Published on 19 January 2026

After your marriage/partnership performed abroad

You must report your marriage or registered partnership performed abroad to your Swiss representation so that the data in the various Swiss registers can be updated.

The foreign authorities generally do not inform the Swiss representation of your union. You are therefore required to submit the necessary documents to your Swiss representation so that the civil status authority in Switzerland can enter your union into its register. The change of your civil status must also be entered by your Swiss representation into the Register of the Swiss Abroad. These procedures are free of charge and may take some time.

• Entry in the Swiss civil status register

  Please submit the following documents and information to your Swiss representation:

  • original marriage or registered partnership certificate
  • copy of the valid passport of your spouse or partner (male or female) not entered into the Register of the Swiss Abroad
  • address of spouses/partners

  For spouses/partners (male or female) who are not Swiss citizens:

  • original birth certificate establishing who the parents are
  • original civil status record before the marriage or registered partnership was performed:
    a) certificate establishing that they are unmarried
    b) divorce decree that specifies when it entered into force
    c) dissolution decree that specifies when it entered into force
    d) death certificate of deceased spouse/partner
  • original certificate of residence valid when the marriage was performed or the partnership was registered

  Certain documents may no longer be required if the person is already registered in the Swiss civil status register.

  The original documents are submitted to the civil status authority concerned in Switzerland and must not be older than six months. They will not be returned. Photocopies are not accepted. Additional documents may be required if necessary.

  The costs of a thorough verification, should it be necessary, of the foreign civil status documents by a lawyer approved by the Swiss representation are at your expense.

  Report your marriage or partnership online:

  Online desk

• Union performed neither in Switzerland nor in your country of residence

  Please refer to the information provided on the page of the Swiss representation in the country where the marriage or partnership was performed.

  Select country: Swiss representations abroad

• Change of address

  If you have or your spouse or partner (male or female) has changed your/their domicile, you must report this change.

  Registration and deregistration, change of address

• Change of surname

  If you have changed your surname, you will have to ask the appropriate authorities to reissue certain official documents (passport, identity card, driving licence, etc.). If you have not changed your surname, you do not need to do anything, as civil status is not indicated on Swiss identity documents.

  Order an identity document

• Authorisation to enter and to reside in Switzerland

  If you plan to travel to Switzerland or take up residence here and your spouse or partner (male or female) is not a Swiss citizen, they may need a visa to enter Switzerland and/or a residence permit.

  Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland

• Swiss citizenship

  People who are not citizens of Switzerland do not automatically acquire Swiss citizenship through marriage or registered partnership. More information here:

  Citizenship

• Other steps to take

  The change in your civil status and possibly your name must also be communicated to the various authorities of your domicile abroad (residents' registration office, immigration authorities, the tax office, etc.).

  If you are a citizen of more than one country, you should ask the foreign authorities concerned whether your marriage or partnership must be reported to them.