Start with the civil registry office
The marriage procedure is prepared with a civil registry office in Switzerland. It gives you the exact list of documents each partner must provide, depending on nationality and situation.
Ask for this list before ordering anything abroad: you will avoid paying twice for documents or translations.
Documents often requested
Depending on the case, you may be asked for a birth certificate, a certificate of no impediment or of single status, a certificate of nationality, or a divorce judgment if you were married before.
Foreign documents often have to be recent. The office tells you the validity period it accepts.
Apostille first, then translation
If the office asks for an apostille or legalisation, it is obtained in the country that issued the document. Have it added before translation so the apostille is translated too.
The office also tells you whether a translation is needed and in what form. Some multilingual international certificates do not always need one.
Send everything at once
Gather both partners' documents and send them to us together with the office's list. You receive one overall quote and coordinated deadlines.
These guides give general guidance. The precise requirements are always set by the authority handling your request.