The functions, rights and duties of a consulate are settled in the International Consulate Agreement of Vienna. There it is also clearly stated that the guestland has to agree with the establishing of the consulate as well as with the person of the consul, respectively the honorary consul. In Switzerland a resolution of the Federal Councilor is needed.
The consuls (= professional representatives of the respective country, as well as the honorary consuls = representatives honoris causa, without an equivalent status of a civil servant) are on a par with each other. The consulate shall above all assist its fellow-countrymen in trouble, that is, to ensure that they will be treated according to the national and international laws and agreements. So you have to inform the consulate when in Switzerland a citizen of Estonia has been arrested by which cause whatever. Then is the consul legitimated and obliged to visit the prisoner and to secure that he will obtain his lawful legal protection.
The abolition of the mutual visa obligation between Switzerland and the Baltic States has reduced the working amount of the consulates. The remaining consular affairs like certifications and administrative regulations of estonian documents have been settled in detail between the Consulate, the Embassy in charge (in Vienna) and the Consular Department of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn.
The Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Stäfa / Zürich is endeavouring to assist the numerous Estonians in Switzerland, the residents as well as the travelling. Don’t hesitate to contact us!
With kind regards
Hans Graf
The Honorary Consul
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You may contact the Consulate as follows: Office hours: Mo, Tu, Thu, Fr, 09.00 - 11.00 h Tel. 044 926 88 37 Fax 044 926 88 38 e-mail estland@bluewin.ch or by the contact form |
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The Consulate in Stäfa is competent for the cantons Zürich, Glarus, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen, Aargau, Thurgau, Graubünden. Concerning the other cantons you are kindly aked to get in touch with the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Vienna. |
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