If you are planning a business trip abroad and your host requires a request for visit authorisation, please contact the Digitalisation and Cyber Security Divsion (DCS DDPS) via your security officer.

Please ensure that you select the correct form for the country concerned. You will find further information on this the «Request for visit: Instructions » document.

Important: Please ascertain the anticipated level of classified information involved from your host beforehand.

If your host has classified the visit at the CONFIDENTIAL security level or above, all visitors (including foreign nationals) must hold valid personnel security clearance issued by the federal authorities.

Only required and encrypted information may be taken abroad and must be adequately protected by personal safekeeping or in your carry-on luggage.

A: Contractors abroad

If you are a Swiss company wishing to contract work with classified military content to a contractor abroad, the process is as follows:

1. Contact the Swiss national security authority (DCS DDPS).
   
   
2. The DCS uses the standardised FSCIS (Facility Security Clearance Information Sheet) to ascertain from the other country’s national security authority the security status of the foreign contractor in question.
   
   
3. The foreign national security authority informs the DCS whether the foreign contractor has Facility Security Clearance.
   
   
4. The DCS deals with all further steps in the process.

The foreign contractor must be domiciled in a country with which Switzerland has an agreement on the protection of classified information (see below).

B: Clients abroad

If you are a Swiss company which has been requested by a client abroad to carry out work with classified content, the process is as follows:

1. The foreign client contacts the Swiss national security authority (DCS) via their country’s national security authority.
   
   
2. Your company’s security status is ascertained using the standardised FSCIS (Facility Security Clearance Information Sheet).
   
   
3. The DCS informs the potential client’s national security authority whether your company has Facility Security Clearance.
   
   
4. The DCS deals with all further steps in the process.

Before you invite a foreign delegation to Switzerland for a military purpose, please contact Military Protocol.

If the visit requires access to classified information at the CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET level, the visitors must complete and submit a request for visit to the DCS.

List of countries that have an information security agreement with Switzerland, and if applicable the relevant text parts:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Repulic
• Denmark
• European Union
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Great Britain
• Israel
• Italy
• NATO
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Romania
• Singapure
• Spain
• Sweden
• USA