Partnership
In Switzerland, couples can live together in different constellations. Couples can marry or cohabit together.
There are many ways to live together in Switzerland.
To get married, you and your future wife or husband must meet the following requirements:
- Both must be at least 18 years old.
- Both must be capable of judgment.
- You must not already be married or in a registered partnership.
If you do not have Swiss citizenship, you will need an entry visa to get married in Switzerland, depending on your country of origin. If you meet all the requirements, you can register with the Zivilstandsamt of your place of residence.
If you live together as a couple and are not married, then this is called Konkubinat . This applies to heterosexual couples as well as to homosexual couples. There are no special rules for living together.
The legal protection of a marriage or registered partnership does not apply here. If you wish, you can conclude a contract that regulates your retirement provision and inheritance.
Binational couples are part of everyday life in Switzerland, but they are still treated as a special case. Living with a woman or man from another country can sometimes be complicated – especially if you want to get married.
If you marry a Swiss citizen, you do not automatically receive Swiss citizenship. However, you can go through a simplified naturalization procedure.
The Zivilstandsamt is authorized to check whether a Scheinehe . This is the case if you are only getting married in order to circumvent the residence regulations.
Application forms and leaflets for Swiss nationals
Important for family reunification
In Switzerland, people of the same sex can get married.
Until recently, it was only possible to have the partnership officially registered. If you live in a registered partnership, you can now also convert it into a marriage.
"Marriage for all" now opens up many more opportunities for same-sex couples, for example:
- you can adopt a child together
- there is an improved position in the case of mutual inheritance claims
- facilitated naturalization is possible
- you are entitled to an AHV widow's pension or AHV widower's pension
- married female couples can use reproductive medicine.
Conflicts in the partnership
If there are conflicts in the partnership or in the family, you have the option of getting help from a counselling centre.
Violence is prohibited - in the partnership and in the family. This even includes threats. Don't wait until you experience violence a 2nd time. Report the incident immediately.
Contact Victim Support Canton of St.Gallen: Tel. 071 227 11 00
Victim support offers free counselling for:
| Spalte 1 | Spalte 2 | Spalte 3 |
|---|---|---|
| -Threat | - Violence in the family | -Domestic violence |
| -Bodily injury | -Human trafficking | -Robbery |
| - Sexual abuse | -Stalking | -Killing |
| -Rape | -Traffic accidents | -Forced marriage |
| - and other incidents |
Short film about victim support
More information can be found here
Engagement, marriage, divorce: every person has the same rights in Switzerland. You can decide for yourself whether and whom you want to marry and whether you want to divorce.
Forced marriage also occurs in Switzerland. Report such a case.
You can find help in the following places:
Victim Support SG-AR-AI | Phone 071 227 11 00 | info@ohsg.ch | www.ohsg.ch
Child Protection Centre, Counselling | 071 243 78 02 | info.ksz@kispisg.ch | www.kszsg.ch
Women's Shelter | 071 250 03 45 | info@frauenhaus-stgallen.ch | www.frauenhaus-stgallen.ch | 24 h
Cantonal Police | info.kapo@kapo.sg.ch
Forced Marriage Office | www.zwangsheirat.ch
Many women who experience violence often remain silent for a very long time.
Examples of Domestic Violence:
- insult, threaten, intimidate or humiliate
- hitting, kicking, choking, or throwing objects
- coerce to sexual acts
- Lock up at home
- Control or prohibit contact with family and friends
- control or prohibit
- to force them to marry
- to take away the wages
Get help and go to a counselling centre if you have been subjected to violence.
You will be informed about legal options and you will be supported in further steps. If you are at risk, you and anyone affected will receive help to protect yourself. If necessary, contact will be made for you with the police and the judiciary or other specialists and authorities.
Help:
Victim Support | Phone 071 227 11 00 | info@ohsg.ch | www.ohsg.ch
Child Protection Centre, Counselling | 071 243 78 02 | info.ksz@kispisg.ch | www.kszsg.ch
Women's Shelter | 071 250 03 45 | info@frauenhaus-stgallen.ch | www.frauenhaus-stgallen.ch | 24 h
Cantonal Police | info.kapo@kapo.sg.ch
Separation or divorce
In the event of a separation or divorce, you should be well informed and seek advice. Depending on your nationality and residence permit, there are consequences under migration law if you no longer live with your partner.
Did you obtain your residence permit by means of family reunification? In this case, the condition is that you live together as a couple (EU/EFTA exception).
The residence permit for you and your children can also be extended without living together if:
- Your marriage or registered partnership has lasted at least 3 years
- the integration criteria have been successfully fulfilled
- there are important personal reasons for a separation (e.g . domestic violence, the joint children live here or the return to the home country is not reasonable)
You may need to leave Switzerland if you:
- have been married for less than 3 years
- are dependent on social assistance
- do not have the required level of language proficiency
Citizens of the EU/EFTA
Under certain conditions, it is not necessary for you to live with your partner. However, if it is clear to both of you that you are separating or divorcing, then you must apply for a residence permit for yourself.
This is possible if you can prove that you have a job or sufficient assets to live in Switzerland.
More information on the dissolution of marriage or partnership
Contact points
Enter your postcode so that we can show you your nearest contact point.