Searching
You can use online access to the Federal Archives to search for and order archived documents and consult them online.
recherche.bar.admin.ch allows you to search through, order and consult almost all fonds of the Federal Archives online. An overview of the archived documents can be found in the web portal under fonds. The Amtsdruckschriften platform provides direct access to official publications that have been digitised. Detailed information on these and other search options can be found under search engines & portals.
Tips and advice
If you need assistance with your research in the fonds of the Federal Archives, you can find tips on frequently requested research areas under topics. If this section does not answer your question, experts from the Federal Archives will be happy to advise you live via chat in online access.
Online access
The online access to the Federal Archives database can be used to search the fonds of the Federal Archives and order the desired source materials.
Digitisation on demand
Order online with just a few clicks and receive your documents by email afterwards: this convenient way of consulting documents from the Swiss Federal Archives digitally is simple, practical and available to everyone. The film presents the process behind digitisation on demand – an exciting look behind the scenes of the digitisation center!
Fonds
The Federal Archives hold the documents of the Federal State’s political bodies and the Federal Administration since 1798. In their original form they consist mostly of paper files, complemented by photographic, audio and film material as well as, increasingly, digital data.
Search engines & portals
Overview of the Swiss Federal Archives databases and search engines. A detailed description of the databases can be found on the corresponding sub-pages.
Advice
When using online access, you can obtain assistance with your research live via chat or on written request.