Published on 27 September 2026

Marriage/Partnership to be performed abroad

If your marriage/partnership is to be performed abroad, it will be subject to the law of the country in question.

The Swiss representation is not in charge of civil status procedures with foreign authorities. For information on the conditions, documents required and formalities to be respected, please directly contact the civil status authorities of the place where you are planning to get married or partnered. Only these authorities can give you authoritative information.

In particular, please enquire as to whether a Swiss certificate of capacity to marry is required or whether an individual Swiss civil status certificate is sufficient, whether other Swiss civil status documents are required and whether the documents need to be legalised.

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.

• Swiss certificate of capacity to marry

  Some countries require a certificate of capacity to marry, which certifies under Swiss law that there are no impediments to marriage. This certificate is issued by the marital status authority concerned in Switzerland.

  Both fiancés must order it. The order can be placed in parallel in different places if the couple is not living in the same country.

  Presence in person is required in all cases.

  If you are ordering the certificate via the 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:

  • Form: Order of a certificate of capacity to marry

    (German)

    PDF167.85 kB30 January 2026

  as well as

  For Swiss citizens:

  • original certificate of current residence
  • valid passport or identity card

  For citizens of other countries:

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

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

  If the second person is domiciled in Switzerland:

  • copy of their certificate of current residence in Switzerland
  • copy of their valid passport or identity card

  For any joint children not yet entered in the Swiss civil status register:

  • original birth certificate of your child
  • original official decree establishing filiation or recognition of paternity
  • original certificate of current residence
  • valid passport or identity card

  For any joint children who are entered in the Swiss civil status register:

  • copy of their birth certificate
  • copy of their valid passport or identity card

  Complementary documents

  • Assento de Nascimento em formato nacional com carimbo branco, issued by the local civil status register /Conservatória do Registo Civil) or verification code for electronic civil status documents
  • If civil status not single:
    - Acta de Conferência do divórcio em formato nacional com carimbo branco e com a data em que transitou em julgado a decisão, issued by the local civil status register (Conservatória do Registo Civil) or court (Tribunal) or verification code for electronic civil status documents
    - Assento de Óbito em formato nacional com carimbo branco, issued by the local civil status register (Conservatória do Registo Civil) or verification code for electronic civil status documents
    - Atestado de domicílio original, issued by the local residents control (Junta de Freguesia)

  For any joint children who are not yet entered in the Swiss civil status register and born in Portugal:

  • Assento de Nascimento em formato nacional com carimbo seco, issued by the local civil status register (Conservatória do Registo Civil) or verification code für electronic civil status documents

  I documenti di stato civile portoghesi possone essere richiesti tramite il sito web del Ministerio della Giustizia portoghese (PT) (Ministério da Justiça).

  Fees

  Please enquire directly with the representation for the current fees of your preparatory procedure.

  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.

• Swiss individual civil status certificate

  The individual civil status certificate for Swiss nationals is issued by the civil status authority competent for the persons’ place of origin. This document certifies the personal data of this person as recorded in the Swiss civil status register, such as surname, first name or civil status (single, married, divorced, widowed, etc.).

  To order a Swiss individual civil status certificate, click here:

  Ordering Swiss civil status documents

  If you are not a Swiss citizen and are single or unmarried, you must obtain and retain an original copy of the certificate attesting to your status as single or unmarried before your union is performed. This document will in principle no longer be issued by the foreign authority after the union is performed and you will need it to have your union entered into the Swiss civil status register.

• Surnames

  If you are domiciled abroad, your surname is subject to the law of the country in which you are domiciled. The civil status authorities of the place where you get married or otherwise formalise your union abroad can provide information about the rules governing the use of your surname(s) after your union is performed. Please contact them directly.

  If you are only a Swiss citizen and not a citizen of your country of residence as well, you may have the use of your surname(s) after the union is performed governed by Swiss law by filing a declaration before your union is performed. Please contact your Swiss representation.

  The cantonal civil status authority of your place of origin in Switzerland will decide whether your union performed abroad is to be recognised and whether the surname(s) you would like to bear after it is performed is admissible. If you would like, you may contact these authorities before getting married/partnered to clarify whether the surname(s) you wish to bear are admissible.

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

  According to Portuguese law, each of the spouses can keep his or her name after marriage. It is also possible to adopt the surname of the spouse (in whole or partially).

• After getting married or registering your partnership

  Please note the following information:

  After a marriage performed or a partnership registered abroad