Form 602.101 — Claim for the refund of OASI (AHV/AVS) contributions

What is Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund?

Form 602.101 is the Central Compensation Office's claim for the refund of contributions paid into the Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance: OASI in English, AHV in German and AVS in French and Italian. It is handled by the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) in Geneva. Instead of a Swiss pension later, a person who qualifies gets their own contributions refunded (and, as the form explains, gives up every right to Swiss OASI and disability insurance benefits in return).

A refund is not open to everyone. Page 1 of the form says you are not entitled to one if you are a national of a European Union member state, or of a country whose social security agreement with Switzerland does not explicitly provide for the refund of contributions. Contributions must have been paid for at least one full year, and you and your family (your spouse and children under 25) must have left Switzerland permanently or firmly intend to. The form is seven pages: an information page, then eight parts covering you, your time living and working in Switzerland, your children, your spouse, any former spouse, the bank account, your statement and an optional power of attorney.

FileIt walks you through each part in plain English, opens the rows for extra homes, jobs and children only as you need them, checks your Swiss insurance number and IBAN, and prints your answers into the SCO's own official 602.101 PDF. Names, dates of birth and e-mail can be pre-filled from the People records in your FileIt vault, and the finished PDF is saved in that person's folder. You print it, sign it by hand and post it yourself; FileIt never sends anything to the SCO.

Who needs to fill out Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund?

• Foreign nationals who paid Swiss AHV/AVS contributions for at least one full year and have left Switzerland for good, together with their family.
• People who are about to leave: the form says the claim can be made from the moment you express the intention to leave Switzerland.
• Nationals of countries whose social security agreement with Switzerland explicitly provides for a refund, or of countries with no agreement (check the ZAS website if you are unsure).
• A survivor claiming for an insured person who has died — part 1 asks for a date of death and the statement can be signed by 'the claimant'.
• Refugees and stateless people, who must enclose a certificate of their status.
• Not for nationals of an EU member state, or of a country whose agreement with Switzerland does not allow a refund: their contributions stay in the Swiss system for a later pension.

When to use Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund

• Once you have decided to leave Switzerland permanently, or after you have left; the form says it can be submitted from the moment the intention to leave is expressed.
• Before you reach retirement age: the claim can be made until the insured person reaches retirement age or dies.
• When your spouse and children under 25 have left as well, or will leave with you. Adult children under 25 may stay in Switzerland only if they have completed their full-time education.
• Only once you are sure: after the refund you lose all rights to Swiss OASI and DI benefits, and the money can't be paid back into the scheme later.

What you need before you start

• Your 13-digit Swiss insurance number (756.XXXX.XXXX.XX), from your AHV/AVS certificate or payslips — and your spouse's and former spouse's if they had one.
• A copy of your AHV/AVS certificate, if you have it.
• A copy of the official confirmation of departure from Switzerland, if you have it.
• A current nationality certificate, or copies of all valid passports, for you, your spouse and your children under 25.
• Legalised, current residence certificates for you and your family at your new place of residence abroad.
• For refugees, a certificate of refugee status (the form calls it essential).
• Your dates of arrival in and final departure from Switzerland, the places you lived with your permit types, and every employer and job with month and year.
• Details of every child, and of your spouse and any former spouses; for a divorce, a copy of the decree showing the date it came into force.
• The name and address of your bank and a personal account number or IBAN (compulsory for accounts in the EU), plus the SWIFT/BIC or local bank code.
• For the optional power of attorney: your representative's details and copies of both your identity documents.

What’s on Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund

The 2024 edition has 7 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts:

1. 1. Personal information concerning the insured person or the deceasedInsured person or claimant
2. 2. Residence and gainful employment in SwitzerlandInsured person or claimant
3. 3. Information concerning all of the insured person's childrenInsured person or claimant
4. 4. Personal information concerning the spouse or the widow / widowerInsured person or claimant
5. 5. General information concerning the ex-spouseInsured person or claimant
6. 6. Payment addressInsured person or claimant
7. 7. Insured person's statementInsured person or claimant
8. 8. Power of attorney (optional)Insured person or claimant

How to fill out Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund, step by step

1 Important information (page 1)

The first page has nothing to fill in, but read it: it lists who is not entitled to a refund, the documents to enclose, the conditions and how to fill in the form. The SCO asks for capital letters, your current (or married) surname, all first names in the order on your birth certificate, any aliases, and every nationality you hold now.

