Guest Author - Lisa Shea
A romantic wedding in Switzerland... the stuff that dreams are made of! If you are planning on getting married in Switzerland, there are several legal hoops to jump through. The key to success, as always, is good research and preparation.
Always check with your embassy well in advance for up-to-date requirements. Many embassies recommend that you arrange your Swiss wedding through a professional agency, but here are some guidelines if you choose to do-it-yourself.
Documents
The following documents may be required:
- Passports
- Birth certificates - long form including names of parents
- Evidence of termination of all previous marriages – previous marriage certificates, final divorce decrees (including certificate of finality of divorce), annulment decrees or death certificates
- Notarized affidavit mentioning indicating current address and marital status
- Application for marriage preparation (available from the Swiss embassy)
- Declaration concerning the requirements for entering into marriage (available from the Swiss embassy – to be signed at the embassy or at the registrar’s office)
All civil documents should be originals endorsed with an Apostille Stamp.
All documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by official translations into German, French or Italian (the language of the Canton where the wedding will be performed).
Ceremonies
Only civil weddings are legally recognized. A religious ceremony may only be performed after a civil ceremony.
For further information, please contact your local Swiss Embassy or Consulate
