Only married couples have access to simplified naturalisation, joint adoption and medically assisted procreation. There is also a difference in the civil status entered in the Swiss civil register: married couples have the civil status “married”, while partners in a registered partnership have the civil status "in a registered partnership".

In the event of dissolution of marriage, the civil status becomes "divorced" or "widowed", whereas when a registered partnership is dissolved, the civil status changes to "dissolved partnership: partnership dissolved by court order" or "partnership dissolved by death".

Two persons who are single (or no longer married) may marry in Switzerland. The procedure for preparing to marry in Switzerland can be initiated with the relevant Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is subject to fees.

Couples of same-sex persons can no longer conclude a registered partnership in Switzerland.

If necessary for the celebration of marriage abroad, single (or unmarried) persons may submit an "application for a Swiss certificate of matrimonial capacity" with the competent Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is subject to fees.

Couples of same-sex persons married abroad must report their marriage for registration in the Swiss civil status register. Marriage documents can be submitted via the relevant Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is free of charge, provided that no in-depth verification of authenticity and content of the documents is required.

Couples whose marriage was already recorded in the Swiss civil status register as a registered partnership before 1 July 2022 may ask for an update of their data in this register. The application for an update (only available in French or German) can be submitted to the competent Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is free of charge.

Couples of same-sex persons who are in a registered partnership concluded until 30 June 2022 must report their partnership contracted abroad for registration in the Swiss civil status register. Partnership documents can be submitted via the relevant Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is free of charge, provided that no in-depth verification of authenticity and content of the documents is required.

The partners may, at any time, jointly declare that they wish to convert their registered partnership into a marriage. This declaration of conversion may be jointly submitted to any civil status authority in Switzerland or to the competent Swiss representation abroad (provided that this procedure is accepted in the host State, which could be excluded in particular in States that have such a conversion procedure). This procedure is subject to fees.

The partners may also request that their registered partnership be converted into a marriage with a ceremony at a civil status authority in Switzerland. This procedure is subject to fees.

Couples of same sex persons in a registered partnership contracted abroad on and after 1 July 2022 must report their registered partnership for transcription in the Swiss civil status register. Partnership documents can be submitted via the relevant Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is free of charge, provided that no in-depth verification of authenticity and content of the documents is required.

The partners have no possibility of requesting a subsequent conversion of the registered partnership into a marriage by means of a joint declaration.

The couples can get married in Switzerland by following the ordinary marriage preparation procedure. The procedure for preparing to marry in Switzerland can be initiated with the competent Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is subject to fees.

Provided that the registered partnership concluded abroad is recognised as equivalent to the Swiss institution and that it establishes a civil status relationship, couples of different-sex persons must report their registered partnership for transcription in the Swiss civil status register. Partnership documents can be submitted via the relevant Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is free of charge, provided that no in-depth verification of authenticity and content of the documents is required.

The partners can get married in Switzerland by following the ordinary marriage preparation procedure. The procedure for preparing to marry in Switzerland can be initiated with the competent Swiss representation abroad. This procedure is subject to fees.

The couples of different-sex persons in a registered partnership concluded until 30 June 2022 and whose registered partnership is recognised as equivalent to the Swiss institution and which establishes a civil status relationship, may, at any time, jointly declare that they wish to convert their registered partnership into a marriage. This declaration of conversion may be jointly submitted to any civil status authority in Switzerland or to the competent Swiss representation abroad (provided that this procedure is accepted in the host State, which could be excluded in particular in States that have such a conversion procedure). A conversion of the registered partnership into a marriage with a ceremony similar to a marriage celebration can only take place at a civil status authority in Switzerland. These procedures are subject to fees.

Only married couples have access to simplified naturalisation. Under the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA; CC 141.0), any foreign national may apply for simplified naturalisation following marriage to a Swiss national if he or she

• has lived for three years in marital union with his or her spouse and resided for at least five years in Switzerland, including one year immediately prior to making the application;
• has lived for six years in marital union with his or her spouse and has close ties with Switzerland.

For calculating the duration of the marital union: please check SEM: FAQ - Marriage for all (simplified naturalisation) (de,fr,it)