To register either a marriage or a partnership in Switzerland or abroad, your main point of reference is the registry office in which you have decided to celebrate the marriage or conclude your partnership. It is normally this office that decides what documents are required to mark this civil status event.
Marriage and registered partnership
You are advised nonetheless to learn in advance about the formalities involved and the civil status documents that may have to be prepared prior to the celebration of a civil status event. These advance steps will facilitate matters when it comes to entering your marriage or registered partnership in the Swiss civil status register (Infostar). To register in the register Infostar, the documents listed on this webpage are to be submitted to the Swiss representation competent for the country where the celebration has taken place.
A marriage that has been legally celebrated abroad, and decisions or measures taken abroad with regard to a registered partnership, will normally be recognised in Switzerland (Federal Act on Private International Law (PIL SR 291)).
Federal Act on Private International Law (PIL SR 291) (de, fr, it)
- Full Att taz-zwieg / Act of marriage
- Full Att ta' twelid / Act of birth
- Free Status Certificate or affidavit regarding the marital status prior to the marriage
- Photocopy of the passport or identity card
- If divorced: Divorce decree stating entry into force date and Att taz-zwieg / Act of marriage
- If widowed: Att ta' mewt / Act of death of the deceased spouse
Registration of Marriage celebrated in Malta
To register the marriage with the relevant civil authorities in Switzerland, the following documents should be submitted to the competent Swiss representation:
Of the Maltese spouse*
* If the spouse is not a Maltese national, please contact the Swiss Embassy in Rome for information concerning the documents required.
Please note:
All certificates of civil status issued in Malta have to be provided with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.
Most certificates of civil status can be requested with apostille online visiting the website of the Ministry for home affairs:
The Swiss Embassy in Rome will only accept original documents (no photocopies) and only documents not older than six months.
- Application for marriage preparation
- Declaration concerning the requirements for entering into marriage
- Valid passports or identity cards
- Certificate of civil status for Swiss nationals (Personenstandsausweis/certificat individuel d'état civil )
- Certificate of residence
- Full Att ta' twelid / Act of birth
- Free Status Certificate or affidavit concerning the marital status prior to the marriage (insert pdf with exact wording needed)
- Affidavit concerning the current address
- If divorced: Divorce decree stating entry into force date and Att taz-zwieg / Act of marriage
- If widowed: Att ta' mewt / Act of death of the deceased spouse
Preparation of Marriage to be celebrated in Switzerland
In general, the following documents are required for a civil ceremony in Switzerland and must be signed by the fiancés at the competent Swiss representation abroad. If one of the fiancé is living in Switzerland, he or she will have to sign these documents at the civil registrar's office there.
The forms to be used must be completed in one of the official Swiss languages (German, French or Italian). An English version can be handed over for translation purposes only.
The fiancés have to complete and sign these documents in person in front of a civil registrar in Switzerland or at a Swiss diplomatic or consular representation abroad.
Additional documents:
Of the Swiss bride or groom:
Of the Maltese bride or groom*:
* If the spouse is not a Maltese national, please contact the Swiss Embassy in Rome for information concerning the documents required.
Please note:
All certificates of civil status issued in Malta have to be provided with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.
Most certificates of civil status can be requested with apostille online visiting the website of the Ministry for home affairs:
The Swiss Embassy in Rome will only accept original documents (no photocopies) and only documents not older than six months.
- Full Att ta' unijoni civili / Act of civil union
- Full Att ta' twelid / Act of birth
- Free Status Certificate or affidavit regarding the marital status prior to the civil union
- Photocopy of the passport or identity card
- If divorced: Divorce decree stating entry into force date and Att taz-zwieg / Act of marriage or Dissolution decree with entry into force date and Att ta' unijoni civili / Act of civil union
- If widowed: Att ta' mewt / Act of death of the deceased spouse
Registration of Civil Union celebrated in Malta
To register the civil union with the relevant civil authorities in Switzerland, the following documents should be submitted to the competent Swiss representation :
Of the Maltese partner*
* If the spouse is not a Maltese national, please contact the Swiss Embassy in Rome for information concerning the documents required.
Please note:
All certificates of civil status issued in Malta have to be provided with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.
Most certificates of civil status can be requested with apostille online visiting the website of the Ministry for home affairs:
The Swiss Embassy in Rome will only accept original documents (no photocopies) and only documents not older than six months.
- Application for the preparation of the registration of a partnership
- Declaration concerning the requirements for registering a partnership
- Valid passports or identity cards
- Certificate of civil status for Swiss nationals (Personenstandsausweis/certificat individuel d'état civil )
- Certificate of residence
- Full Att ta' twelid / Act of birth
- Free Status Certificate or affidavit concerning the marital status prior to the registered partnership (insert pdf with exact wording needed)
- Affidavit concerning the current address
- If divorced: Divorce decree stating entry into force date and Att taz-zwieg / Act of marriage or Dissolution decree with entry into force date and Att ta' unijoni civili / Act of civil union
- If widowed: Att ta' mewt / Act of death of the deceased spouse
Preparation of Registered Partnership to be celebrated in Switzerland
In general, the following documents are required for a civil ceremony in Switzerland and must be signed by the fiancés at the competent Swiss representation (Embassy or Consulate) abroad. If one of the fiancé is living in Switzerland, he or she will have to sign these documents at the civil registrar's office there.
The forms to be used must be completed in one of the official Swiss languages (German, French or Italian). An English version can be handed over for translation purposes only.
The fiancés have to sign these documents in person in front of a civil registrar in Switzerland or at a Swiss diplomatic or consular representation abroad.
Additional documents:
Swiss partner:
Maltese partner*:
* If the spouse is not a Maltese national, please contact the Swiss Embassy in Rome for information concerning the documents required.
Please note:
All certificates of civil status issued in Malta have to be provided with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta.
Most certificates of civil status can be requested with apostille online visiting the website of the Ministry for home affairs:
The Swiss Embassy in Rome will only accept original documents (no photocopies) and only documents not older than six months.
Information and fact-sheets that are also available on the webpage of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ)
If you plan to take up residence in Switzerland after marrying or registering a partnership, bear in mind that your foreign spouse or partner will need a residence permit and may require an entry visa. Please consult the Visa – Entry to and Residence in Switzerland section regarding an application to enter Switzerland for the purpose of family reunification.
If you are registered with a Swiss representation and have married or entered into a registered partnership in Switzerland you will need to report your change in civil status to the representation concerned so that the register of the Swiss Abroad can be updated. This will require submission of the following documents (as hard copy or in electronic form):
- photocopy of the Swiss marriage certificate, Swiss family record or Swiss registered partnership document;
- photocopy of the identity document of the foreign spouse or partner.
There is no fee for the registration in question.
If prior to the marriage or registered partnership your Swiss spouse or partner was not resident in the consular district of the Swiss representation, and plans to take up residence with you following the said civil status event, he or she will have to register in accordance with the application procedure described under the heading “Registration and change of address”.