2 1. Personal information concerning the insured person or the deceased

Your Swiss insurance number, names, date of birth (and date of death if a survivor is claiming), sex, nationality and any other nationalities. Question 9 asks for your current civil status: tick 'single', or give the date you married, divorced, were widowed or separated. Question 10 asks whether you have been married more than once and, if so, the surname, first names and date of birth of each former spouse.

Questions 11 to 16 cover your last address in Switzerland, your address abroad with e-mail and phone, whether you have refugee status in your country of residence, the dates you arrived in and finally left Switzerland, and whether anyone named in the claim has already received OASI or DI benefits (if so, explain in an enclosed letter).

3 2. Residence and gainful employment in Switzerland

Where and for how long you lived in Switzerland, month and year, with the permit type (frontier worker, annual resident, G, L, B or C permit, refugee or other), then every job you had there: the employer and your profession, the town and the months. Self-employed people write 'self-employed'. There are six rows for each; FileIt opens the next row when you fill one in.

4 3. Information concerning all of the insured person's children

Every child's surname, first names, date of birth, sex, whether they have lived in Switzerland and, if so, when they left. List all children, including adults. There are five rows; add further children on a separate sheet.

5 4. Personal information concerning the spouse or the widow / widower

Your spouse's Swiss insurance number (the form prints the 756 already), names, date of birth, nationalities and current address, then the same residence and employment tables as part 2 and their dates of arrival and final departure. FileIt asks for this part when you say you are married or separated.

6 5. General information concerning the ex-spouse

To be completed if the insured person has been married more than once: the former spouse's insurance number, names, date of birth, the dates of marriage and divorce or death, current address, and their residence and work in Switzerland. The form has room for one; for others, give the same details on a separate sheet or photocopy the page.

7 6. Payment address

The bank or post office's name and address, its SWIFT/BIC code (in Australia the BSB number, in Canada the transit number, in the USA the ABA code) and your personal account number or IBAN. The account must be in your own name.

8 7. Insured person's statement

By signing you acknowledge that after the refund you lose your rights to all OASI and DI benefits, the refunded contributions cannot be paid back into the scheme, your spouse and children will no longer be entitled to survivors' benefits, and the refund is subject to withholding tax. You also confirm that you and your entire family have left Switzerland permanently (or intend to live outside it permanently) and that your answers are complete and true. Add the place and date, sign by hand, and use 'Observations' for anything else.

9 8. Power of attorney (optional)

Lets someone represent you with the Central Compensation Office in all OASI matters: consult your file, receive all correspondence and act for you. FileIt copies your own details from part 1; you add the representative's name, date of birth, address and e-mail, how long it is valid ('end of the procedure' or a date — otherwise until revoked), and the date. Both of you sign, and you attach copies of both identity documents.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Claiming as a national of an EU member state, or of a country whose agreement with Switzerland does not provide for a refund: the form says you are not entitled.
• Leaving family members out. The refund condition covers your spouse and children under 25, so list all of them with their passports or nationality certificates.
• Forgetting former spouses, including those who have died or you are only separated from. Question 10 and part 5 both ask for them.
• Giving an account that isn't in your own name: the form asks for a personal bank account.
• Not enclosing the divorce decree with its date of entry into force, or the refugee status certificate where it applies.
• Mistyping the Swiss insurance number. FileIt checks its check digit, but compare it with your AHV/AVS certificate too.
• Signing before you're sure. After the refund, the contributions can't be paid back in and all OASI and DI rights are gone.

After you fill it out

Print the PDF FileIt produces, sign part 7 by hand (and part 8 with your representative, if you use it) and add the place and date. The form can't be signed electronically.

Send it by post, with copies of the documents listed on page 1, to the address printed on the form: Swiss Compensation Office SCO, Avenue Edmond-Vaucher 18, POB 3100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland.

The completed claim stays in your FileIt vault, in your folder, so you have a record of exactly what you sent and the insurance numbers and dates you gave. Keep copies of the enclosures there too.

Form 602.101 AHV/AVS refund: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Central Compensation Office (CCO / ZAS / CdC) — Swiss Compensation Office (SCO / SAK / CSC): https://www.zas.admin.ch/dam/en/sd-web/EC6nxp15YJxF/104_602.101_en_2024.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.zas.admin.ch/en/pdf-forms
• Edition shown on this page: 602.101 gb 2024 (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Central Compensation Office (CCO / ZAS / CdC) — Swiss Compensation Office (SCO / SAK / CSC) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-26.

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