are not due, the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) needs to verify that claimants are genuine and actually alive. A certificate of life and marital status is therefore issued to affected claimants on an annual basis. The relevant form is sent to claimants one year after benefits are first paid out. To ensure that pensions continue to be paid without interruption, the form must be completed, certified by the appropriate authority and returned to the SCO in Geneva within 90 days.

In Japan, the certificate of life and marital status can be confirmed by the following authorities:

  • Notary Public
  • Swiss Embassy in Tokyo (during official opening hours)
  • Swiss Consulate in Osaka (by appointment)
  • Swiss Honorary Consulate in Fukuoka (by appointment)

It is compulsory to appear in person to confirm the certificate of life and marital status. For confirmation of civil status and residence, appropriate supporting documents (family register extract-koseki tohon, certificate of residence-juminhyou) should be brought along.

Disclosure requirement

In addition to submitting a certificate of life and marital status, claimants must disclose to the office responsible for paying out benefits any change in their personal circumstances which could cause benefits to be discontinued, increased or reduced and any change of address or bank account details.

If you are registered with a Swiss representation, please also inform the representation of any change of address or civil status.