JURISDICTION FILE
Swiss debt enforcement starts with a single form: the Betreibungsbegehren. Filed at the local Betreibungsamt for CHF 100 or less, it triggers an official Zahlungsbefehl — a payment order served by a federal officer. The debtor has 20 days to object. No court involved. No lawyer required. In Switzerland, the state does the knocking for you.
HOW WE COLLECT HERE
"Gestützt auf Art. 67 ff. SchKG wird Ihnen hiermit befohlen, innert 20 Tagen ab Zustellung den Betrag von CHF ██'███.██ nebst Zins zu 5% seit [Datum] an den Gläubiger zu bezahlen oder innert 10 Tagen Rechtsvorschlag zu erheben."
Switzerland is not in the EU. It has its own legal framework, its own currency, and its own enforcement apparatus. For foreign creditors, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge: EU instruments do not apply. The opportunity: Switzerland's domestic enforcement system under the SchKG is one of the most structured and efficient in the world.
The SchKG (Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act) governs all debt enforcement in Switzerland. The process is administrative, not judicial, and operates through the Betreibungsamt — a federal authority in every municipality. Filing costs CHF 50-100. No lawyer required. No court involved.
SchKG (Bundesgesetz über Schuldbetreibung und Konkurs)
Federal enforcement system. Betreibungsbegehren filed for under CHF 100. Zahlungsbefehl served by public official. 20 days to object. No court, no lawyer.
The debtor has exactly 20 days from service to file a Rechtsvorschlag (objection). If the debtor does nothing, the creditor proceeds directly to Pfändung (asset seizure) for individuals or Konkurs (bankruptcy) for registered companies.
Most Swiss businesses understand this mechanism intimately. A Zahlungsbefehl is not a polite letter. It is a formal state instrument that, if ignored, leads directly to seizure or insolvency proceedings.
BETREIBUNGSBEGEHREN
Enforcement request
Filed at local Betreibungsamt. Under CHF 100. No lawyer needed.
ZAHLUNGSBEFEHL
Payment order
Served in person by public official. 20 days to pay, 10 days to object.
RECHTSÖFFNUNG
Removal of objection
Provisorisch (documentary evidence, 2-4 weeks) or definitiv (court judgement).
PFÄNDUNG / KONKURS
Seizure or bankruptcy
Assets seized by Betreibungsamt. Or: bankruptcy proceedings opened for companies.
Provisorische Rechtsöffnung under Article 82 SchKG is available with documentary evidence — resolved in 2-4 weeks. Definitive Rechtsöffnung under Article 80 is for final judgements or arbitral awards.
Interest defaults to 5% per annum under Article 104 OR. While lower than EU rates, Swiss enforcement speed compensates — timelines are measured in weeks, not months.
JURISDICTION BRIEFING
How InterStation collects in Switzerland — a 90-second briefing
Switzerland operates across 26 cantons and four languages. Filing at the wrong Betreibungsamt, in the wrong language, or with incorrect debtor identification causes delays and procedural rejections. We operate across all 26 cantons, in all three commercial languages.
Switzerland operates across 26 cantons and four languages. Filing at the wrong Betreibungsamt, in the wrong language, or with incorrect debtor identification causes delays and procedural rejections. We operate across all 26 cantons, in all three commercial languages.
Switzerland is party to the Lugano Convention. EU/EFTA judgements can be recognised without re-litigation, though Exequatur is still required. For arbitral awards, enforcement follows the New York Convention.
Pfändung
Asset seizure by the Betreibungsamt — bank accounts, receivables, property.
Konkursandrohung
Bankruptcy warning for companies. Triggers insolvency proceedings if ignored.
Betreibungsregister
Public enforcement register — visible to every bank and business partner.
Lugano Convention
EU/EFTA judgements recognised without re-litigation (exequatur still required).
ENFORCEMENT PROTOCOL
A form filed at the Betreibungsamt. Costs under CHF 100. No lawyer needed. The state machinery starts turning.
DAY 0: Betreibungsbegehren filed. A form filed at the Betreibungsamt. Costs under CHF 100. No lawyer needed. The state machinery starts turning.A public official arrives at the debtor's door. In person. With a federal payment order. 20 days to pay or object.
DAY 5: Zahlungsbefehl served. A public official arrives at the debtor's door. In person. With a federal payment order. 20 days to pay or object.No objection filed. The creditor requests continuation. For companies: Konkursandrohung. For individuals: Pfändung.
DAY 25: No Rechtsvorschlag → Continuation. No objection filed. The creditor requests continuation. For companies: Konkursandrohung. For individuals: Pfändung.Assets seized by the Betreibungsamt. Or: bankruptcy proceedings opened. The Betreibungsregister entry is now public.
DAY 40+: Pfändung / Konkurs. Assets seized by the Betreibungsamt. Or: bankruptcy proceedings opened. The Betreibungsregister entry is now public.A form filed at the Betreibungsamt. Costs under CHF 100. No lawyer needed. The state machinery starts turning.
DAY 0: Betreibungsbegehren filed. A form filed at the Betreibungsamt. Costs under CHF 100. No lawyer needed. The state machinery starts turning.A public official arrives at the debtor's door. In person. With a federal payment order. 20 days to pay or object.
DAY 5: Zahlungsbefehl served. A public official arrives at the debtor's door. In person. With a federal payment order. 20 days to pay or object.No objection filed. The creditor requests continuation. For companies: Konkursandrohung. For individuals: Pfändung.
DAY 25: No Rechtsvorschlag → Continuation. No objection filed. The creditor requests continuation. For companies: Konkursandrohung. For individuals: Pfändung.Assets seized by the Betreibungsamt. Or: bankruptcy proceedings opened. The Betreibungsregister entry is now public.
DAY 40+: Pfändung / Konkurs. Assets seized by the Betreibungsamt. Or: bankruptcy proceedings opened. The Betreibungsregister entry is now public.FREQUENTLY ASKED
Need to collect a debt in Switzerland? Contact us with your case details and we will confirm our approach within 24 hours.
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