The debt collection register extract for a Swiss rental file
The debt collection register extract (Betreibungsregisterauszug) costs 17 to 18 CHF at the debt collection office of your municipality, around 30 CHF through an online provider. No law fixes its validity, but Swiss agencies refuse it in practice beyond three months.
Updated on 2026-08-16
What our own measurements show
- 1263 new listings appeared in Switzerland over the past seven days, out of 1450 currently online: an incomplete file costs you the first places.
HelvetLoc measurements of 01.10.2026, across our connected sources. Swiss rental market barometer.
What it is, and who issues it
The extract lists the debt-collection proceedings started against you over the last five years. It is issued by the debt collection office (Betreibungsamt) of the municipality where you are registered, not by your bank, and not by your employer.
An agency does not ask for it to judge you: it checks that the rent will be paid. Together with your salary statement, it is the heaviest document in a Swiss file.
What it costs
17 to 18 CHF at the counter or by post at the debt collection office. The amount is set by the federal ordinance on fees under the debt-enforcement act, so it does not vary from one canton to another.
Around 29.90 CHF through an online provider: the official fee (~18 CHF) plus a processing service (~12 CHF). The digitally signed extract has the same legal value as the one from the counter.
How long it stays valid
No legal duration exists. In practice, agencies require an extract less than three months old; some accept up to six months when the rest of the file is solid.
Concrete consequence: order it at the start of your search, not before. A four-month-old extract gets an application rejected without anyone telling you why.
If you have changed canton
The extract only covers the canton that issues it. If you have moved from one canton to another within the last five years, also order the extract from your former place of residence: an attentive agency will notice.
If you are arriving from abroad
You cannot obtain a Swiss extract before you are registered here. It is a common dead end, and it has a way out: attach a certificate of no debt from your country of origin, along with a letter explaining your situation. Agencies that house expats know this case.
If your extract is not clean
A paid proceeding stays recorded for five years. You can attach proof of payment: a settled, documented debt weighs less than a missing explanation.
You can also ask the office not to disclose a proceeding you are disputing and for which the creditor has not pursued the procedure.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a debt collection register extract cost?
17 to 18 CHF at the debt collection office of your municipality, around 29.90 CHF through an online provider (official fee plus service charge).
How long is it valid?
No duration is set by law. In practice Swiss agencies ask for an extract less than three months old.
Can it be ordered online?
Yes. Many offices offer online ordering, and private providers deliver it digitally signed within one working day. The digital document is equivalent to the one issued at the counter.
What if I have just arrived in Switzerland?
A Swiss extract is impossible before you are registered. Provide a certificate of no debt from your country of origin with a cover letter.
Do I need one extract per canton?
The extract only covers the issuing canton. After an inter-cantonal move of less than five years, also attach the one from the former canton.
Sources
- ch.ch, official Swiss authorities portal
- Federal ordinance on fees under the DEBA (GebV SchKG)
- City of Zurich, debt collection office
General information, checked against the sources listed. It does not replace advice from the competent office.
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