Getting married in Switzerland when one of you is a foreigner
Before the ceremony, the civil registry office checks that there is no impediment to the marriage: this is the preparatory procedure. For a foreign partner, everything hinges on the documents from their country.
The requirements
- Be at least 18 years old and have capacity of judgement.
- Not already be married or in a registered partnership.
- Not be closely related.
- For the foreign partner: prove that their stay in Switzerland is legal throughout the procedure and until the wedding (art. 98 para. 4 of the Swiss Civil Code). See legal stay and marriage visa.
The office will refuse to proceed if the marriage is clearly intended to circumvent the rules on foreign nationals’ residence.
Where to apply
At the civil registry office where one of the partners lives. If you both live abroad, at the office where the wedding is to take place, or through the Swiss representation in your country. Each canton has its own arrangements: see your canton.
The documents
- Swiss partner: identity document and certificate of residence.
- Foreign partner: originals of the birth certificate (showing parentage), proof of nationality, proof of civil status (single, divorced or widowed), certificate of residence and passport.
- Documents must be less than 6 months old. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Foreign documents generally need to be apostilled or legalised and translated if they are not in French, German or Italian.
The exact list depends on the country: documents country by country.
Timelines
The procedure takes from a few weeks to several months. If the office asks the Swiss embassy in your country to verify the documents, allow several more months. Once the procedure is closed, the wedding must take place within 3 months.
The ceremony
Two adult witnesses with a passport or identity card are required. If one of you does not understand the office’s language, you need an interpreter, at your own expense: we can provide one. Most cantons offer special wedding venues for a surcharge.
Our packages
Essential (CHF 490): check of every document, forms, booking the appointment and liaising with the office until the procedure is opened. Complete (CHF 790): in addition, follow-up until the ceremony, booking the interpreter and, if needed, the application for a residence permit for the purpose of marriage. Marriage + family reunification (CHF 1’290): everything in Complete, plus your spouse’s permit.
FAQ
Can two foreign nationals get married in Switzerland?
Yes, provided they prove their stay is legal and present the required civil status documents.
Is there a waiting period between the end of the procedure and the wedding?
No. The former 10-day waiting period has been abolished. However, the wedding must take place within 3 months of the procedure being closed.
Can I choose where the ceremony takes place?
Yes, in the official wedding rooms or in special venues offered by the cantons, for a surcharge. An authorisation costs CHF 30 if you marry in a different registry district from the one that handled the procedure.
Start with the free check
In under a minute, you will know which procedures lie ahead and in what order.