Published on 31 August 2026

Marriage to be performed in Switzerland

Before you apply, please note the following:

• Your application should be submitted no earlier than six months before your intended wedding date.
• When submitting your application, please indicate your approximate intended wedding date.
• The final wedding date will be determined by the competent Swiss civil registry office in Switzerland, in consultation with you.
• Once the marriage preparation procedure has been approved, the marriage must normally take place within three months. If this deadline is missed, the procedure may have to be repeated.

A preparatory procedure is mandatory for having your marriage performed in Switzerland. This procedure is usually carried out with the Swiss registry office where the ceremony is to be held or, if you live abroad, with your Swiss representation abroad. Please find out well in advance what formalities you will need to comply with.

If one of you is domiciled in Switzerland, the civil status office of their domicile is in charge of conducting this procedure. Please contact this office for information on the conditions, the documents required and the formalities to be respected.

The fiancés may attend to the administrative matters separately at different places. Your presence in person is required in all cases.

Since 1 January 2000, there is no longer a compulsory procedure for the publication of marriage announcements in Switzerland before the marriage can be celebrated by the competent civil status authority.

• Procedure with a Swiss representation

  Please ask the representation in advance if an interpreter is required. Any additional costs for the interpreter are at your expense.

  The following documents must be submitted in person to your Swiss representation:

  • Form: Request to have a marriage performed

    (German)

    PDF167.85 kB5 February 2026

  as well as

  • Marriage to be celebrated in Switzerland between two foreigners - Sri Lanka

    PDF198.43 kB3 August 2026

  • Marriage to be celebrated in Switzerland between a Swiss national and a foreigner Sri Lanka

    PDF199.05 kB3 August 2026

  • Marriage to be celebrated in Switzerland between a Swiss national or a Swiss resident and a Maldivian national

    PDF195.53 kB3 August 2026

  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.

• Surnames

  After a marriage performed in Switzerland, each of the spouses retains their own surname(s) if they do not file a declaration that they have chosen to take a common surname.

  Non-Swiss citizens must find out from the authority concerned in their country of origin whether they can choose to bear the surname(s) of their Swiss spouse.

  • Guidelines on names under Swiss law (Germand, French, Italian)
  • FAQ on the subject of the new legal provisions concerning surnames (German, French, Italian)

• Authorisation to enter and to reside in Switzerland

  In some cases, entering Switzerland to have a marriage performed requires a visa. Please note the following information:

  Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days

  If you plan to take up residence in Switzerland right after your marriage is performed and your spouse (male or female) is not a Swiss citizen, they may need a visa to enter Switzerland and a residence permit. The application for the visa and residence permit can be submitted as part of the marriage preparation procedure. The cantonal migration authority is in charge of accepting or rejecting this application.

  National visa for a stay for more than 90 days

• After getting married

  Please note the following information:

  After your marriage performed in Switzerland