Registering a marriage celebrated abroad in Switzerland
A marriage celebrated abroad is not automatically known in Switzerland. To appear in the civil register (Infostar), it must be reported and recognised.
Who does this apply to?
Swiss citizens who married abroad, and their foreign spouse. Only marriages celebrated in Germany, Austria and Italy are reported automatically: in all other cases, it is up to you to take the step.
How it works
- You hand the marriage certificate and civil status documents to the Swiss representation in the country where you married.
- It checks the documents (sometimes through a trusted lawyer), legalises them and has them translated.
- It forwards them to the cantonal civil registry supervisory authority of the canton of origin or residence.
- The authority decides on recognition and the marriage is entered in Infostar.
The procedure can take several months.
Why it matters
Without registration, your Swiss civil status remains “single”: you cannot apply for a passport in your married name, for family reunification or for simplified naturalisation. A tip: request your spouse’s certificate of single status before the wedding, as it is often impossible to obtain afterwards.
Our package
CHF 390: putting together the file for the embassy or cantonal authority, checking certificates, apostilles and translations, follow-up until registration. Translations and certificate orders are charged individually.
Sources: City of Geneva, vd.ch, FOJ.
FAQ
We are both foreign nationals married abroad. Do we need to register the marriage?
Generally not, since neither of you is registered as Swiss. However, your commune and the migration office will ask for your marriage certificate to update your permits.
Start with the free check
In under a minute, you will know which procedures lie ahead and in what order.