Temporary Suspension of Consular Services due to COVID-19

19 Mar 2020 Geneva, Switzerland - The Swiss Federal Council has elevated the situation in Switzerland, now categorized as extraordinary under the terms of the Epidemics Act.  Swiss Authorities are tightening existing measures, and enacting new ones, affecting the public, organizations and institutions, and the cantons.  These measures, according to the authorities, are designed to curb the spread of the COVID-19, protect people at especially high risk, and assure the provision of care and therapeutic products to the public.  The ordinance began with immediate effect on 17 March 2020, and will last until 19 April 2020, at which point the matter may be reviewed further.

We ask the Filipino community of Geneva and Vaud to seek further information from https://www.ge.ch/en/new-covid-19-cornavirus-ex-ncov, www.bag.admin.ch, and https://www.ge.ch/document/ordonnance-2-mesures-destinees-lutter-contre-coronavirus-covid-19/telecharger for appropriate guidance on the restrictions implemented by the Federal Government and the Cantons on movement of people affecting the those who live and work in Switzerland. Be guided by the advice given by national and local public health authorities on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

            We note that this effort parallels with actions many governments across the world to slow down the spread of COVID19, including the Philippine Government.  On 16 March 2020, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation no. 929, declaring a State of Calamity throughout the Philippine archipelago due to COVID-19 for a period of six (6) months unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant. This latest action is just the latest in a series of steps taken by the Philippine government to protect the Filipino people by slowing the spread of the disease, and give more time for appropriate diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to be developed,

To assist efforts in stopping the spread of COVD19, the Philippine Mission to the UN and other International Organizations and the Philippine Consulate General in Geneva will SUSPEND CONSULAR SERVICES, beginning on Monday, 23 March 2020 until Sunday, 19 April 2020, except for services deemed necessary under emergency conditions.  Emergency situations include, for instance, cases involving the death of Filipino nationals in Geneva and Vaud and violence against women and children.

For such emergencies, please call our hotline at 079-1369114 for consular matters or 077-9553147 for labor matters. To ensure that the hotline is free to take calls, the Philippine Mission kindly requests users to limit calls to truly urgent and emergency cases. Otherwise, please email us our consulate at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Labor Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or send a message to our Facebook page (search: Philippine Mission to the United Nations and Consulate General in Geneva).

We will continue to update the community on developments. Mag-ingat po tayong lahat!.  END