Getting married in Switzerland –
legal document requirements

Congratulations on choosing your wedding in Switzerland.

As is the case with so many overseas wedding destinations, there is now
the legal documentation requirements to consider.
At TLC UK we are here to help.

Exactly what do you need to do to get married in Switzerland?

Getting married in Switzerland and all the questions concerning the legal paperwork need not be confusing. Your life history (single, divorced, etc) determines which legal papers you will need to have legalised and take to your wedding. The whole process does however need to be done accurately and timing is essential to avoid any disappointments for your wedding day.

That’s where TLC UK can really help.

Below is list of typical requirements. These are for two British nationals marrying. If you are marrying a non-British national, please contact us for further information or fill out the Personal Situation Form below and we can start helping right away.

Full Birth Certificate
Certificate of No Impediment
Decree Absolute
Death Certificate
Change of Name Deed

Adoption Certificate

Please note that the above are national guidelines as issued by the Swiss Embassy. Sometimes, requirements for particular hotels/regions can differ or change from the national guidelines. We strongly recommend that you check with your travel agent or directly with the hotel or registry office to get final confirmation on the combination of legal documents you require for your ceremony.

How do I translate & legalise documents for my wedding in Switzerland?

Once the documents’ requirements are known for you and your partner to get married in Switzerland then comes the legalisation at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. This step of the process needs to be co-ordinated and planned carefully. Your documents of civil status (such as your Birth Certificate or Decree Absolute) will only need to be legalised if you are going to get married in the Canton of Vaud. All other Cantons only require Deed Polls and Certificates of No Impediment legalised by the FCO.

Confused about how to get married in Switzerland?

No need to be. You are in safe hands with TLC UK and here’s how:

Wedding Date Diary planner – we’ll remind you when it’s time to start the legal documentation process. Our friendly team is here to help.
A team of professional translators and legal professionals working together for you.
Messenger services to the Embassies/Consulates, Foreign & Commonwealth Offices on your behalf.

All you need to do is send us your documents and we’ll return them by secure post, ready for you to say ‘I do’ at your Swiss wedding.

So why not get in touch and let us start helping right away?

Are there any other special requirements to consider when getting married in Switzerland?
Although the national guidelines advise that translation of English documents is not required, it is highly recommended that you obtain final confirmation from the registry office of the town where you are getting married.	Once the requirements have been confirmed, TLC UK can help you with the FCO legalisation.

TLC UK makes getting married in Switzerland simple and straight forward.

So why not get in touch if you have any questions you’d like to ask us or please complete the Personal Situation Form below and we can start helping right away. We can contact the Embassy direct on your behalf from the information you supply, then come back to you with a document checklist and price for carrying out the work.

If you need your marriage certificate translated when you return to the UK,
TLC UK can help. Contact us for a quotation.