Marrying a Russian or Ukrainian partner in Switzerland
Russia and Ukraine apply the Hague Convention: all civil status certificates must be apostilled, then translated using the exact spelling in the passport.
- Russia: documents
- Duplicate birth certificate (свидетельство о рождении, marked «ПОВТОРНОЕ») from the ZAGS, proof of residence, passport
- Russia: single status
- According to the Swiss embassy, no certificate of single status is required
- Russia: divorce
- Duplicate divorce certificate and decree
- Ukraine: documents
- Duplicate birth certificate (свідоцтво про народження), notarised declaration of civil status, certificate of residence
- Ukraine: divorce
- Register extract (витяг) showing the name before the previous marriage, decree with the date it became final
- Apostille
- Required on all civil status certificates
Common pitfalls
Names must be transliterated exactly as in the international passport. Allow more than 12 weeks if the procedure goes through the Swiss embassy in Moscow. For people from Ukrainian territories outside government control, alternative solutions exist.
Sources: Swiss Embassy in Russia, Swiss Embassy in Ukraine.