Published on 1 February 2026

Brazil: Family, marriage and partnerships

Find out about family, marriage and partnerships if you are planning to emigrate to Brazil. The FDFA can provide you with information about this.

Joining your family

Swiss-Brazilian couples wishing to live in Brazil must apply for a permanent visa for the Swiss spouse. Applicants must apply in person. Children born in Brazil automatically obtain Brazilian citizenship, and spouses of Brazilian citizens may take advantage of the facilitated naturalisation process.

Registering marriages and partnerships

Marriages contracted abroad under civil law are recognised in Switzerland and must be registered with the Swiss civil status authorities. Swiss nationals who get married abroad are required to register their marriage with the competent Swiss representation abroad. The documents must be submitted to the diplomatic representation together with an apostille. The latter will forward the declaration to Switzerland free of charge.

Find out what you need to do as early as possible

Before you get married, contact your Swiss representation to find out what you will need to do to make sure your marriage is recognised and registered in the civil status register without delay.

Registered partnerships

Brazil has recognised same-sex marriage since 2013. Applications for residence permits for partners in same-sex civil unions (união estável) must be submitted to the Conselho Nacional de Imigração (National Council of Immigration). Gay marriage is deemed equivalent to heterosexual marriage. requiring the same deadlines to be met at the notary's office, documents and fees. The engaged couple may select a matrimonial property regime, take each other's surnames and adopt children; there are no legal obstacles to homosexual couples adopting.

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