The Vienna Conventions provide that, in general, nationals of a country who work abroad
in the diplomatic or consular services of their country are exempt from social security
coverage and contributions under the host country's laws, unless the host country
specifically waives that exemption.
The Conventions, to which both the United States and Switzerland are parties, apply
to:
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members of the staff of a diplomatic or consular mission, including the diplomatic,
consular, administrative and technical staffs;
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dependents of members of those staffs;
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the domestic service staffs of the missions; and,
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the private servant employees of members of such missions (under certain conditions).