To get married in Switzerland, you complete a civil preparation procedure at a Swiss civil registry office, wait at least 10 days after the marriage licence is issued, and hold the civil ceremony within three months. Only a civil marriage performed by a Swiss civil registrar has legal effect; any religious or symbolic ceremony you add carries no legal weight on its own. Expect to pay CHF 300 to 400 for the ceremony and associated documents, with more on top if foreign paperwork needs translating and legalizing.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland
Who Can Marry
Both partners must be at least 18 and capable of consenting. Neither can already be married or in a registered partnership, and anyone previously married must show the earlier union was dissolved or annulled. Marriages between close relatives — parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings or half-siblings, whether by birth or adoption — are prohibited.2WIPO. Swiss Civil Code – Art. 95
Since July 1, 2022, same-sex couples marry under the same rules as opposite-sex couples, and no new registered partnerships are being created.3Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Marriage for All in Switzerland – Provisions in Force Since 1 July 2022
Non-Swiss nationals face one extra condition: during the preparation procedure they must prove they are lawfully resident in Switzerland, meaning a valid visa or residence permit that covers the period through the wedding date.4Lawbrary. Swiss Civil Code Art. 98 – Preparatory Procedure If one partner lives abroad, the procedure can be started through a Swiss embassy or consulate.5Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Marriage to Be Performed in Switzerland
Documents to Prepare
The registry office will confirm the exact list for your situation, but plan on providing:
- A valid passport or national identity card.
- A certified copy of your birth certificate showing your full name, date and place of birth, and both parents’ names. The U.S. Embassy in Bern notes that for American citizens the original birth certificate is not accepted — only a certified copy.6U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Marriage
- A current certificate of residence if you live in Switzerland.
- If previously married, a divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse.6U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Marriage
Foreign-issued documents generally must have been issued within the previous six months and be translated by a certified translator into German, French, Italian, or Romansh. If your country is a party to the Apostille Convention, each document needs an apostille; if not, it may need full diplomatic legalization through the relevant embassy.7Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Legalisation of Official Seals and Signatures Apostille fees in the U.S. typically run $3 to $26 per document depending on the state, and certified translations commonly cost $20 to $60 per page.
The Preparation Procedure
The preparation procedure happens at the civil registry office where either partner lives. Both partners must appear in person, though where that is genuinely impossible the procedure can be conducted in writing.4Lawbrary. Swiss Civil Code Art. 98 – Preparatory Procedure You don’t have to go together; the administrative steps can be handled separately.5Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Marriage to Be Performed in Switzerland
At the office you complete a marriage application and sign a declaration confirming you meet the legal conditions.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland The office then verifies your documents. Two Swiss residents with straightforward paperwork can move through this quickly. Where foreign documents need verification, expect three to four months, so start early.
Once everything checks out, the office issues a marriage licence valid for three months.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland You cannot marry until at least 10 days after issue, and if you don’t marry within the three months the licence expires and the procedure has to be restarted.
The Civil Ceremony
The ceremony can take place at your local registry office or at any other Swiss civil registry office you choose.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland Some cantons also allow ceremonies at outside venues, so ask if you have a particular place in mind.
Two witnesses must attend. They need to be at least 18 and have legal capacity; there’s no requirement that they be Swiss citizens or residents.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland
The registrar conducts the ceremony in one of Switzerland’s official languages. If neither partner understands the language used, an interpreter must be present, at the couple’s expense.5Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Marriage to Be Performed in Switzerland The registrar asks each partner in turn whether they intend to marry, both partners and the witnesses sign the marriage register, and the marriage is legally effective at that moment.
What It Costs
The civil ceremony and associated document processing typically cost CHF 300 to CHF 400.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland Fees vary by canton and rise for weekend ceremonies or venues outside the registry office. Extra copies of your marriage certificate cost CHF 30 each.8ch.ch. Ordering Civil Status Certificates
That range doesn’t include what you spend getting to the ceremony. Foreign nationals should budget for apostilles, certified translations, and possibly travel to appear in person. Those add-ons can easily reach several hundred francs when multiple documents need translating.
Decisions to Make Before You Sign
Your Surname
After a marriage performed in Switzerland, each spouse keeps their own surname unless you file a declaration for a common surname.9Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Marriage to Be Performed in Switzerland If you want a shared family name, declare it during the preparation procedure. Hyphenated combinations of both names are available as an unofficial “alliance name” but are not recorded in the civil register as a legal surname.
Your Property Regime
Without a marriage contract, Swiss law places you under the “participation in acquired property” regime. Each spouse independently owns and manages what they earn during the marriage; property owned beforehand, plus gifts and inheritances received during the marriage, stays separate. If the marriage ends, each spouse’s acquired assets are tallied, debts subtracted, and the net surplus split equally.
If that default doesn’t suit you, a notarized marriage contract signed before or during the marriage can set either full community of property or complete separation of property instead. This matters most for couples where one person owns a business, brings significant assets in, or where earning trajectories differ sharply.
After the Wedding
At the close of the ceremony you receive an official marriage certificate showing both spouses’ names before and after the marriage, plus the date and place of the wedding.1ch.ch. Getting Married in Switzerland Order a few extra certified copies for name changes, insurance updates, and any residency applications.
Foreign nationals should register the marriage with their home country’s embassy or consulate. Switzerland does not do this for you, and many countries won’t recognize the marriage until it has been reported and recorded on their side. Skipping this step can create complications later when you need to prove marital status for legal, tax, or immigration purposes back home.
Marriage itself does not automatically grant a residence permit to a non-Swiss spouse. The Swiss spouse, or the spouse with an existing permit, will typically apply for family reunification through the cantonal migration office. The permit type and processing time depend on whether the sponsoring spouse is Swiss, an EU/EFTA national, or a third-country national with a settlement permit.